Film History and Meaning : Why "Eyes Wide Shut" is Kubricks most underrated/More of this?

Why "Eyes Wide Shut" is Kubricks most underrated/More of this?

Hi guys!

Stanley Kubrick "Eyes Wide Shut" is a strange one. After my first watch I felt very intrigued by the setup, the symbolism and the somewhat plain banality of Tom Cruises character, but I felt that I quite didn't get the whole picture. So first, I'd like to recommend to watch the movie with a very open mind, because for what I think, this is the last expensive Hollywood movie exploring themes of eroticism and sexuality to be made for a long time (already), and after that, I'd like to recommend the Youtube Channel/moviecritic "The Filmanalysis" and ask you, if you know any more like him?

Because reviews or explainer videos often only address the meaning of the narrative or the narrative structure itself, I was looking for content that addressed the question: What is the film actually telling? So I came across this said channel of a German film critic who also produces in English. He looks at films in an ideology-critical way, and I really liked his videos for "Eyes Wide Shut" and "The Birds". I miss this perspective on film in many reviews, especially because it allows the film to be explained from a completely different perspective. And yes, the critic is preaching to the choir here anyway, because, as I said in the title, I think "Eyes Wide Shut" is very underrated.

My thoughts about this film: I am impressed about Kubricks ability to maintain a constant feel of threat during the whole runtime, even though there isn't that much happening. It feels in parts like a crime-mystery, but really, for a great part it's just Tom Cruise being shocked about his wife's sexuality. Kubrick, as always, clothes his symbolism and storytelling in wonderful, sometimes surreal feeling pictures. I also have to mention the music! Especially the somewhat weird chanting from this one scene always feels intriguing and dreadful at the same time. I'd always recommend this movie, even though I think it's one of Kubricks not-so-easy-watches.

Anyway, I'm curious to hear about your thoughts and would really like to recommend said channel.

Re: Why "Eyes Wide Shut" is Kubricks most underrated/More of this?

Another discussion about that overrated movie?

It's the worst movie Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise has ever been in and the worst Stanley Kubrick made.

Re: Why "Eyes Wide Shut" is Kubricks most underrated/More of this?

I get that it's a very like-it-or-hate-it-movie, and I can understand both sides, but for personally, it just clicked after my second watch. I also enjoyed Kidmans and Cruises performance a lot!

Re: Why "Eyes Wide Shut" is Kubricks most underrated/More of this?

It was the characters. They were boring. Some boring doctor and his trophy wife having marital problems is interesting.


However the execution of the story and how the plot was made it a boring ass movie. Even that grand soft porn scene was absurd and placed there for shock only and it didn't last very long. So the film isn't about that underground world of sexual depravation it's just about that boring doctor running around all night not really doing shit at all

Re: Why "Eyes Wide Shut" is Kubricks most underrated/More of this?

I quite enjoyed this movie. I watched it twice, however, and noticed I definitely picked things up differently than if I had just watched it the one time.

"Life is tough. Get a helmet." – Candace Owens
"Not today, Satan!" – Blaire White

Re: Why "Eyes Wide Shut" is Kubricks most underrated/More of this?

Recently I've been seeing a lot of people confidently claiming that Kubrick made the film to out actual occult sex rituals taking place in Hollywood and other halls of power. They say there was much more cut from the movie than has been acknowledged and that he was then killed. They say this like you have to be a complete moron not to see it and believe it. I don't know if they're trolling or if they seriously believe it. That theory has always been around but they seem to be almost militant about it, like it is an important part of how they understand the world. They say that in the final scene where Cruise and Kidman are in the store with their daughter that the two older men looking at toys were also at the party at the beginning of the movie and when the daughter follows them (although she doesn't really follow them, just happens to turn in the aisle like they do, they seem completely oblivious to her) that she is being kidnapped or whatever and this is the price Cruise paid for being initiated. I don't buy it.
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