Eyes Wide Shut (1999) Dir: Stanley Kubrick
Instagram post:
Stanley Kubrick's final film, which was based on the 1926 novella; 'Dream Story', by Arthur Schnitzler, is an 'erotic mystery psychological drama' that I've had my eye on for some time. It looked like it could be very much up my alley. I love a well constructed mystery, and reviews seemed to suggest that this would be just that.
The mise-en-scène was wonderfully tantalising to look at. I loved the various costumes - I felt that Nicole Kidman looked particularly well dressed, in that regard. In addition to this, I felt that the set design for the mansion was immaculate, and truly emphasised the mysterious nature of the people within it.
Watching this film was a surreal experience in a number of ways. The very explicit and unashamed nudity was certainly a surprise, as was the sheer volume of said-nudity. On the one hand, it certainly didn't need to be the case, but, on the other, a case could be made for it being in-keeping with some of the themes of the story, as well as its general erotic, noir-esque style.
The narrative was a mysterious, twisting, noir-esque affair of great intrigue and compelling drama, centering on a couple's strained marriage, and their discordant relationship within that. I found it to be a thought-provoking and dark look into the secrets of marriage and powerful men. The film was full of intriguing drama and mystery, much of which kept me guessing and engaged.
Tom Cruise was possibly the weakest aspect of this whole film, if I'm being totally honest. I found his acting fine, but leagues below Kidman. He had some very strong scenes, sure, but the majority of his performance hovered in the okay-to-good region of quality. I must admit, I did think he did very well with some of his character's pensive moments, so that should not be ignored.
Nicole Kidman gives one of the best performances by a female actress that I've ever seen. She was unhinged, ethereal, and fascinating, in so many ways. Honestly, this might just be her very best performance - it is certainly in the upper echelon of her filmography. The extremes of her persona are so expertly portrayed, and it felt like she could do no wrong, including those more vulnerable scenes.
The supporting cast don't have huge roles, per-se, though they are important. There were a fair few that deserved having their names mentioned; Sydney Pollack, Marie Richardson, Rade Šerbedžija, Todd Field, Vanessa Shaw, and Alan Cumming. For those wondering, of these names, I found Pollack and Cumming the most watchable.
Overall, I think it's fairly clear that I enjoyed this film a lot. I found it filled with juicy intrigue, and rich in mysterious twists and turns. It's a fascinating and extremely well-made film, that beckons in its audience with a sinister smile, and keeps them in a vice-like grip until the final credits roll. Kubrick ended on a high, that much was certain.
Comments