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[EviLore]

Criterion versions are second.

https://www.criterion.com/films/34534-eyes-wide-shut

Stanley Kubrick

Eyes Wide Shut

Stanley Kubrick's career-capping Eyes Wide Shut unfolds in a dreamscape vision of New York City, where doctor Bill Harford (Tom Cruise) and his wife, Alice (Nicole Kidman), confront the unconscious desires, jealousies, and fears threatening their marriage. A Christmastime odyssey into a surreal sexual underworld whose hidden power structures are laid frighteningly bare, the film marks the fulfillment of the director's decades-long desire to adapt Arthur Schnitzler's novella Dream Story and the culmination of his obsessive interest in the relationship between institutional authority and the individual. Released in 1999, the film also serves as a fitting coda to a century of cinema, by one of its greatest visionaries—an endlessly tantalizing labyrinth whose myriad symbols, mysteries, and meanings are still being unraveled.
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Film Info

• United Kingdom, United States
• 1999
• 159 minutes
• Color
• 1.85:1
• English
• Spine #1290

4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

• New 4K digital restoration of the international version of the film, supervised and approved by director of photography Larry Smith, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
• One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and two Blu-rays with the film and special features
• New interviews with Smith, photographer and second-unit director Lisa Leone, and Stanley Kubrick archivist Georgina Orgill
• Archival interview with Christiane Kubrick, director Stanley Kubrick's wife
• Never Just a Dream (2019), featuring interviews with producer Jan Harlan; Katharina Kubrick, Stanley Kubrick's daughter; and Anthony Frewin, Kubrick's personal assistant
• Lost Kubrick: The Unfinished Films of Stanley Kubrick (2007)
• Kubrick Remembered (2014), featuring interviews with actors Todd Field and Leelee Sobieski and filmmaker Steven Spielberg
• Kubrick's 1998 acceptance speech for the Directors Guild of America's D. W. Griffith Award
• Press conference from 1999, featuring Harlan and actors Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman
• Teaser and trailers
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• PLUS: An essay by author Megan Abbott and a 1999 interview with actor Sydney Pollack
  
  New cover based on an original poster by Katharina Kubrick and Christiane Kubrick

 

[ReBurn]

It's hard to believe that this movie is that old now.

 

[Grildon Tundy]

If only we could see Kubrick's original cut of this movie. I don't think we'll ever truly know what was changed or removed.

 

[AJUMP23]

Apparently the original film was about elite pedophiles. But he died and the studio changed the edit.

 

[EviLore]

Apparently the original film was about elite pedophiles. But he died and the studio changed the edit.

The only changes to Kubrick's final cut in terms of content were partial digital censorship of the orgy scene to avoid an NC-17 rating. And in the UK the Bhagavad Gita quotes were removed after Hindu protests. It was also degrained and other technical changes were made. All of that is restored in this Criterion release under supervision of the film's DP.

 

[Rentahamster]

Interesting decision with the film grain.

 

[Avid Reading Horse]

I forget, how naked does Nicole get in this and was Epstein and friends in it?

 

[YCoCg]

Interesting decision with the film grain.

Rather have grain than waxy DNR

 

[Salz01]

Didn't Spielberg finish the film? Also want to see an un edited version of this.

 

[Dirk Benedict]

Both at their physical peak.
I'll watch it again. It's trippy and messes with your mind on a first watch. I used to crush on, Kidman.

 

[zaga]

Looks like they are cropping it? Some sort of hate crime against cinema

 

[EviLore]

Looks like they are cropping it? Some sort of hate crime against cinema

Kubrick framed the film both ways, in 1.85:1 for the theater and 4:3ish for home distribution.

 

[zaga]

Right but normally 4:3 framing loses information but for this movie the 4:3 framing actually has more information (it is like an IMAX frame)

The new Criterion widescreen shots appear to be losing half the frame

 

[Cyberpunkd]

I forget, how naked does Nicole get in this

Very. She is peak physique here when it comes to a woman with small breasts.

 

[Chittagong]

Time for an epic wank

I hope this gets released on Kaleidescape uncompressed

 

[Nocty]

I'm fully on board with the 'Kubrick was trying to warn us' conspiracy around this film just gonna put it out there.

Shit is weird as fuck amd now we know about Epstein it's even weirder.

 

[roosnam1980]

 

[Klosshufvud]

Right but normally 4:3 framing loses information but for this movie the 4:3 framing actually has more information (it is like an IMAX frame)

The new Criterion widescreen shots appear to be losing half the frame

Yes this is weird. What's the rationale? They didn't have the original theatre framing?

