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.
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Reply by Drooch
on February 25, 2017 at 7:41 PM
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.
Reply by marshjes
on February 26, 2017 at 10:41 PM
Good interpretations! The beauty of this movie is that we are all correct. I like other interpretations even better than my own sometimes.
Reply by tmdb53400018
on June 15, 2022 at 7:08 AM
Intense.
Reply by bratface
on June 15, 2022 at 7:31 PM
NOPE!