Better than the Hype

Rating: 9/10 (18 July 1999)

Let me start by admitting to being an unabashed Kubrick fan, from "The Killing" to "Full Metal Jacket" and everything in between. That said, I was a little apprehensive about "Eyes Wide Shut". Would Tom and Nicole overshadow their direction? Would the story be all about the sex, leaving no room for anything else? Not to worry. "Eyes Wide Shut" delivers, outdoing all the hype and hoopla surrounding its release. The chills are genuine, and Nicole turns in a devastating performance that is the heart of the film, despite a lack of screen time in the middle. The pacing is a bit deliberate, and fans of shoot-em-up, "Armageddon" clones will undoubtedly leave the theatre shaking their heads. But anyone interested in a good psychological thriller and unoffended by a plethora of nudity and symbolism will undoubtedly find "Eyes Wide Shut" a fascinating excursion.