Great Director

Stanley Kubrick

2-5-2009

While he may have been nicknamed "The Man" by many people who worked with him, Stanley Kubricks films were some of the most controversial and highly debated films of their time. In fact his films tend to be just as controversial and highly debated today, if not more so. You can't easily describe a Kubrick film. Though he has many signature moments - like reverse tracking shots and disconected characters - his films are not like one another. Most people who watch his films for the first time hate them, and only upon repeat viewings does it dawn upon them that they are watching something unique and special. What adds to his films mystic structure is the director himself, who was known for being a recluse and difficult to talk to. When Kubrick was young has was a shy child. His favorite passtime was playing chess. Eventually he would turn his attention to photography, and a legend would be born. Kubrick was not thinking about movies when he started photography, nor was he known to spend his days going to the theater all day. Instead, Kubrick was thinking of becoming a proffesional photographer, and even became a freelancer selling pictures to magazines like "Look." It wasn't until his frend Alex Singer asked him to direct some documentary shorts that his film career took off. Intrigued by the emotion and visual images he could make with moving film over photography, Kubrick pursued a film career, making several noir shorts in the process.

His first major films were "The Killing" and "Paths of Glory." Both films are considered lost treasures today, but they were mostly shunned for their violence back then. "Paths of Glory" is especially noteworthy because it was an anti-war film during a time when war was heavily favored upon by the general public. Though shunned by the public the star of the film, Kirk Douglas, loved working with Kubrick. So much so that when he fired Anthony Mann from directing his epic film "Sparticus," Douglas offered the job to Kubrick. The filming went smoothly, and Kubrick's visual eye was in full force with a big Hollywood budget backing him up. The movie was well received by critics, the public, and Hollywood, winning four Academy Awards in the process. Kubrick though hated the film. He was used to having control on his films, and with "Sparticus" he was just the director. The film was Douglases baby, and he was the one who retained producing, writing, and editing control. It was during the aftermath of this movies release when the two mens friendship came to an abrupt end. Still, because of the success of the movie Kubrick could have his pick of personal projects again, and he decided his next film would be "Lolita." The movie, filmed in England to avoid American censorship restrictions, was based on a controversial novel, and the controversy followed the film. About a 12 year old girl who has a relationship with her step father, the movie caused a huge uproar with the public, and many people didn't see it. His next film, "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned To Quit Worrying And Love The Bomb," was equally controversial (though for very different reasons).

Released during the height of nuclear war fear, Kubrick found the conditions of nuclear war so ludicras that he made this comedy parodying the subject matter. Most people did not find the subject funny, though the future would prove just how ahead of it's time the humor really was. His next project he spent five years developing in secrecy. When word got out that he was adapting Sir Arthur C. Clark's science fiction novel "2001: A Space Odyssey" anticipation for the movie rose tremendousy.During the first sneek preview though Kubrick had, once again, left audiences speechless. They were beweildered. They didn't know what to make of. Rock Hudson reportingly walked to various people at the screening and asked "Can someone please explain what the hell this is?" The movie was, again, ahead of it's time. Though it didn't garner any major attention from the Academy Awards, Kubrick did win his first (and only) Oscar for the breakthrough visual effects in the film. Sadly, this was also the last Kubrick film to be shot in Cinemascope. When Kubrick saw a cropped version of this movie on TV he was horrified by how mangled the image was, and he vowed never to film a movie in that scope again. The result is that while the rest of his movies were good, the world missed out on what could have been a fasinating chapter of visuals in film history.

His next film was "A Clockwork Orange," which is argubly his most controversial film to date. The movie was about a rapist and murder who was eventually caught to become the guinnie pig of the govenments anti-violence movement. Originally rated 'X' by the MPAA, the movie was known for creating the rise of sexual preditors and was eventually banned in Kubricks home country of England until his death. This time though the Academy did nominate Kubrick for Best Director and the film for Best Picture, but both lost out to William Fredlekins "The French Connection." He would score another Best Director and Best Picture nod for his next film "Barry Lyndon." Sadly, the movie did not catch on with audiences, and not only was it a box office dud, but he walked away empty handed come Oscar time (this time to Milo Forman's "One Flew Over The Cukoo's Nest"). Five years later he would return to mainstream Hollywood with "The Shining," a horror film starring Jack Nicholson and adapted from Stephen King's novel of the same name. While not as critically acclaimed as his other works, the movie was financially successful, giving him the opportunity to make another film. That film would come seven years later as "Full Metal Jacket," a war film that was neither pro-war nor anti-war. This dual approuch to storytelling confused many people, and the movie did poorly at the box office. At that point Kubrick went into hiding. He was developing several projects that never got off the ground, but he finally surfaced with his final film "Eyes Wide Shut," which he completed shortly before his death.

