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In Reply to: "Eyes Wide Shut". Watched This Film Again A While.... posted by AudioHead on June 05, 2004 at 15:57:22:
EWS, as one reviewer stated, seems to be divided twixt those
who are fascinated by it and those who are bored by it. I fall into
former camp, but was dissapointed in general. Could have been
much better.
Technically, EWS is well-executed: performances are competent,
if understated; direction is good, pacing is OK, if draggy at times;
photography, music score, set and costume design (especially masks)
are excellent.
However, as a penetrating psychological thriller or moving
drama, EWS falls flat on its face. More plotholes than a Stephen
King cemetery; a geriatric climax and a dishrag denouement that
leaves one scratching one's head in frustrating bewilderment.
Thematically, Kubrick continues his probing into dehumanization-
depersonalization (2001; A Clockwork Orange; FMJ, etc.), especially
via the wealthy sex-club-cult scenes with their secret, mechanical
rituals of decadent eroticism.
Perhaps it is fitting that Kubrick's swansong film should
generate so much controversy, whether planned or fortuitous. IMO,
EWS, does show flashes of the master's brilliance, but not nearly
enough to be included amongst his best efforts.
Final verdict: one thumb up, one thumb down. ~ AH.
Follow Ups:
And in relation to dehumanization expressed in the other movies. What is the cause of this? Technology? Culture? Mass Society? Wealth effects of the capitalist class system?Does Kubrick give us some indication of what a truly human response could or should be in this or any of his movies? Would one be HAL trying to get Dave to stop? Or HAL trying to take over the mission because he knows better? What about EWS, what are the expressions of the truly human? It's been awhile since I've seen this one, so please bear with me.
Look, I think you may be onto something. I haven't been able to get a handle on it yet, myself.
Will have to ponder them for a while. For now I recommend that
you check out Tarkovsky's Solaris vis-a-vis Kubrick's-Clarke's 2001 at:
www.underview.com/2001/solaris.html. Perhaps this penetrating
review detailing two radically omnifferent cinematic views of omniverse can help you. Also, go to www.quantonics.com., on this site you will
discover how reality's included-middlings eliminate any mechanical
thing-king tendencies toward dehumanization-depersonalization. -AH.
name me two better films playing in the theaters today, else your list of "two thumbs up" movies must be a very short one.
"HEY" - BIG A
ah
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