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Eyes Wide Shut


Director: Stanley Kubrick.
Screenplay: Stanley Kubrick, Frederic Raphael.
Starring: Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Sydney Pollack, Todd Field, Alan Cumming, Marie Richardson, Thomas Gibson, Vinessa Shaw, Rade Serbedzija, Leelee Sobieski, Fay Masterson, Sky Dumont, Madison Eginton

“Millions of years of evolution, right? Right? Men have to stick it in every place they can, but for women… women it is just about security and commitment and whatever the fuck else.”

For many, Stanley Kubrick is one of the greatest directors America has ever produced and has offered up some of the most thought provoking films throughout his career. Unfortunately, his last film didn’t receive the credit that it deserved. Literally days after delivering the final film, Kubrick died. However, in some senses, I’m actually glad Kubrick didn’t have to witness his swansong’s much maligned backlash. A big factor in this was the poor marketing campaign. For the first time, Kubrick released a film in the internet-age where information was readily accessible on the secrecy of its production. Rumours abound, it was flaunted as a sexually explicit bonkfest with Cruise and Kidman and the trailers teasing the audience with the real-life, married couple’s nudity certainly didn’t help matters. In truth, what (little) you see in the trailer is essentially all there is in the entire film between the couple. Added to which, there were rumours that Cruise would be shooting heroine for the film and wearing a dress. Needless to say, those who flocked in their droves to see such controversy where left sorely disappointed. What they really missed, though, was a rich and provocative meditation on sexual desires and the human psyche. 


Plot: Happily married New York City doctor, Bill Harford (Tom Cruise) appears to have the perfect life with his wife Alice (Nicole Kidman). While getting high one night, Alice admits that she had a potent sexual fantasy about a stranger and was tempted to cheat on her husband and leave everything they built together for one night of passion. Left reeling from shock, Bill goes out into the Manhattan night where he meets strange characters and enters into a world of sexual adventure for the first time in his life.


Within minutes of the film’s opening, we are voyeurs in the lives of our main characters. We witness them at a party where Alice flirts with an older lothario who imparts his wisdom that women only got married in order to lose their virginity, freeing them to do as they pleaded with other men. Meanwhile Bill is being accosted and propositioned to an upstairs bedroom by two beautiful models, promising to show him “where the rainbow ends”. Despite these encounters amounting to nothing, they set the tone for the rest of the film in how this seemingly contented married couple will have their fidelity questioned.


Throughout this whole film, Kubrick showcases his command of space. I love his ability for crafting a place or scene that is vast yet strangely intimate. He gives a place importance and here it is no different. Despite being set in the vibrant sprawling nightlife of New York City, we seem enclosed in the lives of our two main characters. Kubrick’s craftsmanship was just as evident in the The Shining whereby he conveys the loneliness and isolation of his characters and somehow manages a palpable sense of claustrophobia within grand open spaces. If for nothing else, it brings his actors to the forefront and enhances their performances. Speaking of which, Cruise and Kidman are very brave and dynamic here. Their real life marriage (at the time) effectively seems to permeate the characters – giving a very intimate portrayal of a strained, unfulfilled relationship. It should also be noted that with Kubrick’s fastidious approach to filming that the psychological torment that he put his actors through led to the break-up of Cruise and Kidman not long after filming wrapped. Much was said about Kidman’s performance but this is by-and-large Cruise’s film. He’s the anchor and it’s among his strongest work as he absolutely smolders on screen as his Dr. Harford is always heavily weighted on and there’s an escalating sense of danger in his experiences.


Kubrick’s last endevour is not just one to be viewed but one to be immersed in. That’s the absolute beauty and captivating nature of the film. It draws you in and, much like the protagonist, you have no idea what you’re in for but you’re swept along with it as if in some hypnopompic state. As a self-proclaimed admirer of David Lynch, Kubrick has managed to make a film that the idiosyncratic Lynch would be proud of. In the latter stages it becomes quite an intriguing, surrealistic mystery that begins to question Harford’s perception of events. Over the course of the evening, Harford experiences a prostitute, a proposition from a teenage girl, the suggestion of his sexual orientation and, of course, an en masse orgy. But, is this the world that he’s been cloistered from and experiencing a reawakening? Or are these manifestations of his sexual fantasies and desires? These are the questions that begin to surface as the film’s dreamlike, ambiguous nature grows stronger.


