A Perfect Vision of Sexual Jealousy and Obsession

Rating: Null/10 (19 July 1999)

Stanley Krubick's death is definitely one of the main reasons why this film, "Eyes Wide Shut", is surrounded with so much hype and anticipation, however, after watching the film, it is safe to say that the movie does live it up the all the expectations that the country is holding for themselves, there is no doubt about. "The Shining" is the only Kubrick film that I have seen before this one, so I was not very aware of his direction style. But as his death generated a lot of buzz, causing everyone to express just how brilliant a director he was, it sparked my curiousity furiously as to what his final film would be like. Comparitively, "The Shining" is a horror classic, and "Eyes Wide Shut" is the current "hot" movie that everyone is talking about, but both films clearly manifested a stunning power, a visual, mental and spiritual exploration. The theme of this movie is sexual obssession, and the whole thing is just one mesmerising, thought-provoking odyssey through the streets of N.Y.C at night, seen through the perspective of Tom Cruise, who delivers a fine performance playing the troubled husband of a beautiful but difficult woman (Nicole Kidman) who is trying find the heart of his own enigmatic sexuality. The movie keeps on giving the audience a slew of characters who meet Cruise along his journey, and each one subtlely brings out new-found insights into his own mentality, bringing him closer to his destination. Feelings of envy and obsession are intensely sensed throughout the whole film, and I am totally amazed with the way Krubick crafted the film with such sharpness, you can literally feel of his ambitions, even when the actual content is deliberately vague. When Cruise finally reaches his destination, everything just seems to collide, making him fully understand the true meaning of sexuality. The final confrontation between Cruise and Kidman is absolutely unforgettable, as it honestly depicts the extreme complications that exist in marriage. "Eyes Wide Shut" is definitely a film that will leave you thinking about the instincts of humanity, and how they are ultimately one of the most puzzling things on this earth. A brilliant film.