The Last Temptation of Kubrick

Rating: 8/10 (21 April 2011)

It seems nothing short of totally appropriate that the last film ever made by master director Stanley Kubrick (it's widely believed he died just four days after presenting Warner Brothers with the final cut) is unmistakeably Kubrickian in every way. To some this means drawn-out, tiresome scenes that serve little purpose, contributing to a final film far too steeped in 'fancy-pants' storytelling to ever appeal to the masses. But to others, it implies a deeply metaphorical and meaningful film abundant with visual clues, surreal scenarios and a climax deliberately lacking answers.
Eyes Wide Shut is a modern adaption of the 1926 novel Traumnovelle, and opens with a depiction of the well-to-do lifestyle led by Dr Bill Harford (Tom Cruise) and wife Alice (Nicole Kidman) as they attend an upper-class ball. During the night, each of them captures the interests of the opposite sex. In a fit of drug-induced anger and jealousy upon returning home, Alice admits to a fantasy she entertained involving a naval officer on a previous family holiday. And Bill, in a state of sheer disbelief, leaves the house and hits the streets of New York, unintentionally embarking on a sexually charged adventure of his own.
The acting cannot be faulted, but rather than being the highlight of the film, it simply serves to support the many themes on display. At the most basic level, this subversion of the erotic thriller has a lot to say about the craving for sex not as an expression of love, but an outlet for self-satisfaction in keeping with the primal instincts of this advanced race known as human beings. Personally, I prefer to assess the parallels drawn between this film and Homer's Odyssey, in which Bill, much like our ancient protagonist, acts as a positive energy against the crippling forces of hubris, jealousy and the need for revenge. This allows the film to work in a cautionary moral without sounding preachy or undermining the integrity of the subject matter.
It is the bizarre characters and scenarios that Bill encounters on his lone night(s) out that contribute to the film's message and the vast range of interpretations it has garnered. The series of events would not seem entirely out of place in a movie by the Coen brothers, but unlike the light heartedness of The Big Lebowski, or pure storytelling of True Grit, these scenes are inherently more sinister. Bill encounters, among others, a prostitute he opts against sleeping with (before finding out she tested positive to HIV), a costume shop owner who realises he can make an extra buck by whoring out his underage daughter, and a famous set piece involving an anonymous orgy in a labyrinth of a mansion, which plays a huge part in influencing Bill and the path his life may possibly follow.
Of course, each of the above scenes in some way reflect the different attitudes different people may have towards sex, and are far too obvious to be individually mentioned in this review. What they do so well, however, is compound the main character's mindset with more and more ferocity until, finally, he has an epiphany about the sacredness of fidelity.
Unfortunately, upon release in the summer of '99, the public accepted Eyes Wide Shut poorly, perhaps due to a misleading advertising campaign marketing the film as an action-packed, semi-noir thriller with nudity by the truckload. Okay, that last part might be true, but make no mistake: it is plentiful, but never glorified. In fact, because it is so prominent, the only eventual course of action for the cautious viewer is to accept it, and its significance in the story.
If by now you're still in two minds about this film, it is certainly not for everyone, particularly those who can't stand slow pacing. The film moves at a snail's pace with no exceptions, but patience is rewarded. As for the deeply metaphorical aspect, one needn't look any further than the title (one of the most unique in film history) to gain yet another perspective on this film. Which is a good thing, because if it were up to me, I'd have gone with The Sexy Adventures of Dr Bill.
*There's nothing I love more than a bit of feedback, good or bad. So drop me a line on jnatsis@iprimus.com.au and let me know what you thought of my review.*