It’s not just what’s underneath Eyes Wide Shut that’s impressive, though. On the surface, the film is also visually stunning. Kubrick shoots on a grand scale where production designers Leslie Tomkins and Roy Walker capture both the interiors and exteriors with lavish flamboyancy. There’s also an abundance of colour on display and cinematographer Larry Smith deserves the utmost credit with his stunning contrast of warm and cold colours that adds to the foreboding atmosphere that’s tangible within the themes of the film.


An avant garde, near masterpiece from Kubrick. Consider, if you will, David Lynch directing Martin Scorsese’s absurd, dark comedy After Hours and you’ll get a little closer to understanding it. Premature judgement has harmed the film but it is still, admittedly, not for everyone. It’s not the explicit orgy or soft-core porn that people expected but a deeply surreal, and hypnotic, psychological exploration of sexual tension, paranoia and jealousy. But if viewed from a subconcious perspective it is a hugely rewarding experience. Sadly, it was Kubrick’s last film but it’s also one of his finest.


Mark Walker

Trivia: Johnny Depp was considered for the role of Dr. Harford and Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin were also supposedly considered to play the leads at one point. More bizarrely, though, was Kubrick’s interest in casting Woody Allen or Steve Martin for Harford. A couple of casting decisions definitely changed throughout production, though, with Harvey Keitel and Jennifer Jason Leigh originally playing Victor Ziegler and Marion Nathanson. After Keitel and Leigh had shot some scenes, Keitel left the production due to his obligations to another project. Leigh also had scheduling conflicts with David Cronenberg’s eXistenZ and neither of them were available to reshoot scenes. Consequently, Sydney Pollack and Marie Richardson were brought in to play the respective roles.

This entry was posted on November 3, 2017 at 6:40 am and is filed under Drama, Fantasy, Mystery with tags . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

58 Responses to “Eyes Wide Shut”

  1. The Vern Says:
    November 3, 2017 at 11:23 am

    I recently saw After Hours and your sentence about Lynch directing it and having it look somewhat like this is great. This may be my favorite Kubrick flick next to The Shining in terms of rewatchabiity the most

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Mark Walker Says:
      November 3, 2017 at 3:12 pm

      Cheers Vern. It is like After Hours through the lens of Lynch though, isn’t it? Lots of similarities there. I’m totally with you on Kubrick favourites. I think it’s this and The Shining for me too. These are the ones I go back to most.

      Like

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  2. ckckred Says:
    November 3, 2017 at 8:24 pm

    Excellent review Mark. Great to see you give it a full five stars; I too consider Eyes Wide Shut to be a masterpiece and one of Kubrick’s best. It works well well as a companion with The Shining, considering its icy and disturbing portrayal of love and sexuality as well as the psychological horror aspects.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Mark Walker Says:
      November 3, 2017 at 10:11 pm

      Thanks mate! We have been seeing eye to eye a lot lately and share a lot of similar tastes. Great to hear we’re on the same page again with this one. I think it’s a work of genius from Kubrick. It’s a toss-up between this and The Shining for his best. There’s so much going on here on a subconscious level that it’s nothing less than deep, thought provoking material. It’s simply superb!

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      • ckckred Says:
        November 3, 2017 at 10:14 pm

        I’d still argue Barry Lyndon is his best (which I often say alongside Apocalypse Now is my favorite film), but Eyes Wide Shut is perhaps his most psychologically challenging. Kubrick is one of the few filmmakers who has made at least a half a dozen inarguably great pictures.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Mark Walker Says:
        November 6, 2017 at 1:23 am

        You really speak of Barry Lyndon that highly? Admittedly, I haven’t seen it in it’s entirety but recently got a copy to revisit it. I’m very much looking forward to it. Kubrick is always interesting stuff. I’m kinda feeling that I have to have a reappraisal on all his films. Sometimes I go through these fazes with a particular filmmaker.

