Discuss Eyes Wide Shut

I hate to take away from someone's post back on IMBD about this movie, but it is no longer there and I would love to expand upon his/her thoughts. This movie is about sex. It starts out as a husband/wife, then morphs into adultery. The adultery, even just a thought, catapulted his feelings into actions. He felt upset and discarded. Then sex can be used for power or pleasure, as the meetings/orgies show. Then sex between a prostitute to help yourself feel better and wanted, even if paying for it. Sex between men (the hooting on the street). Sex with a dead woman (is that necrophilia?). But sex can hurt. The prostitute found out about a serious STD so that can hurt the body. Sex can hurt the mind or be used as revenge, which is what he wanted to do, spurn the wife. In the end, intimacy was restored as the wife said to have sex with the husband. Sex, overall, can be very powerful.

4 replies (on page 1 of 1)

Jump to last post

It's primarily about how the tradition of marriage fits uncomfortably with the complex passions of human sexuality.

There's also a typical Kubrickian theme of sinister power, with Sydney Pollak's character being part of a twisted elite who indulge their freakish perversions, using intimidation and possibly murder to keep things secret. Cruise's character is middle-upper class and frequently gets out his wallet to gain access on his 'sexual odyssey' - he pays lower class people like the prostitute, the costume store owner, the taxi driver. Sex and money mix in uncomfortable ways, especially involving the store-owner's daughter.

Like all Kubricks it took a while for this to become as well-regarded as it deserves. Definitely one of my favourites.

Good interpretations! The beauty of this movie is that we are all correct. I like other interpretations even better than my own sometimes.

Intense.

NOPE!

Can't find a movie or TV show? Login to create it.

Global

s focus the search bar
p open profile menu
esc close an open window
? open keyboard shortcut window

On media pages

b go back (or to parent when applicable)
e go to edit page

On TV season pages

(right arrow) go to next season
(left arrow) go to previous season

On TV episode pages

(right arrow) go to next episode
(left arrow) go to previous episode

On all image pages

a open add image window

On all edit pages

t open translation selector
ctrl+ s submit form

On discussion pages

n create new discussion
w toggle watching status
p toggle public/private
c toggle close/open
a open activity
r reply to discussion
l go to last reply
ctrl+ enter submit your message
(right arrow) next page
(left arrow) previous page

Settings

Want to rate or add this item to a list?

Login