EYES WIDE SHUT
A Warner Bros. release

review by Joe Mauceri

Dr. William Harford and Alice Harford have been happily married for nine years. The events at a holiday party entice the couple into a revealing discussion of their sexual fantasies and inner most secrets. The implications weigh heavy upon William. The death of a patient sends him out into the night and on a mysterious quest. My description of the setup might be a bit simplified, but what the director presents is the cinematic equivalent of Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown." Instead of the paranoia of witchcraft, Kubrick focuses on society's complicated views on sex and sensuality. The cinematography, editing and score feature Kubrick at the top of his form. The artistry of his craft makes EYES WIDE SHUT a pleasure just to watch. The lighting and production design work in tandem to create a surreal feeling to William's/Cruise's night journey. His quest ends at a secret Marque de Sade gathering. The costume designs and masks are haunting, possessing a subliminal appeal. He employees a few pop songs and classical pieces to enhance the ambience of scenes, but Jocelyn Pook's score is remarkable. It is as memorable and powerful as the score produced for the director's version of "The Shining." Kubrick's painstaking attention to detail is evident in the highly stylized performances delivered by Cruise and Kidman. The director exposes the complexity of his characters. Kidman runs the full gamete of wife, mother, mistress, and seductress. Cruise adeptly creates a mature man with the heart of an adolescent. He conveys the emotional intricacies that evolve from his quest, selling the intensity of the characters breakdown. What the couple achieves is augmented by the fundamental supporting performances. Kubrick weaves it together to seduce the audience into taking the journey. When people ask me to recommend EYES WIDE SHUT, I'm hesitant. It's not that I have problems with Kubrick's film, I'm not sure that the viewer will approach the film from a particular frame of reference to appreciate the film. At times, EYES WIDE SHUT has a certain European characteristic. Kubrick achieves some marvelous atmospheric scenes that rival what Bergman accomplished in black and white. Basic, simple truths and situations drive the plot. However, is the directing of all the elements at his disposal, and the performances, that makes it a memorable cinematic experience. EYES WIDE SHUT is a wonderful addition to an amazing body of work. I am not sure this is the film that defines the directors career.

OFFICIAL WEB SITE:
www.eyeswideshut.com

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