        Liked by 1 person

      • ckckred Says:
        November 6, 2017 at 1:26 am

        It’s perhaps not his most accessible feature, but it’s the one I admire and enjoy the most. The pitch-perfect cinematography and gorgeous scenery make it Kubrick’s most ornate film alone (which is saying something). I recently bought the new Criterion 4k blu ray and hope to watch it again soon.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Mark Walker Says:
        November 6, 2017 at 1:40 am

        I hear it was all shot with natural light? In fact, Larry Smith (Eyes Wide Shut’s Cinematographer) work on this as an assistant before making his own way in the business.

        I feel like I need to be in the mood for it but I’m just waiting on the moment. I’m between that and Paris, Texas at the moment.

        Liked by 1 person

      • ckckred Says:
        November 6, 2017 at 4:58 am

        Yep, John Alcott is perhaps the best cinematographer there has ever been.

        Also, you got to check out Paris, Texas when you have the chance. Saw it for the first time several months ago the night Harry Dean Stanton died and found it to be very poignant.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Mark Walker Says:
        November 6, 2017 at 5:28 pm

        Yeah, I seen Paris, Texas years ago but I was only about 15 years old and I don’t think I appreciated it as much as I would now. Looking forward to a revisit and now that HDS has passed away now feels like a good time.

        Liked by 1 person

      • ckckred Says:
        November 6, 2017 at 5:34 pm

        The ending had me tearing up, HDS gives such an emotional and nuanced performance.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Mark Walker Says:
        November 7, 2017 at 1:22 am

        I reckon I’ll feel the same. I’m also thinking Lucky might get me that way too. An absolute legend.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. msjadeli Says:
    November 3, 2017 at 10:55 pm

    Thank you for your comprehensive review of the movie. Watching it when it first came out I remember being quite anxious throughout. It was hard to empathize with the characters, as the best of everything wasn’t good enough for them. I wonder how many bored rich people there are out there who choose to indulge in such activities in order to feel?

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    • Mark Walker Says:
      November 6, 2017 at 1:27 am

      And thank you for reading! 😉
      I couldn’t empathise with the characters on any financial or privileged sense but I could on a relationship sense. Their relationship felt genuine (casting Cruise and Kidman was a masterstroke) and Kubrick really delved into the psychological angle surrounding sex and fidelity. As you can see, I really identified with the film. I think it’s a very unsung piece of work from Kubrick.

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  4. Mr. Bobinsky Says:
    November 4, 2017 at 6:08 pm

    I am glad you enjoyed it. It is not appreciated as much as other Kubrick’s films, unfortunately, and this beautiful film didn’t deserve it.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Mark Walker Says:
      November 6, 2017 at 1:37 am

      I love it, man. I loved it even when it was first released by a recent rewatch confirms even more to me… It’s one of Kubrick’s best and it’s a stunningly shot piece of work. “Beautiful” is the right word. Darkly beautiful!!

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  5. Jay Says:
    November 11, 2017 at 1:36 am

    I was too young to really appreciate this at the time and have not revisited it. And yet I find your works evoke strong memories – clearly there was something there.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Mark Walker Says:
      November 11, 2017 at 1:44 am

      I often went into some films when I was too young, Jay. Whenever I’ve revisited them though, my opinion normally changed for the better. I’d give this another go. I thought it was absolutely superb. One of Kubrick best for me.

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  6. vinnieh Says:
    November 22, 2017 at 4:56 pm

    I remember this being so haunting and layered. I must watch it again after reading what you wrote. Kubrick was indeed a master filmmaker.

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. Jordan Dodd Says:
    November 27, 2017 at 11:19 am

    Sydney nailed his role, I’m glad he was involved.

