Other Crap

5 Movies That Were One Flaw Away From Being Classics

Actually they are right and wrong about Eyes Wide Shut. They are right in that it is one flaw away from being a classic, but the flaw is that it was located in modern times in New York, when neither the plot nor the character motivations make sense. The original novel takes place in gaslight Vienna, but is otherwise identical. Why is that better? Some examples:

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  It was believable back then that a man of science would plunge into a walpurgisnacht after his wife confessed a sexual fantasy. Confessing such a thing was unheard of. In today's world, we all realize that our women have intense sexual fantasies about other men, and they discuss them on TV. Even Larry the Cable Guy can probably figure it out. A doctor would certainly realize how normal it was, and would not react so melodramatically.
  
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  It was believable back then that there was an aura of mystery about the ultimate fate of the piano player. Did he really return home safely or was he murdered by the cult? The doctor would probably never know. In today's world there would be no mystery. Dial his cell phone and see if he answers.
  

Having thus noted what's really wrong with the film, I have to say that Kubrick probably could also have improved upon the casting, as noted in this article. On the other hand, Kubrick had always been able to wring appropriate performances out of truly crappy actors, e.g. Keir Dullea and Ryan O'Neal, so he was filled with hubris. After all, they were HIS moves, not theirs.

I'd add to their list Strange Days, Kathryn Bigelow's near-masterpiece which should have been set far in the future rather than in 1999, when the whole plot seemed far-fetched and totally lacked credibility.