the audience applauded

good back-story, and good acting

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

This was the legendary Stanley Kubrick's final film(he passed away literally a few days after the film's premiere). Now, is it a good film? That depends on what you are looking for. This is a work of high authority and one can see Kubrick's influence in each frame. Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman play real life couple in high society New York(completely recreated on a London soundstage). They are invited a party where sexual dealings and offerings are exchanged which leads to an altercations of sorts later at home. What follows is a ride into a rabbit hole by Cruise's character involving sex cults, orgies, identities and obsessions. The film isn't as heavy handed as it appears and the pacing is very good. Worth a watch.

Eyes Wide Shut was the last film by the legendary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick. At the time of its released the film caused a furore because of the nudity and sex involved but this is a great film which is being slowly being re appreciated and rediscovered, as is the case with most of Kubrick's films. Tom Cruise and Nichole Kidman- real life husband wife at the time- play husband wife that get involved in a sex cult of some sort. This film has a fantastic atmosphere and a mesmerizing flow. You must watch this film, although be aware that it is strictly for adults.

This is the kind of movie that I'll almost immediately head on over to the IMDb FAQ page after watching to see if there's anything offered that might help with interpreting the picture. But as is often the case with complex stories, there are multiple levels of interpretation one might apply to the events that occur on a bizarre night during which Dr. William Harford (Tom Cruise) tries to come to terms with his wife's (Nicole Kidman) hint of a marital infidelity. There's something to be said about the idea that Harford's participation at the masquerade party was all part of a dreamscape, and that it was only his fevered imagination coming up with all the strange occurrences he experienced after leaving his wife at their apartment. How else for example, would Masked Woman #1 have been able to determine that Harford's life was in great danger by attending, and that he should leave immediately? Or consider the sudden appearance of Harford's own mask on his bed pillow next to Alice (Kidman). If it were all a dream, there's no reason to question the improbabilities because one's own subconscious mind is making it all up. Also contributing to the idea that most of this was all a dream was Harford's own reaction to events occurring around him, as most of what he experienced summoned very little emotional response. While watching though, I didn't get the sense that Harford was dreaming. Having become obsessed over his wife's admission, it felt that he was out for some semblance of revenge against her for even thinking of being unfaithful. He further added to his own paranoia by envisioning his wife in bed with the mythical Navy military man. The entire sequence at the party estate was bizarrely surreal and had me mesmerized. It had the appearance of some sort of black mass ritual and felt demonic in it's intensity. The use of a password and the presence of the blindfolded piano player Nick (Todd Field) only added to the mystery of Harford's experience. Regarding the principals, I don't think Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman ever looked more appealing. As a glamorous couple they rivaled Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and the fact that they were married while making this picture suggests they were willing to lay it all on the line for their craft. I was put off by Kidman's character while at the Ziegler (Sidney Pollack) party while dancing with Szavost (Sky Dumont), and she only added to the perception of being a witch with a capital 'B' back at their apartment. The idea that their marriage was hitting the skids would be something of an understatement, though Harford's response went a bit beyond the pale. Perhaps another viewing of the film would be in order to further test some of the ideas presented by other critics, though one's first impression of a surreal adventure needs some time to percolate. I will revisit the film again when the time is right.

Eyes Wide Shut came out in the Summer of 1999 and was directed by my favourite director of all time, Stanley Kubrick, who sadly died a week after the film's final cut was shown. The film follows Bill and Alice Harford who seem like a typical New York wealthy and happy family with their 7 year old daughter but when Alice reveals a secret about a sexual encounter with a man from last summer, Bill then goes to get fair on his wife by also sleeping with someone and after everything fails, Bill then is recommended by his friend to go to a building outside NYC only to discover the great danger he's in and how it can affect his family and friends. Eyes Wide Shut deserves more attention because it truly is a masterpiece in cinematic history, why? The film is art, it's so beautiful, can we all just look at that amazing ritual scene in the film, that scene was basically a painting, literally, A PAINTING!! The performances are so loveable but I haft to say, Kidman goes way over Cruise, I really wished she was in the film more which was probably just my little glitch with it but I truly did not mind that, she was just better than Tom Cruise, no affence! There arent really any other characters except for a few who pop in and out like the costume shop man and his daughter and people like that. My favourite part of the film, like many's obviously was the mansion scene, it was just because it was so beautiful and mysterious and so well acted by Cruise. Eyes Wide Shut deserves more praise then 74% on Rotten Tomatoes!