Last Things Psychopolitics and I have produced what I feel is the most comprehensive analysis of Eyes Wide Shut you will find anywhere. We incorporate the surface level analysis with a deeper reading, that of a sexually frustrated marriage and the subplot of being pursued by a secret cabal. We do so without veering off into wild, unsubstantiated theorizing. You probably already consider this film a masterpiece, hopefully we can put all the pieces, symbolism, and double meanings together to enhance your understanding and appreciation of this film.
I’d like to clarify something: I say film “evolved into” a literary medium. That is wrong, it can obviously never do that. What I mean to say is that it began to be treated like a literary medium over time, to the point where that is the dominant disposition of directors towards the medium. It is primarily an audio/visual medium, but too often the script takes priority. Some examples of what I mean are Annie Hall, Taxi Driver (or any other film with voice over), Pulp Fiction, any Robert Eggers film. Juxtapose these with say Kurosawa’s Dreams, Fellini Satyricon, Blade Runner 2049, you’ll see what I mean.
If you enjoyed this episode, here are a few others on some of your favorite films:
Nightmare On Elm Street and Friday The Thirteenth
