The Movie Page
In the 1950s, a young man from the Bronx in New York began making motion pictures in a style that would later help define modern day masters such as Steven Spielberg and James Cameron. The young man's name was Stanley Kubrick, the son of a prominent doctor and former photographer for Look magazine.
Throughout the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, Kubrick made unique films that explored the human mind in ways that few filmmakers have matched. His influence has had a far-reaching effect.
Here are some of the movies, with some brief information, that tells why Kubrick was one of Hollywood's most innovative directors.
The story of French soldiers in World War I and the extreme injustice of the high command and the war itself. Kirk Douglas plays Col. Dax, a former attorney who defends three soldiers on trial for cowardice. 'Paths of Glory' is rich in irony and displays excellent photography. Great acting and script.
James Mason is Hubert Humphrey, a tragic figure who falls for a teenager, Lolita (played by Sue Lyon). This one is not a real favorite of mine, even though Peter Sellers, who plays the chameleon-like Quility, delivers a strong performance. Mason is good and there are Kubrick-ironies involved. Good performance by Lyon as Lolita.
This one put Kubrick on the map. Peter Sellers does an superb job playing the timid Lionel Mandrake, the intellectual American President Muffley (Sellers was 100% British and did a good American accent) and the movie's namesake, a former Nazi whose mechanical hands haven't learned the war is over. What can you say that hasn't already been said? Great supporting cast with Slim Pickens, Sterling Hayden, George C. Scott (the exchange between him and Sellers is classic) and Keenan Wynn. Definitely watch it!
Just one word: WOW! It would take pages just to explain it, so just watch it. A Kubrick classic!
Despite the violence, this movie does have a simple message: You cannot be forced to be good -- you have to choose to do so on your own. Malcolm McDowell is great as Alex, the teenage hoodlum who becomes a hero of sorts after undergoing a revolutionary brainwashing technique that is supposed to "reform" him, with less than spectacular results. Makes you think about the old saying "Two wrongs don't make a right." The violence has been known to turn people off so I wouldn't recommend it to the weak at heart.
This slow moving tale of a 18th century rouge (Ryan O'Neal) does have some good moments and is line with Kubrick's style and message, but it doesn't have the same energy. I would recommend it, but make sure you have time. The movie is nearly three hours long.
Over time, this movie has grown into a great cult film. Jack Nicholson is evil and menacing as Jack Torrance, the caretaker of the beautiful and eerie Overlook Hotel. As you watch the movie you discover that "he has always been the caretaker." Shelly Duvall looks like a wet dog, but her performance is good. Danny Lloyd is good as Danny, the physic child who takes orders from "a little boy who lives in his mouth" named Tony. Good show.
Kubrick's take on the Vietnam War. Most agree the scenes with the drill sergeant (R. Lee Ermey, a real DI now seen on the History Channel's "Mail Call") and the over-weight recruit (Vincent D'Onofrio) are the best in any war film. Very realistic.
After more than 10 years, Kubrick finally released what unfortunately became his swan song (Kubrick died before its release). The movie did not make hardly any money in the US (overseas figures were quite different). Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman star in this dark sexual drama. The meaning is there, you just have to think about it.
Kubrick's unfinished project saw the light of the projector thanks to Steven Spielberg. The movie was not well received by an audience conditioned to its themes over the years. However, it is somewhat unfair to judge this movie based on Kubrick standards, since it is not a true Kubrick film. The movie had some interesting images (done by Kubrick via artwork) and Kubrick touches. While some complained about the length of the film, I believe it is a movie whose time has not yet come. This one will be a future favorite.
(Note: I did not include "Spartacus" (1960) in this group because I do not consider it a true Kubrick film. It was Kubrick trying to play the Hollywood game and that just wasn't him. It is amazing how most consider this movie to be a trademark Kubrick film when nothing could be farther from the truth.)
