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Post by Tyler Smith on Jun 8, 2010 2:40:18 GMT -5
Some friends and I were talking today about Stanley Kubrick and I found myself saying that, though his films are often intellectually stimulating, he is not an emotional filmmaker. His movies are often quite cold. That is not to say that he isn't a great director, of course. What do you guys think? Is that an unfair assessment?
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Kubrick
Jun 8, 2010 18:19:39 GMT -5
Post by bouncingbrick on Jun 8, 2010 18:19:39 GMT -5
Yes, his films are cold. I think it's a large part of his appeal. I've always thought of Kubrick as more of an observer of the world than a participant. His films certainly feel voyeuristic and there is an almost tangible wall between the watcher and the subjects on screen. I can't really say anything about the man himself or how he really did view the world, but as someone who does more observing than participating in most social situations I find myself in (that's just the way I am, OK, thank God for the internet...), I very much feel in tune with most of his films.
I do want to say however, that the cold tone of his films is not at all a bad thing. I think it's a large part of what made him such a visionary.
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Kubrick
Jun 11, 2011 12:41:37 GMT -5
Post by bruce83michael on Jun 11, 2011 12:41:37 GMT -5
Kubrick isn't my favorite director overall, because I love Alfred Hitchcock the most for his overall vision. But, Kubrick's films are some of the most aesthetic films made. The cinematography was incredible throughout his films. And, he always pushed the envelope. Even his "worst" film, Eyes Wide Shut, is incredible to me. Not to mention, Nicole Kidman was never hotter than she was under Kubrick's vision.
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Kubrick
Jun 11, 2011 22:42:11 GMT -5
Post by huttingham on Jun 11, 2011 22:42:11 GMT -5
I still need to check out a few Kubrick films but I think Tyler is correct that he is not a personal director. However, I think that is less a function of his inability than his preference. I think bouncingbrick is correct that Kubrick was interested more in simply observing others. Alternatively, Nolan is often accused of being impersonal and in his case that is probably more a result of his failings as a director.
I just saw Barry Lyndon for the first time last week and had anticipated something particularly dry. However I found myself very much enjoying it. I think Kubrick showed that he had quite the sense of humour as well, there were more than a few times when the dialogue although ostensibly serious was darkly humorous. Also this is a perfect example of Kubrick as an observer. The whole film has the sense that Kubrick's camera is God or an omniscient observer laughing at the petty futility of the actors in a play who are ultimately meaningless. The film ends with a postscript that essentially says "none of what you just saw mattered".
I don't agree that Eyes Wide Shut is one of his worst. I very much enjoyed that film.
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Kubrick
Jun 12, 2011 8:44:40 GMT -5
Post by Bruce Michael on Jun 12, 2011 8:44:40 GMT -5
There isn't a Kubrick film that I don't like. I don't feel that it is his worst film, because I wouldn't use the word worst when describing any of his films. I put that in quotations, because that just tends to be the consensus with most people I talk too. "Too long and drawn out."
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