A doctor becomes obsessed with having a sexual encounter after his wife admits to having sexual fantasies about a man she met and chastising him for dishonesty in not admitting to his own fantasies. This sets him off into unfulfilled encounters with a dead patients daughter and a hooker. But when he visits a nightclub where a pianist friend Nick Nightingale is playing he learns about a secret sexual group and decides to attend one of their congregations. However he quickly learns he is in well over his head and finds he and his family are threatened.
Review
The thing a lot of folks havent liked about Stanley Kubricks films is the fact that he always seemed to think the audience needed some points driven home a little harder than others. Very little is left for debate most everything is spelled out pressed hard and dwelled upon. His critics have compared the long waits between his films to the long periods of waiting that occur while watching his films.
Personally I like the long slow scenes in his films. When theyre filled with something music movement thought memory of a previous scene dread or any other emotion they can never really be said to be empty. I like them because with Kubrick I can be sure that theyre absolutely essential to his ultimate vision. He could have put out a sixhour documentary on tissue manufacturing at least Ill know that not one minute of screen time is wasted.
"Eyes Wide Shut" isnt as vacuous as say "Barry Lyndon" or "The Shining." Compared to those two this one scoots along like a person trying to get to his car in the rain. Itll try a lot of folks patience Im sure even his most loyal fans will be bothered by the incessant piano "bell tolls" in the soundtrack of some scenes or the constant reminders (in imaginary flashbacks) that Cruises character is bothered by his wifes nearinfidelity. I know I was.
Despite that its an apt final film for the long glorious career of a man who has done more for the cinema with less movies than can ever be catalogued. To try and cite influences for this particular work is futile. Though one might draw parallels to Lindsay Andersons "O Lucky Man!" or Martin Scorseses "After Hours" "Eyes Wide Shut" is no less than a complete work from the cold heart and brilliant mind of Stanley Kubrick alone. Its also a furiously ingenious piece of filmmaking one that works less on the emotions than on the senses and on the mind. Unlike most of Kubricks earlier work however it does have an emotional subtext which is used to devastating effect.
Cruise by the way does an outstanding job not as a trained cameraconscious film actor but as a mature seasoned performer. Here he uses his "Top Gun""Jerry Maguire" suavity to malicious effect like Ryan ONeals Barry Lyndon before him hes an egotistical cad. Unlike Lyndon he gains our sympathy thats key to keeping us from disowning his character and thus negating the entire film.
Kidman is given less screen time but it matters little. Shes mostly seen in the beginning and she has brief (but crucial) scenes throughout and a masterful one at the end. It is safe to say that this is her best performance to date and those of us who have been ignoring her treasured abilities up until now (the Academy critics myself) will be astounded to see how far shes come since "Dead Calm." Her high points the argument with her husband that ends by setting the films plot in motion perfectly captures the way women lure men into arguments when the cause for one is nonexistent (and on Cruises part how men cant think fast enough to do anything about it) and her dream confession scene in which she wakes laughing but becomes tearful during recollection.
On a technical level "Eyes Wide Shut" displays Kubricks trademark perfectionism. Recreating Vietnam in rural England for "Full Metal Jacket" must have been nearly impossible but the unrelenting accuracy in recreating uptown and downtown New York City is absolutely stunning. Right down to the diners and the newspaper stands I shake my head in awe when I remind myself that Kubrick (a native Brooklynite) hasnt been to NYC in decades. The lighting and photography is impeccable also as it is in every one of his films.
This is the sort of film one sees more than once. Once is good to cleanse the palate to clear out all the residual toxins left from other recent films. See it again perhaps a third time and get to appreciate the graceful nearly unblemished finale of a man who took the art of cinema seriously. Its a sobering experience.