The movie was deemed as overtly sexual, dark, and (as usual) very weird. The movie also was met with controversy when Warner Bros. chose to alter an orgy scene to avoid an NC-17 rating. Many people wondered whether Kubrick would have approved of such a movie. Never-the-less, the movie did moderately well, and as time has gone by people are starting to appriciate it more and more. Throughout the years Kubricks films have been praised for their originality and complexity. His visual style is unlike anything else your likely to see, and the fact that his films have so many different meanings is a testiment to his forward thinking. And who knows: Maybe someday someone will finally figure out what the end of "2001: A Space Odyssey" really means.

Cream of the Crop
(In alphabetical particular order)

Dubbed by many as "a thinking man's" science fiction film, "2001: A Space Odyssey" was way ahead of it's time when it was first released. Man had yet to truly go into space, and this movie helped generate interest in the world beyond our own. Many of thinks presented in this film actually became a reality, which just added to the mystique of the project. This was one of two films that was shot in the 70 MM Cinemascope format. A TV aired that heavily cropped the image would insure that Kubrick never made another film in this format.

Filled with controversy to this day, "A Clockwork Orange" is still highly debated for it's artistic quality and perverted nature. The movie is a commentary of the violent nature of humans, and how people can be evil and cruel in obvious and not so obvious ways. A downer all the way through, yet it evokes lots of thought from the viewer by the time the credits role around. Just be prepared to have nightmares whenever you hear "Singing In The Rain" played on the radio.

Film makers who are making all these nuclear war films today would do well to watch Kubrick's satirical film "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love The Bomb." With witty dialog, sharp satire, and great performances by Peter Sellers and George C. Scott, this is one of those comedies that have gotten better with age. Since perspective goes naturally with age, it can be assumed that Kubrick was a very observant man in his youth, and could see things clearer then most people did about certain subjects. Also you can catch Peter Sellers in three of his greatest performances...all in one film!

Though some controversy lingers over this film because there was bad blood that lingered between Kubrick and author Stephen King about how the book was to be adapted, one cannot deny that "The Shining" is one creepy film. It (sadly) doesn't always make a lot of sense, and at time you may be wondering what Kubrick was thinking when he decided to film certain scenes, but the exceptional direction combined with Jack Nicholsons chilling performance makes this one of the true horror classics of our time.

It may be odd to realize this, but "Spartacus" is easily the most striaght forward film the controversial director ever made. Yeah, it's over three hours long. Yeah, there is an epic scope to it that rivals "Ben-Hur" at times. Yeah, the characters are unconventional. Yeah, the ending may not be what you expect. And yeah, Kubrick technically didn't have as much to do with this as you'd hope (star Kirk Douglas was calling all of the shots behind the camera). Even though Kubrick would later disown this film it's still a stunning masterpiece, an epic that reminds you what movies truly be if some God honest effort is put into them.

Turd In The Potpourri

Released shortly after Oliver Stone's Oscar-winning anti-Vietnam War film "Platoon," "Full Metal Jacket" was compared unfavorably to Stone's more traditional form of storytelling. That said, the film still doesn't work. It really is way too "out there" to evoke much emotion or even a point. The first half of the film is the stronger of the two, showing an innocent man turned into a killing monster due to rigorous training. The second half takes place in Vietnam itself and then the film goes completely haywire. A shoot out scene while The Trashmen's "Surfing Bird" plays in the background? The Mickey Mouse March sung while walking over dead children? The soldier who wears both a peace badge and a Born To Kill sticker? Whatever Kubrick was trying to say just seemed to get lost in translation, making this film a bit diffecult to watch.