Eye Of The Needle (Wide Screen)

Advantages: Artsy, beautiful sets, fascinating story
Disadvantages: the ending...

...I din't catch "Eyes Wide Shut" in the cinema, but it still looks very beautiful even on the small screen. Stanley Kubrick's last work received many nominations and did win "Best Foreign Film" (French Syndicate of Film Critics) and "Best Art Movie" (Golden Slate). Was it just a hyped-up thing or a masterpiece? This story of Bill Harford, Manhatten MD to the rich and famous, and his art curator wife Alice (she's between jobs) was a bit misrepresented in the advertising campaign. Consequently, many viewers were disappointed, especially those who expected usual Hollywood fare. "Eyes Wide Shut" is indeed a stunningly shot art movie. It was loosely inspired by Arthur Schnitzler's "Traumnovelle" (which I've never read, but now I'm curious). The film starts out looking like a Nicole-Kidman-Fest and yes, she doesn't only have a gorgeous... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: excellent film
Disadvantages: none really

...widescreen-only films, but since the film was originally shot in fullscreen, you're not missing anything. The Dolby soundtrack is of a high standard, especially during the spectacular masked party sequence. Extras-wise, Eyes Wide Shut is quite good value, there are very interesting interviews with Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman & Steven Spielberg, who talk much more openly about Kubrick & the film, than you usually find in interviews of this type. There are also some trailers & biographies. Overall, Eyes Wide Shut is not Kubrick's best work by any means, but still an excellent film, full of brilliant touches, and like all his films, it's original and thought-provoking.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: A Masterful Film
Disadvantages: None

...Review History --------------------- This is the second time I have reviewed, ‘Eyes Wide Shut’. On the first occasion, which was also my virgin review, I never did the film justice and rightly only achieved a ‘helpful’ rating. I’ve tried to do some editing to the original review but it just isn’t happening so I’ve decided to do the whole thing over again in the hope that this time the rating achieved will match the greatness of the movie. Film Background ------------------------ As with many other movies, a book lies behind the inspiration for ‘Eyes Wide Shut’. The book, titled, ‘Traumnovelle’, [Dream Story] was published in 1926 by Austrian writer, Arthur Schnitzler [1862-1931]. Schnitzler was a controversial writer for his day, with one of his works, ‘Der Reign’ provoking a six-day obscenity trial resulting in acquittal... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful