In a summer of eagerly awaited films, finally Stanley Kubrick posthumously
offers us an intelligent and densely beautiful film in stark contrast to the
sensationalist bubble gum movies that have been preceded by juggernauts of
marketing. However, with the opening of Eyes Wide Shut in New York one
realises that the rumours, myths controversy surrounding this film have only
just begun.
The story is centred around Dr William Hartford (Tom Cruise) and the nagging
sexual jealousy that is distancing him from his wife (Nicole Kidman). This
jealousy is founded upon an infidelity that never occurred but the imagined
union haunts the doctor as he embarks upon a dream-like odyssey of
mysterious sexual adventures. The intrigue begins when the doctor is caught
after gaining entrance to a secretive club for the very wealthy: a club
concerned with masquerades, rituals and sex.
The film is intensely seductive in many ways. The pace is slow - languid,
even - and scenes are allowed to develop so that the drama is based around
the characters rather than any sensationalist action. Emerging from this is
some excellent dialogue from Kubrick and his screenwriter Frederic Raphael:
an intoxicated argument where Kidman reveals that she would have given up
everything (husband, daughter, life-style) for one night with a certain
naval officer in Cape Cod will surely silence any popcorn-munching audience.
Kubrick's legendary obsessive use of sets allows for some stunning
production design. Two years ago rumours emanated from Pinewood Studios of a
set that was an exact replica of four blocks of Greenwich Village so precise
in detail that every light switch in every room was functional. This
attention is applied to every visual aspect and is most apparent in the merging
of colour symbols. Red is associated with sex while blue is associated with
danger until they are merged to create an underlying tension. The final
scene has Nicole Kidman resting in bed with purple sheets.
Kubrick once again has created a stylish universe to captivate audiences in
years to come. But there is no sense of finality; one never gets the sense
that Eyes Wide Shut was intended to be a swan song. It is a meticulously executed investigation into sexual jealousy, brilliantly realised,
excellently acted and curiously disturbing. Whether it will become popular
with non-Kubrick fans remains to be seen.
Reviewed by Iain Tibbles
See what other kamera.co.uk readers thought about this film
