Curtain Draws on The Kubrick Stage

Rating: Null/10 (18 August 2000)

Understand Kubrick's message and you'll appreciate Eyes Wide Shut. The message is one spread across several of the director's films. There is not one interpretation of Kubrick's works. There are several. This is intentional and is most prominent at his film's ending scenes. 2001, Full Metal Jacket, A Clockwork Orange, The Shinning -- all with endings that were more or less unexpected, lacking traditional catharsis formula, and open to varied interpretation. In Eyes Wide Shut he took this ending scene technique further than he had ever taken it before. This is what left some audiences confused or dissatisfied. You might say that his films enter the esoteric in their blatant refusal to follow conventional catharsis formulae. But as you walk out of the theater questions are left in your mind, for you to answer. That's important.
This film follows the Kubrick technique of wide angles, minimalist set designs and a slow to medium pace all used to create the feel of watching players on a stage. Kubrick's usually discerning selection of actors, minimalist technique and unyielding drive for perfecting his vision would make fancy production design, CGI and other ancillary devices only distract from his stories. This goes to prove his grasp of real filmmaking, giving us films that stand on their own without the help of technical embellishment.