Eyes Wide Shut

MrFootballMan

MrFootballMan

Was just on channel 5 on in the UK tonight.

Must say after watching it, I am slightly perplexed at the level of criticism it has recieved. I felt it was an excellent film. Not a masterpiece by any means, but it was an excellent film.

Look forward to watching it again when Lovefilm finally decide to send it!
 
I wouldn't call it an excellent film, but I enjoyed watching it. It was pretentious and overstuffed, but the stuff with the mystery of the house and the strange party was done really well I think.

Poke
 
MrFootballMan said:
Was just on channel 5 on in the UK tonight.

Must say after watching it, I am slightly perplexed at the level of criticism it has recieved. I felt it was an excellent film. Not a masterpiece by any means, but it was an excellent film.

Look forward to watching it again when Lovefilm finally decide to send it!
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I love all of Kubrick films. My favorite is between Clockwork Orange and Full Metal Jacket. Though most people felt Full Metal Jacket was his worst film ever. I dont know why, Maybe because it of all the crued American language that is used in it.



Eyes Wide Shut was good, But I understand it was one of the main reasons Tom and his wife had split up.
 
Poke said:
I wouldn't call it an excellent film, but I enjoyed watching it. It was pretentious and overstuffed, but the stuff with the mystery of the house and the strange party was done really well I think.

Poke
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The music creeped me out a bit, and yet made you kind of become part of the film. I like how the camera moved around and made you feel as if you were walking with Tom during his adventure.
 
Funny you should bring up this film... I happen to watch it for the first time last night. I can't decide if it was high art or the pornographic lustings of an old man (not that there is anything wrong with that)
 
Kubrick was a great influence in my life. I've seen all his films and Eyes Wide Shut is the only one that I didn't care for at all.

I'll be honest here, I still don't understand what is was about, and I sat through it twice.
 
mrde50 said:
Kubrick was a great influence in my life. I've seen all his films and Eyes Wide Shut is the only one that I didn't care for at all.

I'll be honest here, I still don't understand what is was about, and I sat through it twice.
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What are any of his movies about. None of them are really Great Mysteries. What I love about Kubrick is his style of camera work. You feel as if you're apart of the story. Not alot of directors can do this. He does throw just about everything into the pot. Murder, Lust, Cursing, etc.
 
The cult scene was excellent direction from start to finish. Nothing better than a film that sucks you right into it by hitting your sense hard. Creepy music and explorative camera work really brought the scene to life.

I really do wish some of the newer MTV style quick cut directors would watch these films and learn from them.

The film seemed to be Kubrick commenting on voyeurism and the fragility of relationships, with a few nods towards satanic rituals.

I honestly don't see anyone ever bettering him for pure filmmaking ability
 
I've always been attracted to Kubrick's wide shots, long cuts and sweeping Steadicam scenes that lasted for minutes.

Kubrick's directing in EYS was up to par with his other features: Fantastic.

It's the story that went over my head. :D
 
I saw this in the theater when it first came out. At first, I didn't know what to make of it and I couldn't decide if I liked it or not. After I thought about it for a while (and had discussions about it with my friend who I saw it with), my opinion of it grew favorably.

<insert class=personal opinion> I think the reason why many people don't care for it is the confusion over the purpose of the story. This movie is a study of a relationship and the challenges one faces when exploring desires of infidelity. Nicole Kidman's character is exploring infidelity in her dreams and fantasies. Knowledge of this sets Tom Cruise's character on a journey of his own -- perhaps trying to get revenge on his wife for her unfaithful desires, perhaps driven by other motivations. All of this makes for subtle storytelling since the plot devices are not as obvious and clear cut. However, when Tom's character gets involved in a mystery -- this is the point where the movie can potentially derail for the viewer. Now we (the viewers) are presented with an actual obvious plot element --
the case of the missing/dead woman
. Many people were disappointed when this plot line resolved rather anti-climactically, because for them...this plot line became the ultimate point of the movie. To me, the main point of the movie was to explore the relationship of the married couple. This sub-plot involving the woman from the party was a way to represent how mysteries (within a relationship) can seem more nefarious then they really are, and allowing them to get blown out of proportion can have detrimental effects on a relationship.

By the way -- did you notice that
while Tom was on his journey, he was presented with almost all of the classic fetish opportunities? -- Adultery, prostitution, pedophilia, orgy/domination, necrophilia, homosexuality -- but yet he was never able to actually participate in any of them. Something always held him back. Nicole, however, had nothing holding her back in her dreams and fantasies.

And of course, if nothing else, Kubrick's technical skill is always a treat to watch!
 
Agree with much of that John. When I first saw it I was equally unsure of what I thought about it, especially when people started walking out of the cinema!

Thats the first time I have seen it since then and can look at it in a new light and I can really see merit in it.

I love Kubricks style, no-one can carry of those camera moves whilst maintaining atmosphere as well as he could. I actually get a headache watching MTV style direction(damn motion sickness, can't even play some XBox 360 games), and having just watched Batman Begins on DVD(Bloody hell the action scenes were almost epilectic of Michael Bay proportions), I need to go and lie down. Cracking film though.
 
When I saw it in the theatre, I had no idea what it was about (the first time I see a film, I tend to get caught up in the story and often fail to pick up on any deeper meanings until repeated viewings). I asked my girlfriend at the time what she thought it was about and she replied "It's about Tom Cruise being impotent."

After seeing the film again, I was amazed at how she picked that up on the first viewing. Bophe pretty much summed it all up. Cruise was feeling emasculated because of Kidman's admission, thus he was never able to complete any of the amorous adventures he set out on. And Kidman's solution to the problem is a great last line for the film... "Let's fuck." (or something along those lines).

I think it's a great film. One of those movies that tends to suck you in if you stumble across it on cable.
 
I love this film. My husband and I consider it required viewing for anyone considering a life-long commitment to another (aka marriage). We felt it was a spot-on depiction of how far out of control a person can become when paranoia takes hold. Chandler (my hubby) commented that one of the things he likes best about it is
that nearly every one of the scenarios depicted prior to going to the orgy can and do happen in real life.
Everyone thinks about doing all kinds of things that they don't do. This explores what happens if you feel you have a justification to do them.

Also, I am a huge fan of visually lush films. Eyes Wide Shut is among the most lush I've seen in modern film. Great saturation of color, creation of mood, and great music too.
 
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