While many of us are enjoying some much deserved down time over the holidays, I wanted to join in the fray by recommending a movie. And of course, my pick is a bit controversial! Is Eyes Wide Shut dreadful? Is it a masterpiece? I am going with “masterpiece”… I’ve seen it multiple times and it gets more intriguing with each viewing. And on top of that, Eyes Wide Shut is an off-beat holiday film. But perhaps not one you’d want to share with the kids 🙂
Intriguing Trailer
Let’s start with the original trailer…
I mean, come on! That music, Nicole and Tom at their most radiant movie star selves. If you’ve never seen the film, aren’t you just a little intrigued?
Eyes Wide Shut as holiday pick
A lot has been written about the film. Labelled as an “erotic thriller,” Eyes Wide Shut can definitely be classified as an off-beat holiday film. The movies takes place at Christmas time, and the symbolism of Christmas permeates the film. And the symbolism doesn’t stop there. There are multiple books, articles and treatises on what all the symbolism and imagery means. If you are just interested in one thorough take, I recommend this Medium article.
People can go very deep on Eyes Wide Shut. And that’s why I love it- each viewing reveals a new insight, a subtle nuance that I never noticed before. And of course, I love a good conspiracy theory; add in the Illuminati and I am completely in. The holiday setting doesn’t hurt; in fact, it adds to the otherworldliness of the atmosphere. And of course, beautiful people in beautiful places and clothes is always going to work for me!
The making of… is its own story
And there’s the whole backstory of how long the filming took, Tom and Nicole living on the set, the fact that this was Stanley Kubrick’s final film (and was it edited to protect the guilty after his death??) The story of the making of the film is its own rabbit hole, should you choose to go down it.
Ever since Greek mythology in fifth grade, I have loved the idea of symbolism and imagery. It’s almost like the author/artist is communicating in a secret language that only a few of us can understand. In the case of Eyes Wide Shut, it seems like a lot of people have shared what they think the movie’s messages are. But you’ll have to make up your own mind.
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