 

[DKehoe]

Cool to see they used Kubrick's daughter's unused poster design for the cover. I've always really liked that one

I do prefer the lighting in the first picture. It's got more of a warm glow to it, so it gives a better contrast to some of the stark lighting you get later in the film. I know that Kubrick was really particular about lighting, I'm sure I read somewhere that he was especially so about that specific scene at the party. So it's surprising to see quite a noticeable shift. But the film's director of photography is involved in this and obviously has a better handle on this than me so what the fuck do I know.

 

[kruis]

Right but normally 4:3 framing loses information but for this movie the 4:3 framing actually has more information (it is like an IMAX frame)

The new Criterion widescreen shots appear to be losing half the frame

You're thinking of movies filmed in 16:9 but then cropped (or panned & scanned) to 4:3 for television.

But this movie was filmed open matte in 4:3 and "cropped" to 16:9 aspect ratio for movie theaters. In effect, the director is filming both aspect ratios at once which makes sure that the movie looks correct on tv and in movie theaters.



This was pretty common actually. This started in the 1950ies when widescreen appeared but Hollywood had to support movie theaters that only had 4:3 screens for a number of years. There are many, many movies that were shot in two aspect ratios. It's a shame that when movies are released on Blu-Ray/4K, only the 16:9 is seen as the real version. There are cases where the 16:9 version looks worse than the 4:3 version, because the director was obviously framing the movie for the Academy Award ratio and the 16:9 widescreen version was an afterthought.

 

[Artoris]

She has not aged well

 

[GnomeChimpsky]

I'm fully on board with the 'Kubrick was trying to warn us' conspiracy around this film just gonna put it out there.

Shit is weird as fuck amd now we know about Epstein it's even weirder.

Theories about Kubrick are always wild but I believe there's something to this. There's a Nicole Kidman interview from back in the day where she says Kubrick told her the world is run by pedophile elites. I don't know about the realities of that but I think it's safe to say Kubrick believed it and if he did it's definitely the theme of the film.

 

[Nocty]

Theories about Kubrick are always wild but I believe there's something to this. There's a Nicole Kidman interview from back in the day where she says Kubrick told her the world is run by pedophile elites. I don't know about the realities of that but I think it's safe to say Kubrick believed it and if he did it's definitely the theme of the film.

I mean the fact the guy died right after the film came out only adds fuel to the fire

 

[Cyberpunkd]

She has not aged well

The problem is as with many old people - no strength training, the first thing you lose when you age is muscle mass and if you combine it with a diet that makes you not take on pounds this is the effect you get. She is basically all skin and bones. Also the lack of muscle mass is exactly what makes old people break their bones the moment they fall, etc. There is nothing to protect the bones from impact.

 

[Putonahappyface]

If only we could see Kubrick's original cut of this movie. I don't think we'll ever truly know what was changed or removed.

I suspect the rumours of his vision of Eyes Wide Shut being edited after his death are true. The beginning of the film kept me fully engrossed, but my God easily the most anticlimactic film I've ever seen.

 

[AJUMP23]

I watched EWS once and that was enough.

I would loved to have seen what Kubrick was going to do with Napoleon. He apparently had an extensive catalog of Napoleons life and was going to do an epic series about him.

 

[Artoris]

I watched EWS once and that was enough.

I would loved to have seen what Kubrick was going to do with Napoleon. He apparently had an extensive catalog of Napoleons life and was going to do an epic series about him.

watch barry lyndon if you have not done so you may get some idea what he wanted to too

 

[AJUMP23]

watch barry lyndon if you have not done so you may get some idea what he wanted to too

I have seen it, it was an interesting film.

 

[TerribleAtThisGame]

What Went Wrong - Eyes Wide Shut

For any giga movie nerd, I recommend this episode and podcast in general. I'm not a big fan of the hosts getting overly preachy and patting themselves on the back in some episodes but their research is fantastic. A lot of these are meticulously researched to the point of cross-checking shooting schedules with interview dates yadda yadda.

This episode specifically sheds some much needed light and in a convenient format.

Also, extremely excited for this release. The original DP is involved so I'll reserve my judgment on those screens but yea, I love this movie.

 

[DKehoe]

I watched EWS once and that was enough.

I would loved to have seen what Kubrick was going to do with Napoleon. He apparently had an extensive catalog of Napoleons life and was going to do an epic series about him.

Spielberg has been working to produce an HBO miniseries on it using Kubrick's notes. Not that it would be the same as if Kubrick did it but could be cool to see it actually made. It's one of those projects that's been ongoing for ages so there's a decent chance nothing actually comes from it, but as of the end of last year he was talking about it as something he's still actively working on.

