Warning: this article contains some spoilers for Babygirl.Halina Reijn’s new thrillerBabygirlcenters on a tech company CEO who begins an affair with an alluring intern at her company, risking everything in the process.Babygirl’s castis led by Nicole Kidman as Romy Mathis, along with great supporting performances by Harris Dickinson and Antonio Banderas as her intern and husband, respectively. The film, which tackles issues of desire, sexuality, power, and family, has received positive reviews, andBabygirlhas even become one of A24’s highest-grossing moviesever, proving its success.
While Nicole Kidman is no stranger to theerotic thriller genre,Babygirlis an entirely different kind of film than Stanley Kubrick’sEyes Wide Shutwas for the A-list actor 25 years ago. In fact, the newer film gives Kidman a chance to showcase a whole different skill set and different desires as the primary focus of the film. With its updated approach to the erotic thriller genre,Babygirl’s endingis even able to tie together Romy’s fantasies with the reality of her life as a mother and businesswoman, which ultimately adds something new and exciting to the genre.
Babygirl & Eyes Wide Shut Tackle Nicole Kidman’s Affairs Differently
The Two Films Approach Sexuality And Affairs In Very Different Ways
Though bothBabygirlandEyes Wide Shutare erotic thrillers featuring great performances by Nicole Kidman, beyond the surface level similarities, the films are actually quite different in their approaches to Nicole Kidman’s affairs. WhileEyes Wide Shutallows Kidman’s character Alice to detail her fantasy to her husband, Bill (Tom Cruise), the affair did not actually occur. While smoking weed in their home one night,Alice admits that she had been tempted to cheat on Bill and leave him and their daughterafter meeting a military officer that she found attractive, creating doubts about her in Bill’s mind.
In contrast to Alice’s willingness to expose her inner desires, much to the chagrin of her husband, Romy does not speak to her husband about her sexual desires.
While Alice goes into explicit detail to her husband about the affair that she imagined having, she stopped before actually cheating on her husband. However, Alice’s imaginary affair inEyes Wide Shutforeshadows Romy’s meeting with Samuel inBabygirl. In contrast to Alice’s willingness to expose her inner desires, much to the chagrin of her husband, Romy does not speak to her husband about her sexual desires. Instead, Romy secretly does have an affair that finally allows her to feel satisfied during sex.
Nicole Kidman received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance inBabygirl.
Romy’s affair with Samuel inBabygirlis one that she explicitly tries to stay away from in the beginning of the film, knowing that it would hurt her husband. In this sense, the two films represent affairs in completely different ways. InEyes Wide Shut, Alice seems to almost taunt Bill with her desires while maintaining that she did not actually cheat on him. InBabygirl,Romy does cheat on Jacob and feels intense guilt from having her fantasies met. Thus, the erotic thrillers each seem to question the nature of desire and the guilt that may accompany it.
Romy And Alice Have Very Different Marital Problems
Romy’s Marriage Seems Much More Stable Than Alice’s
HowEyes Wide ShutandBabygirlhandle their characters' marital problems seems intricately linked to how the films handle their affairs, since the marital problems are reflected in the desires of the characters. In general, Romy’s marriage inBabygirlseems much more stable than Alice’s inEyes Wide Shut.Romy and Jacob seem to genuinely love each other and their two children, along with each being supportive of the other’s careers. Because their marriage does seem so stable, Romy is clearly very conflicted about her affair and knows her husband will be devastated.
Why Dogs Are So Important In Babygirl & What They Represent
Dogs appear in key moments during Nicole Kidman’s new film Babygirl, which helps shape the plot and creates symbolism that pairs well with her desire.
In contrast,Bill and Alice’s relationship inEyes Wide Shutappears far more antagonistic to viewers. When the two attend a Christmas party at the beginning of the film, they each dance and flirt with other people, and Alice becomes suspicious when Bill disappears for a long time, implying that she believes Bill would cheat on her if given the chance. Additionally, her story about the officer she wanted to have an affair with serves to show Bill that she could cheat on him too if she desired, creating a lack of trust from both sides.
Babygirl Makes Nicole Kidman’s Character The Focus, But Eyes Wide Shut Doesn’t
Eyes Wide Shut Gives Nicole Kidman A Supporting Role
Perhaps the biggest difference betweenBabygirlandEyes Wide Shutis that Nicole Kidman’s character truly gets to be the focus inBabygirl. Though Alice’s flirting and admission of her desire to cheat play a critical role inEyes Wide Shut, as they prompt Bill to go out for the night and encounter the ritualistic sex party, she is not truly the main character.The story is told through Bill’s perspectiveand the audience is expected to sympathize with him upon hearing of Alice’s desires.
Romy’s family and marriage are undeniably important toBabygirl,but the real purpose is to explore women’s desires in a way that is so often overlooked in film.
Alice is a supporting character inEyes Wide Shutand her sexuality is explored to a lesser extent, but Romy gets to be the main character inBabygirl. From the outset,Babygirlis about Romy’s life, career, and hidden desires. Romy’s family and marriage are undeniably important toBabygirl,but the real purpose is to explore women’s desires in a way that is so often overlooked in film.
Nicole Kidman Hits A Notable Box Office Milestone For The First Time In 17 Years With Babygirl
For the first time in nearly two decades, leading actor Nicole Kidman has earned a notable box office milestone with her latest movie, Babygirl.
Babygirl’s focus on Romy allows the movie to explore her decision-making and the risks involved in her affair. Though she ultimately goes through with the affair because it allows her to live out her fantasy of being dominated by Samuel,Romy is constantly reminded of the potential to lose everything. Her position of power over Samuel adds another layer to the situation, as she is able to reverse the leadership role that she fills in her daily life.Babygirlperfectly balances the exploration of power dynamics, risks, and the difference between love and desire through Romy’s relationships.
Babygirl’s Differences To Eyes Wide Shut Are Great For Nicole Kidman
The Newer Film Allows Kidman To Truly Shine
Her role as Romy Mathis inBabygirlis actually one ofNicole Kidman’s best performances, precisely because the role allows her talents to shine in a way thatEyes Wide Shutdoes not, or at least not to the extent that it should. While Alice is a great character, Romy has so much more depth.Babygirlmakes full use of Nicole Kidman in the role because she brings Romy’s sexuality as well as her guilt to life.Kidman goes all in on Romy’s desire to be dominated, making the character believable, and she makes Romy sympathetic despite her affair.
In short, Romy’s complexity and Nicole Kidman’s ability to humanize her and make her feel real is supremely impressive.
While Romy’s actions are certainly morally questionable, Kidman’s portrayal of her as a woman who is incredibly successful yet unsatisfied in her personal life, is something that many viewers may find a kernel of truth in. In short, Romy’s complexity and Nicole Kidman’s ability to humanize her and make her feel real is supremely impressive. The role also points to Kidman’s enduring fame as a critically acclaimed leading woman, proving that theBabygirlactor will continue to deliver stellar performances as her career continues.
Babygirl
Cast
Babygirl revolves around a high-powered CEO who risks her career and family by engaging in a passionate affair with her much younger intern. Released in 2024, this narrative explores themes of ambition, power dynamics, and personal sacrifice.
