"EYES WIDE SHUT"
{1999}

Elegant, erotic, surreal, symbolic. "EYES WIDE SHUT", Director Stanley Kubrick's final film is another masterpiece. Purportedly categorized in previous works as being too much of a contol freak (HELLO any director worthy of the title should be), stars and real life Mr & Mrs Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman had nothing but praise for their director and the film. The finished product bears them out. Doctor"William" and art curator"Alice Hartford" are a successful attractive Manhattan couple, parents to 7 year old Helena and ostensibly "happily married". The good doctor is in every sense of the word---this guy even makes house calls.

It's Christmas holiday time and one of his well-heeled patients as a thank-you for his good services has invited the "Hartford's" to a swanky yule bash. As is the case in these sorts of venues, there are lots of wealthy and attractive guests and there's lots of harmless flirtation going on. The only person the "Hartford's" know is their host "Mr. Ziegler"(Sidney Pollack). As the "Hartford's" are mingling with other guests the doctor is called upon to help his host upstairs with a rather delicate medical emergency. "Alice" sees "William" arm in arm with 2 attractive women and wrongly assumes when he doesn't link up with her at the bar as pre-arranged, that his flirtation has progressed to something more substantial. Later (after having consumed several glasses of champagne at the party and a joint at home), "Alice" confronts "William" with her suspicions and is determined to pick a fight with him despite the fact that he truly has done no wrong. It's at this point that she decides to confess an unsettling fantasy to her hubby. Didn't this woman ever listen to Billy Joel's "It's just a fantasy"? I guess "Alice" is more a fan of "The Stranger" 'cause she definitely kicks the doc "right between the eyes". At this point the doctor is called upon to make another housecall to a different patient. Duty done, he's still ruminating on his wife's confession, and decides to go for a walk to clear his head. As Confucious said 'the journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step', but the good doctor is now traveling in circles that are definitely out of his league.

Fans of Allan Cummings will be rewarded, he steals a scene from the delectible Mr Cruise (not an easy task to accomplish). Nicole and Tom are perfect together. Think Newman and Woodward for the '90's.

Director Kubrick is sure handed as he titillates, introduces suspenseful situations, and effectively makes symbolic use of primary colors.

Kubrick was a genius and we are fortunate to have his works for all time and unfortunate that we can't have him here to create more.

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