What Went Wrong - Eyes Wide Shut

For any giga movie nerd, I recommend this episode and podcast in general. I'm not a big fan of the hosts getting overly preachy and patting themselves on the back in some episodes but their research is fantastic. A lot of these are meticulously researched to the point of cross-checking shooting schedules with interview dates yadda yadda.

This episode specifically sheds some much needed light and in a convenient format.

Also, extremely excited for this release. The original DP is involved so I'll reserve my judgment on those screens but yea, I love this movie.

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll need to check this out.

 

[Dirk Benedict]

The problem is as with many old people - no strength training, the first thing you lose when you age is muscle mass and if you combine it with a diet that makes you not take on pounds this is the effect you get. She is basically all skin and bones. Also the lack of muscle mass is exactly what makes old people break their bones the moment they fall, etc. There is nothing to protect the bones from impact.

It's not just that, we also lose bone density, so supplements play an important role in keeping healthy during the later stages of our lives.

 

[TerribleAtThisGame]

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll need to check this out.

There are MANY highly informative episodes but again, be patient with the hosts. They're industry Hollywood people and tend to go on repetitive and performative tangents.

 

[PrimetimeKnight]

Very. She is peak physique here when it comes to a woman with small breasts.

I still think Batman Forever Nicole Kidman is peak but she is definitely no slouch in EWS either.

 

[SlimySnake]

Didn't Spielberg finish the film? Also want to see an un edited version of this.

that was AI.

 

[Poppinfresh]

I watched EWS once and that was enough.

I watched it in the theater on opening weekend, on a first date.

Then we went back to her place and made out in the basement with Golden Girls on the TV in the background.

Surreal.

I haven't seen the movie since, but I still watch Golden Girls occasionally.

 

[TerribleAtThisGame]

I watched it in the theater on opening weekend, on a first date.

Then we went back to her place and made out in the basement with Golden Girls on the TV in the background.

Surreal.

I haven't seen the movie since, but I still watch Golden Girls occasionally.

Pure Chad post all around. I secretly worship Golden Girls.

 

[AJUMP23]

I watched it in the theater on opening weekend, on a first date.

Then we went back to her place and made out in the basement with Golden Girls on the TV in the background.

Surreal.

I haven't seen the movie since, but I still watch Golden Girls occasionally.

Did you marry that person?

 

[Poppinfresh]

Did you marry that person?

No, not even close.

I think we only went on a couple of more dates after that. She had very little personality, and what personality she did have was incredibly materialistic. Huge turn-off.

 

[AJUMP23]

No, not even close.

I think we only went on a couple of more dates after that. She had very little personality, and what personality she did have was incredibly materialistic. Huge turn-off.

Don't invest in shallow flesh.

 

[Trogdor1123]

Isn't this the movie that broke them up? Or is that myth?

 

[Dr.Morris79]

I watched it in the theater on opening weekend, on a first date.

Then we went back to her place and made out in the basement with Golden Girls on the TV in the background.

Surreal.

I haven't seen the movie since, but I still watch Golden Girls occasionally.

 

[AJUMP23]

Maybe it is this thread that is messing with my Algorithm, but Twitter has had people offering the 35mm Scan of this movie. Which I find interesting hat you can get a scan of the film. Some offer 4k and some 1080p.

 

[jason10mm]

Pure Chad post all around. I secretly worship Golden Girls.

I'm of an age now where Blanche has a certain appeal

 

[TerribleAtThisGame]

I'm of an age now where Blanche has a certain appeal

Not QUITE for me but I respect the game, G.

 

[Gp1]

I've watched it at the time but, at the height of my 14-15 years I didn't "valued the experience correctly".

It was on my "rewatch" list for quite some time and I even begun to watch it again some weeks ago but didn't finished it.

Guess I'll wait a few more months.

Considering the photos, they've really changed the cinematography. Let's see how it performs in HDR, because in some frames the light seems blown out and the colors are completely different.

 

[ResurrectedContrarian]

yeah not sure about this one, the 4:3 was better for the framing it seems to me, and the warmth of the lights (and deep saturation of the distinctive reds/blues that are such a part of this film) looks heavily reduced here

The original is visually brilliant at every frame.

 

[Grildon Tundy]

Didn't Spielberg finish the film? Also want to see an un edited version of this.

Are you thinking of A.I.? That was a Kubrick concept that Spielberg executed.

 

[Chuck Berry]

I watched EWS once and that was enough.

I would loved to have seen what Kubrick was going to do with Napoleon. He apparently had an extensive catalog of Napoleons life and was going to do an epic series about him.

With Nicholson as Napoleon

 

[ResurrectedContrarian]

Tarantino fuming right now

 

[EviLore]

Tarantino fuming right now

Tarantino-vision aside, the taller framing in this shot is clearly superior, and it looks like it could be in other shots as well.