Kubrick's final joke on everyone

Rating: Null/10 (7 November 2002)

Lots of spoilers:
I can completely understand why one would dislike this film, but it worked for me. Stanley Kubrick builds up an entire uncomfortable, mysterious, surreal, dangerous, almost cartoony environment- that doesn't exist. The joke of 'Eyes Wide Shut' is not only the orgy that seems much more sinister than it is, but the stunning reversal that climaxes in Bill arriving home and finding the mask on his side of the bed. I was shattered. The entire film sets you up to feel resentment toward Alice (who was she to tell her husband all that stuff, and who was she to lead on that old man all night at the party?). But in the end, who was more unfaithful? Bill was for seeking out what Alice only fantasized about. Kubrick deserves credit for making the mystery/suspense element most of the film and completely subverting it at the end (courageous to say the least). He also deserves credit for making such a weird film work in the first place. There were a multitude of pitfalls where this movie could have failed miserably, particularly in the characterizations of Bill and Alice. Had they not be sympathetic enough the entire film could have been made irrelevant. However, the old master executed perfectly, and Eyes Wide Shut is a beautifully acted, directed, and photographed film. There's no real 'point' here, it's more an exploration of male/female sexuality that by no means claims to have the answers. The glacial pacing didn't bother me (simply another element to make the viewer uncomfortable), nor did the nudity (anyone who calls this pornography is either unclear on the definition or has some very serious problems). All part of Kubrick's massive joke on his audience. If you can appreciate that kind of humor, this is a masterpiece.