    Another excellent analysis, this is perhaps my favourite Kubrick flick. That classical music still gives me chills. I hate Cruise as a person but he is great here.

    Gotta admit tho, being a bit of a conspiracy fan, I’m a bit miffed on Stan dying literally days after WB saw it. It is obviously filled with Satanic or otherwise ritualistic bizarre shit that the higher ups fill their time with. That Lgetii music when Cruise enters the circle….. my god.

    This is not simply a film about marriage. It is about the insane shit that is seemingly socially acceptable among what people do in their spare time, if they have the cash/connections to afford it.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Mark Walker Says:
      November 28, 2017 at 4:51 pm

      We’re on the same page here, man. As much as I wasn’t disappointed that Harvey Keitel had to drop out, Sydney Pollack was excellent as his replacement.

      I too, think that this might be my favourite Kubrick. I really love The Shining so it’s essentially a toss-up between the two.

      It’s a shame that this was so maligned when it was released. It a solid film that speaks on so many levels.

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      • Jordan Dodd Says:
        November 29, 2017 at 7:16 am

        ‘Tis a shame, but half of Kubrick’s films were hated on release. That is why they are so good =P

        I love it so much, my favourite for sure. Lgeti himself said he wrote that song for the password scene as a knife stabbing into the heart of Stalin. Sure sounds like it!!

        Question: does this feel somewhat unfinished? Whenever I watch it and it ends, I feel that something has been cut out, a real climax to the situation Cruise gets himself into.

        My conspiracy brain working its thing again, I reckon this thing had scenes cut by WB.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Mark Walker Says:
        November 29, 2017 at 3:16 pm

        I didn’t find that something was missing, to be honest. It felt complete to me. One thing that really sticks in my mind, though, is towards the end when Kidman is looking over her glasses with a thoughtful expression; she wags her little pinky and it probably means nothing but I couldn’t help but think that it was deliberate act to suggest that Cruise’s manhood was a questionable size LOL.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Jordan Dodd Says:
        November 29, 2017 at 5:03 pm

        HAHAHA!! That is hilarious.

        I guess it is just me and my conspiracy-skewed mind, but each time I watch it I feel that it lacks a climax in that satanic group he joins. The ending is great but I am convinced that scenes in that group were cut after his death. I mean, he was basically putting onto film stuff that really happens, and I think some powerful people at WB didn’t like that.

        I dunno, I suppose it doesn’t really matter. But the fact he died four days after WB saw his first cut rubs me the wrong way. Its not like I 100% believe it, but I like to explore the theory. I think it is certainly possible.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Mark Walker Says:
        November 29, 2017 at 6:47 pm

        Kubrick has been associated with some conspiracies in the past so I wouldn’t discount it. I can’t say that I felt anything was missing though.

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      • Jordan Dodd Says:
        November 29, 2017 at 7:19 pm

        yeah I guess I was expecting more from such an insane situation. Still an incredible film.

        Heh and yeah there are some pretty interesting Kubrick conspiracies out there, I love the one where they point out how he filmed the moon landings hehe. It is actually quite convincing

        Liked by 1 person

      • Mark Walker Says:
        November 30, 2017 at 3:08 pm

        Yeah, it was the moon landing one that first sprung to mind. I thought it was very convincing too and I love the theory that The Shining is actually a depiction of his own fears from the govt for his inside knowledge. I actually still reckon the original mood landing was faked. Whether or not it was Kubrick is another thing though.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Jordan Dodd Says:
        December 2, 2017 at 10:53 am

        Yeah I’m with you on that, I do find it very interesting tho that the original screening of 2001 thanked a ton of NASA people. That has all been removed for a very long time! And yeah the circumstantial evidence certainly piles up, especially in that Shining analysis that you obviously saw too.

        I think the footage was fake, but I do think we at least visited the room. It was the beginning of TV, they had to have something semi-presentable to show the public!

