Eyes Wide Shut

Eyes Wide Shut is a 1999 psychological drama film directed, produced, and co-written by Stanley Kubrick, based on the 1926 novella Traumnovelle by Arthur Schnitzler. The film stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman as a married couple who are Harvard University-educated and living in New York City. The movie explores the complexities of their relationship, delving into themes of Marriage, Infidelity, and Desire, as seen in the works of Sigmund Freud and Friedrich Nietzsche. The film's title is inspired by the Bible, specifically the Book of Isaiah, and the Kabbalah, a Jewish mysticism tradition.

● Plot

The plot of Eyes Wide Shut revolves around the life of Dr. Bill Harford, a successful New York City doctor, played by Tom Cruise, who is married to Alice Harford, played by Nicole Kidman. The story begins with the couple attending a Christmas party hosted by Victor Ziegler, a wealthy patient of Dr. Bill Harford, played by Sydney Pollack, at his Mansion (house). The party is filled with Jazz music and features a performance by a Piano player, reminiscent of the Roaring Twenties and the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald. As the night progresses, Dr. Bill Harford becomes intrigued by the Masks and Costumes worn by the partygoers, which is a nod to the Venetian Carnival and the Commedia dell'arte tradition. The couple's relationship is put to the test when Alice Harford reveals her Infidelity and Desire for other men, including a Naval officer she met while on Summer vacation in Cape Cod.

● Production

The production of Eyes Wide Shut was a long and complex process, spanning several years and involving a team of experienced filmmakers, including Stanley Kubrick, Jan Harlan, and Brian W. Cook. The film was shot on location in London, New York City, and Long Island, with a budget of over $65 million, making it one of the most expensive films of the 1990s, comparable to James Cameron's Titanic (1997 film). The film's Cinematography was handled by Larry Smith (cinematographer), who used a combination of 35mm film and Digital video to create a unique and atmospheric visual style, inspired by the works of Orson Welles and Akira Kurosawa. The film's Score was composed by Jocelyn Pook, György Ligeti, and Dmitri Shostakovich, featuring a mix of Classical music and Jazz music, similar to the soundtracks of 2001: A Space Odyssey and A Clockwork Orange (film).

● Cast

The cast of Eyes Wide Shut includes Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman as the main characters, Dr. Bill Harford and Alice Harford. The film also features a supporting cast, including Sydney Pollack as Victor Ziegler, Marie Richardson as Marion Nathanson, Todd Field as Nick Nightingale, and Sky du Mont as Sandor Szavost. The cast also includes Rade Šerbedžija as Milich, Vinessa Shaw as Domino, and Alan Cumming as Hotel clerk, all of whom deliver performances that are reminiscent of the works of Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller. The film's cast is notable for its inclusion of Method acting techniques, popularized by Lee Strasberg and the Actors Studio, as well as its use of Improvisation, inspired by the works of Mike Leigh and John Cassavetes.

● Release_and_reception

Eyes Wide Shut was released in 1999 to mixed reviews from critics, with some praising the film's Cinematography and Score, while others found the pacing and plot to be slow and confusing, similar to the reception of Blade Runner and The Shawshank Redemption. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $160 million worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing films of 1999, comparable to Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace and The Sixth Sense. The film received several awards and nominations, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score, and a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Director, similar to the awards received by Schindler's List and The Pianist (2002 film).

● Themes_and_symbolism

The themes and symbolism in Eyes Wide Shut are complex and open to interpretation, with many critics and scholars analyzing the film's use of Dreams, Masks, and Costumes to explore the complexities of human relationships and Desire, as seen in the works of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. The film's use of Color and Lighting is also notable, with a focus on Red and Blue hues to create a sense of Tension and Foreboding, similar to the use of color in The Godfather and The Matrix. The film's exploration of Marriage and Infidelity is also a major theme, with many critics drawing comparisons to the works of Ingmar Bergman and Woody Allen.

● Legacy

The legacy of Eyes Wide Shut is significant, with the film being widely regarded as a classic of World cinema and a testament to the genius of Stanley Kubrick, similar to the legacy of Citizen Kane and 2001: A Space Odyssey. The film's influence can be seen in the works of many other filmmakers, including Christopher Nolan and David Fincher, who have cited Stanley Kubrick as a major influence, along with Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg. The film's exploration of Human relationships and Desire continues to be relevant today, with many critics and scholars analyzing the film's themes and symbolism in the context of Contemporary society and Popular culture, including the works of Jean Baudrillard and Slavoj Žižek. Category:1999 films