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Film: Eyes Wide Shut
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Country: UK / USA
Released: July 1999
Runtime: 159 minutes
Genre: Drama
Studio: Warner Bros
Influenced: David Lynch, Gaspar Noé, Lars von Trier, Sofia Coppola, Paul Thomas Anderson
What a gift it was to see a new Kubrick release at the cinema during my lifetime. The classic status of Eyes Wide Shut wasn't apparent to all critics when the film came out at the tail end of the 1990s, but the film's stature has grown and grown since and it now seems incredible to me that Kubrick managed to persuade Hollywood's most famous married couple, Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise, to appear in a film about jealousy and the breakdown of trust. Kubrick's interest in making a film about sexual desire dates back to the 1960s, and it was Arthur Schnitzler's novella "Traumnovelle" (Dream Story) which eventually provided the narrative framework for the movie. Having read the book, it's interesting to see how comprehensively Kubrick based the plot of Eyes Wide Shut on Dream Story. In both cases, the two lead characters attend a masked ball; in both cases, they each in turn experience erotic temptation but are obstructed from an affair more by circumstance than reluctance; and in both cases, the narrative ends in a mysterious way without resolution.
In the film, the plot revolves around Alice Harford (Nicole Kidman) and her husband, Dr Bill Harford (Tom Cruise), who live a seemingly idyllic, upper middle-class life in New York City. Their marriage is put to the test when Alice confesses to having sexual fantasies about another man. This revelation prompts Bill to not only imagine this act of infidelity but also embark on a night-long odyssey through the city, during which he encounters various sexual situations and mysterious gatherings. The film's central sequence takes place at a highly exclusive masked ball, where Bill is confronted with a series of sexual encounters and rituals, showcasing Kubrick's skill at creating an eerie and erotic atmosphere. The film's use of lighting, elaborate set design and careful camerawork contributes to its dreamlike and surreal atmosphere. Kubrick employed long takes and a deliberate pacing to create a sense of unease and tension.
The shooting of Eyes Wide Shut spanned over a year, making it one of the most protracted film productions ever. Kubrick's meticulous nature led to numerous takes for each scene, with some shots requiring dozens or even hundreds of takes. Both Cruise and Kidman have spoken about the physical and emotional toll the production took on them. Being separated from their children and dealing with the film's demanding schedule added stress to their personal lives. On top of that, the emotional intensity of their performances, as well as the sexual and psychological themes of the film, likely contributed to the strain on their marriage. If Kubrick wasn't known for being such a perfectionist, you would think he might be playing a cruel game with the two actors, causing their marriage to unravel in real life as well as on screen. Something about the film is also darkly comic to me, especially the way Cruise's character slowly repeats back what was just said to him on multiple occasions, making his dialogue often seem absurd.
Eyes Wide Shut received mixed reviews on its release but has since gained a cult following and a more favourable critical reappraisal. At the time, it was nominated for several awards, including a Golden Globe for Best Original Score and a Venice Film Festival Award for Best Production Design. The film has been particularly prized for its portrayal of sexuality and desire in a frank and unapologetic manner, exploring the psychological and emotional aspects of human sexuality rather than relying solely on explicit imagery. For me, nothing Kubrick made in his illustrious career is as mesmerising and dreamlike as Eyes Wide Shut; while it matches A Clockwork Orange for visual brilliance, it surpasses that film in other respects, especially in terms of depth and mystery. Eyes Wide Shut is arguably Kubrick's most visually striking and emotionally charged film, and its supreme cinematic elegance is a key part of its appeal.
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