Tag: stanley kubrick

REVISITED CLASSICS – 2001: A Space Odyssey

2001: A Space Odyssey is a 1968 movie directed by Stanley Kubrick.

It’s been a little over a decade since I last viewed 2001: A Space Odyssey, so I thought it would be interesting to see if my experience has changed. Here are my thoughts after another greatly enhanced watch….

THE SENSORY OVERLOAD

I’ve either forgotten, never realized or plain skipped over the movie’s first few minutes. Either all that or maybe I have a better TV in my life now….The opening moments creates a jarring, ear-splitting experience – a pattern continued throughout the movie. The sound of shrieking apes gathered around the monolith builds to a frenzy, taking you to the edge of sanity before yielding to the beautiful silence of Kubrick’s legendary jump cut. Later, the sonic intensity builds as the crew approaches the monolith before cutting through the screen.

EVOLUTION THROUGH THE BONE

In my peculiar head space, I couldn’t escape the thought of how relatively peaceful the apes’ existence appeared. There is a wonderful comfort in the simplicity of their lives – gathering as a family, playing – their life’s objective to find food. Compared to our evolved existence, their lives are the greater expression of freedom. However, the introduction of the bone and the violence that it implies forever alters their lives – as well as ours.

Continue reading “REVISITED CLASSICS – 2001: A Space Odyssey”

Barry Lyndon

Barry Lyndon is a 1975 movie directed by Stanley Kubrick.

Barry Lyndon tells the story of Redmond Barry, an Irish farm boy who seeks to climb the ladder of social nobility. Along the way, he serves as a soldier, a spy and a gambler before marrying into wealth. Eventually, he discovers the limits of his pursuits.

Purely for enjoyment, I listened to a few podcasts on Barry Lyndon – a movie that I found mostly entertaining. I was blown away by the disdain some in the movie community have towards this decadent period piece.

As an example – In case you like jaded film students discussing their hatred of film, take a listen:

KultureCast Podcast

Yet, even measured film critics seem to struggle with classifying this movie:

NY Times – How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Barry Lyndon

The Guardian – Why It’s Time to Reassess Kubrick’s Coffee Table Movie

Roger Ebert – Technically Awesome, Emotionally Distant and Classically Kubrick

At its worst, Barry Lyndon demands patience from an audience. It’s a movie that doesn’t rush. Our main character is painfully dull and/or is vague in his intentions. At times, stretches of silence have to be interpreted as a reading of Thackeray’s novel – a text that not all are familiar with.

Yet, Kubrick presents a rich, decadent landscape of sensory details. Barry Lyndon is a gorgeous movie. It’s visually stunning – capturing both the brutality and splendor of war, along with the devastating effects incurred by the pursuit of social mobility.

Continue reading “Barry Lyndon”

Paths of Glory

Paths of Glory is a 1957 movie directed by Stanley Kubrick.

Paths of Glory tells the story of Colonel Dax, a unit commander in World War I, who leads his men on a dangerous mission. After an unsuccessful outcome, he is then forced to defend three of his soldiers from a vindictive court martial.

Like a lot of movie fans, I hesitate to watch anything predating 1960. There is a rhythm and tone to classic movies that always feels unnatural – or at least aged. From a purely aesthetic view, dreamy, soft focus black and white removes the kind of Neo-reality I seek in movies.

Paths of Glory is an exception to my overly rigid qualifications. Stanley Kubrick delivers a simply outstanding movie that doesn’t feel dramatically dated.

Similar to The Killing, Paths of Glory boasts a sharp, clean black and white environment. This look accentuates the brutality and systematic destruction of trench warfare. Kubrick’s closeup shots of battered and traumatized soldiers further this theme. They appear dazed and almost corpse-like as death swirls around them.

The movie’s sounds contribute to this mayhem. Continuous bomb blasts create a jarring effect – jolting soldiers and rattling debris from the trench walls. Boldly advancing through this chaos is Kirk Douglass’ Colonel Dax, whose natural poise and calm establish him as a genuine leader – rather than a stock figure of empty heroism.

Douglass’ walk through the trenches is the stuff of movie legends. Kubrick employs a single, winding tracking shot – before Douglass disappears into a cloud of smoke. There is no compromise in Dax’s character – only the resolve of a man trying to accomplish an impossible mission that will likely kill the men he’s responsible for leading.

Continue reading “Paths of Glory”