        What I love is how defensive some people get at the mere NOTION that it may, perhaps, maybe, probably not but possibly, not meet the ‘official story’. That type of close-minded reaction seriously boggles my mind

        Liked by 1 person

      • Mark Walker Says:
        December 6, 2017 at 8:21 am

        Yeah, man. I reckon we’ve visited moon since then but it’s hilarious how many people lose their shit at the mere thought of the footage being fake. Which again leads into the conspiracy with Kubrick. It’s not unthinkable that such a thing could happen.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Jordan Dodd Says:
        December 7, 2017 at 9:59 pm

        Certainly not unthinkable at all.

        I was reading a book about Kubrick – it claims that WB took out 25-28 minutes out of this movie. Dunno if its true or not but my biased viewpoint certainly agrees! And if it is true, imagine the crazy shit that was in what they cut!!!

        Liked by 1 person

      • Mark Walker Says:
        December 11, 2017 at 8:22 am

        The only stuff that I’ve heard of being cut was some more explicit orgy scenes but apparently they’re in the European version so I’m not sure if I’ve seen them or not. It’s the probably the European version I got over here. Although they certainly don’t amount to an extra 25mins or so. I’d be happy to see more if it’s out there, though.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Jordan Dodd Says:
        December 11, 2017 at 7:17 pm

        I’ll have to have a google regarding the different releases and see which one I have. Perhaps I was tripping too hard when I last watched it, that’s when I decided it didn’t feel complete =P

        Liked by 1 person

      • Mark Walker Says:
        December 12, 2017 at 9:12 am

        That’s understandable considering it’s ambiguity. It’s always felt complete to me and anything that I found slightly difficult to grasp was intentional from Kubrick. But, yeah, check your cut and see what shows up.

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      • Jordan Dodd Says:
        December 12, 2017 at 10:30 pm

        how long is the version that you have??

        Liked by 1 person

      • Mark Walker Says:
        December 12, 2017 at 10:41 pm

        To be honest, I’m not certain. The timer on my screen (if you know what I mean) 😉 is 2hr 40mins. I also own it on DVD and it says 2hr 39mins. I’ve noticed no difference from them.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Jordan Dodd Says:
        December 12, 2017 at 10:55 pm

        hmmmmmmmmmm same as mine. Hehe we’ll agree to disagree, its probably because I watched it and decided it felt incomplete while tripping that I still think that. But if 25 minutes was taken out, just imagine what those minutes contained! Hehe either way it might be my fave Kubrick film, though I love every single one apart from Barry Lyndon, which I’ve been told I need to re-watch.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Mark Walker Says:
        December 12, 2017 at 11:00 pm

        I certainly won’t split hairs with you on it. I was okay with it but I can understand your feelings. It has been said that it was his “unfinished masterpiece” so you could be right.

        I’m between this and The Shining as my favourite Kubrick but this just might shade it for me. It’s magnificent. Haven’t seen Barry Lyndon yet though. I have a copy but waiting on the right time for it.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Jordan Dodd Says:
        December 13, 2017 at 12:40 am

        I need to rewatch Lyndon for sure.

        For me its a close call between this and 2001. I think 2001 just wins out cos it literally puts me in a trance when I watch it. As soon as it starts I feel like I’m in a vacuum, its insane. I guess its the epilepsy doing fun things in my brain =D

        Liked by 1 person

      • Mark Walker Says:
        December 13, 2017 at 3:07 pm

        Well, if I had epilepsy then I’d probably favour 2001 as well. 😉

        Liked by 1 person

      • Jordan Dodd Says:
        December 14, 2017 at 2:05 pm

        Hehehe, yeah, its pretty fun to have the type of epilepsy I have man. its a trip. it sucks at times sure, but it can sure be fun!! =P I don’t have physical seizures, they all happen in my temporal lobe. So in a sense I am tripping all the time cos so much of consciousness itself lies in that area

        Liked by 1 person

      • Mark Walker Says:
        December 17, 2017 at 9:50 pm

        How do I get myself some of this epilepsy? 😉

        Liked by 1 person

      • Jordan Dodd Says:
        December 18, 2017 at 4:16 pm

        hahahaha! People have said that to me a lot, mainly during a movie where they;’ll try to whisper something and I just don’t hear it.

