Directed by Stanley Kubrick, this drama is adapted from the 1926 novella Traumnovelle (Dream Story), which was written by Arthur Schnitzler. This was Kubrick's last movie and is an intense film starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.
Bill and Alice Hartford are an up-market couple who seem to have a perfect marriage. Bill is a successful doctor and is invited to his superior's mansion for a party. Here the couple successfully resist attempts to seduce them and reach home. Back at home, Alice casually mentions her urges for having an affair, especially when she has a passionate glance from a handsome sailor. This sends Bill in to fits of jealousy and he storms out in to the night. A late night phone call from a patient helps him to meet Marion, the daughter of the patient, who implores him to take her as his own wife. Bill with his head full of demons aimlessly walks in the street and bumps in to an acquaintance Nick at the Jazz Club. Here he cleverly wiggles out information about a party in Long Island Mansion which has a select invitee list. He also gets Nick to reveal the password for entry. After acquiring the venetian mask and costume Bill reaches the mansion for the party.
At the party Bill observes bizarre orgies being conducted on the participants. The women are made to stand in the circle and are disrobed by the master of ceremonies wearing a red mask. Each women then move forward and randomly choose the men. Bill is chosen by a model who warns him to get out of the place as he was in danger. Bill does not pay heed to her and wanders around the place where orgies are taking place in all the rooms. He is soon caught and unmasked. The man in the red mask warns him against talking about the orgies to anyone and throws him out in to the night.
Bill reaches home to Alice, who again tearfully tells him about her nightmares about having sex with other men while he is watching. A distraught Bill sets out next morning to check out the events of the night. He soon finds a sinister plot to keep him away from the truth. He finds Nick beaten up and kidnapped and the model he helped to revive in Ziegler's place murdered. He reaches Ziegler to get some answers and is warned again for his life. Ziegler tells him that the orgies involved powerful men of the society and unmasking them would invite their wrath. He also informs him that the dead model was the girl who warned him at the party.
Bill reaches home tired and frightened only to find Alice sleeping with the mask. He breaks down and tells her about his journey. Both make love and reconcile to give their relationship another chance.
Eyes wide Shut was also Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman's last movie together. This movie opened to mixed reviews. Some critics found the dream like movie very alluring and many others find it one of Kubrick's lesser efforts. The box office reaction was unremarkable and many parts of America gave it an R rating. Controversies about using Bhagavat Gita Shlokas in Orgy scenes also dogged the DVD versions.
A typical art house cinema, it is strictly for film institute students who can appreciate the nuances of a Kubrick movie which gives forth the dream like state.
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