"EYES WIDE SHUT" (KUBRICK'S LAST MASTERPIECE)

Victor Bloom MD

Hopefully, Kubrick's last cinematic masterpiece will still be playing by the time you read this. Despite the fact that the critics' reviews have been mixed, and crowds have failed to appear, it is a must-see movie for those who are curious about the deep and complex layers of the human psyche.

The married couple, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman play the married couple in the film, and so their intimacy is natural and believable. And despite this intimacy, and apparently happy marriage, trouble is brewing. A deep, enduring and committed relationship is nothing to take for granted. Such a relationship needs to be nurtured, protected and renewed for it to survive as a marriage worthy of the name.

The ratings have been overly discussed. Despite the fact that there is what seems to be a lot of graphic nudity, the emotional impact is not erotic. In this film the nude body is devoid of voyeuristic leering. One naked hooker is passed out, overdosed on drugs. Tom Cruise, playing a New York doctor is checking her to see if she is alive or will live. Later in the film he sees her as a corpse in a morgue; she finally has succumbed to drugs, probably as a vain attempt to anesthetize her from her unhappy and destructive lifestyle.

The very opening of the film shows Nicole Kidman stark naked, but quickly putting on a party dress. The couple is matter-of-factly getting ready for an important party. She is on the toilet asking, "how do I look?" and he is trying to tie his bow-tie. It is a formal party given by a wealthy patient; the doctor is in the 'in' crowd because he makes 'housecalls' to the very rich. The couple have a nine year old daughter. He says, "you look great!" She says, "you aren't even looking." He says, "I don't have to look, I know you always look great."

The aformentioned dialog is a clue to the fact that their marriage is rocky. He is the busy doctor and she is the stay-at-home mom. Romance, tenderness, consideration, sensitivity, seem to be out of the picture. At the party, they are both the target of seductions, she with a handsome, distinguished-looking Hungarian, on the make, having noticed that she drained her champagne glass with one gulp. The good doctor is approached by two beautiful models, suggesting to him they go upstairs.

Ultimately they resist temptation and find themselves at home, with each other again. She rolls a joint and they both take a few puffs. They get high, but things become unpleasant. Tom gently tries to make advances, but Nicole is on the muscle. She successfully picks an argument and then confesses being attracted to a naval officer while on vacation the year before. He only gave her a glance, but she had been thinking of him constantly, telling her husband that if this navy man had approached her, she would have given up everything to be with him, marriage, husband, child.

Naturally, Tom is horrified, and starts to obsess about his wife and the naval officer. He is both dismayed and excited, and looks for some source of satisfaction outside the marriage. This drive leads him into sexual temptations and ultimately to a decadent and dangerous situation.

In a way, the film turns out to be a morality tale. It reminds us of the dangers to our emotional well being and the security and stability of our family. It reminds us that deep and hidden impulses lurk below the surface of apparently happy and stable marriages.

The background of the movie is Christmas, a symbol of celebration, peace, brotherhood, salvation and redemption. Colored Christmas lights are everywhere, from the great trees of the very rich, to the raggedy, rickety trees of those who are down and out.

The film gives early warning signals of trouble, the lack of communication, the excess of alcohol, the use of marijuana. Why the need for anesthesia? Marriage is not all fun and games; inevitably there is suffering, misunderstandings, turmoil and pain, pain of the deepest kind. The Chinese symbol for love is a man with a sword in his heart.

After a sojourn in the underworld, the couple talk on the deepest level and communicate, and their relationship is reaffirmed, at least for now. The last line is a shocker, for which there is a mixed reaction in the audience. How is it to be interpreted? The film is over and Kubrick in effect asks you to look into yourself, your marriage, your family, and see if there is a necessity for preventive maintenance.

Dr Bloom is Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Wayne State University School of Medicine. He is a member of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and on the editorial board of the Wayne County Medical Society. He welcomes comments at his email address--- vbloom@comcast.net.