Read ANY review that rates this film above 6/10 and they will all have something in common: you, the audience, "did not get it".
Eyes Wide Shut is among the purest form of non-film that you can find. At over 2 1/2 hours of runtime, it's the story of 1 single character, Dr Bill Harford.
Bill has a wife who is a non-character, she has 1 horribly written dialogue scene at the start of the film (scene 2, bedroom) and then disappears. Being extra generous, she represents Bill's marriage and normal life.
Bill is a serial cheater, who easily falls prey to temptation, but despite this he happily returns to his married life without guilt.
On two posh nights out, he is chasing the thrill of anonymous sex, and manages to sneak his way into a high-class orgy.
There is some suspense at first regarding this orgy, but later on the film absolutely makes it 100% clear pinky-swear that this is nothing more than an orgy and at best a bunch of people could pay a thug to beat you up, but that's about it.
AND THATS IT.
Whatever other meaning you attach to this film, is a pretentious flight of your imagination, because there are no hidden themes, no secret message, no mystery to discover.
Sure, yeah ok the cinematography is good. The lighting, the sets, the acting, the soundtrack, all is good, but the script is just nothing. There is no story here, no arcs, no development. The only discernible theme i could spot - and, this is completely out of my imagination, just as everyone else's "deep, profound messages" is the demystification of female nakedness, as every scene - of many - in the film with nudeness, none is erotic, while for example, there are two erotically-charged scenes in both of which the woman is dressed (Sally, and Milich's daughter).
Frankly, i wouldn't bother with 2 hours for such a measly message.
Historically relevant as being Kubric's last film, and visually pleasing , if *extremely* unsatisfying, i vote: 6/10.
Eyes Wide Shut is among the purest form of non-film that you can find. At over 2 1/2 hours of runtime, it's the story of 1 single character, Dr Bill Harford.
Bill has a wife who is a non-character, she has 1 horribly written dialogue scene at the start of the film (scene 2, bedroom) and then disappears. Being extra generous, she represents Bill's marriage and normal life.
Bill is a serial cheater, who easily falls prey to temptation, but despite this he happily returns to his married life without guilt.
On two posh nights out, he is chasing the thrill of anonymous sex, and manages to sneak his way into a high-class orgy.
There is some suspense at first regarding this orgy, but later on the film absolutely makes it 100% clear pinky-swear that this is nothing more than an orgy and at best a bunch of people could pay a thug to beat you up, but that's about it.
AND THATS IT.
Whatever other meaning you attach to this film, is a pretentious flight of your imagination, because there are no hidden themes, no secret message, no mystery to discover.
Sure, yeah ok the cinematography is good. The lighting, the sets, the acting, the soundtrack, all is good, but the script is just nothing. There is no story here, no arcs, no development. The only discernible theme i could spot - and, this is completely out of my imagination, just as everyone else's "deep, profound messages" is the demystification of female nakedness, as every scene - of many - in the film with nudeness, none is erotic, while for example, there are two erotically-charged scenes in both of which the woman is dressed (Sally, and Milich's daughter).
Frankly, i wouldn't bother with 2 hours for such a measly message.
Historically relevant as being Kubric's last film, and visually pleasing , if *extremely* unsatisfying, i vote: 6/10.