        My consciousness feels like a very light dose of lsd or mushrooms, to put it simply. That’s the closest you’ll get. =P

        The epilepsy I have is in my temporal lobe, which controls a loooot of shit. Basically consciousness itself, I have seizures in that part of the brain 24/7. They are quite literally storms of electricity, so consciousness itself is being knocked around., It can be pretty fun! Also. epilepsy has long been associated with writers. They reckon Poe had it, and Dostoyevsy was epileptic too and like Poe had a way with words, There are as lot of others too.

        When you eat acid it does a similar thing to how I see the world – brain scan studies have show that when it kicks in the scans see the temporal lobe light up, goin nuts.

        So that’s my advice mucker!! =P A light trip can be really fun, music sounds amazing, you are talkative bur not fucked up. Basically like me now, look how much crap I have written!! Christ sorry, I’ll fuckin’ stop now, this is a goddamned essay!! We should definitely chat on FB when we are both online, much easier I righjt =D

        Liked by 1 person

      • Mark Walker Says:
        December 20, 2017 at 3:35 pm

        I know I’m in a position to be envious and it’s probably different in reality but that sounds the shit! A light dose of LSD or Shrooms sounds just fine to me. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      • Jordan Dodd Says:
        December 21, 2017 at 1:33 am

        Hehe, its the closest comparison I can come to after having taken way too much myself in the past, and also the fact that all the craziness while tripping happens in the exact part of the brain where I have epilepsy. It certainly helps me immerse myself into music and movies, especially colourful movies with lots of movement. I just sit there as if on acid, mouth hanging open, eyes wide, just taking in this sensory overload if movies are visually stunning. Hence the strange vacuum effect 2001 has on me as soon as it goes into space =D

        Liked by 1 person

      • Mark Walker Says:
        December 21, 2017 at 3:39 pm

        On that note, have I mentioned Waking Life to you yet? Or have you seen it already? It’s a wonderful little animated philosophy lesson from Richard Linklater. He took the same rotoscope approach that he later did with A Scanner Darkly.

        I’m also keen on seeing the recent Loving Vincent which looks visually superb in every scene being painted in the style of Vincent Van Gogh.

        Two films that I think you might appreciate.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Jordan Dodd Says:
        December 21, 2017 at 5:05 pm

        I was think of seeing the Van Gogh movie at the cinemas but passed on it. Dunno why. I think I saw it on the net, might snatch it and have a watch.

        Waking Life… I have heard of it. Might snatch that as well, I freaking LOVE Scanner Darkly. I think I watch it every time I trip hehe. I still donm’t really get it, I should watch it sober for once!!!

        Liked by 1 person

      • Mark Walker Says:
        December 21, 2017 at 5:20 pm

        Definitely check out Waking Life, mate. It’s a little beauty of a film. Visually superb but it also poses some serious philosophical questions. Keeps the old noodle working.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Jordan Dodd Says:
        December 21, 2017 at 6:56 pm

        Sweet. I have it downloading now ;P

        Just finishing up Jawbone, would like to hear your thoughts. Bloody great film.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Mark Walker Says:
        December 21, 2017 at 7:12 pm

        Nice one! I’d love to your thoughts on Waking Life.

        Like

  8. Posts You Should Check Out Part 7 | vinnieh Says:
    December 10, 2017 at 2:34 pm

    […] reviewer and all round good guy Mark deeply analyses Eyes Wide Shut, complete with his customary […]

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  9. Moody Moppet Says:
    January 11, 2018 at 4:03 pm

    “What they really missed, though, was a rich and provocative meditation on sexual desires and the human psyche.” Couldn’t agree with you more, Mark!

    Liked by 1 person

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