Review of Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) by Dave M — 18 Oct 2012

There's no need to state once again my fondness for Kubrick's exaggerated ridicule and bizarre in everything he did. Contradictions unintended, I believe "2001" and "Clockwork Orange" are the best motion pictures in the history of cinema... and yet I feel inclined to put "Dr. Strangelove" as Kubrick's most genius production.

It is a satire, simply put. A satire that doesn't waste anything it could put to use. And even most importantly, a satire that still evokes a small hint of seriousness and self-dignity, avoiding dreadful mistakes so many satires unintentionally make. The brilliant "Strangelove" works as a satire because it stays to intelligent humor, plain and simple. Its vision is cosmopolitan and not unilateral. It satires conditions of the human being anybody can relate to. It is the epitome of satirical films, just like "2001" is the epitome of science fiction films, and like "Clockwork Orange" is the epitome of dystopian films.

This is indeed what I look for in a comedy. It surpassess the limits of conscience and seriousness, reducing formality to an ongoing spectacle of allegorical situations impregnated with absurdist philosophy. Is there a fair cause for provoking a Nuclear Holocaust? Well, according to the great ex-Nazi Dr. Strangelove, the possibility of marrying ten women sounds like a good incentive. And that's what makes the Testosterone-brained Soviet ambassador to activate one of the best scenes in filmmaking.

"Mein fürher, I can walk!" shouts Dr. Strangelove to the US President. I will never forget this... a film on which I can see absolutely no failure. Perhaps being so great will be unacceptable some day?

The unstoppable mechanics of a tragic, multidirectional, illogical and simply ridiculous Cold War scenario are what set Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece marching victorious from beginning to end.