Review of Lolita (1962) by Matthew D — 25 Jul 2018

Kubrick takes a subject which is perhaps even more taboo now than when it was made and by keeping it at arm's length he takes no position and makes no judgement but lets us decide how we feel about it; his cold and distant style never more effective in showing smouldering passion that is denied an outlet, without getting too sordid; as it might with a more personal approach.

The result is often as inscrutable as the titular character, it's almost too effective and one is left wondering what the point was, but by denying the audience a character to identify with we find questions rather than jumping to answers.

Black humour and innuendo stop it getting too dark (this is one time when censorship greatly improved a film) and the performances are brilliant at leading and implying without becoming farcical, although Peter Sellers as usual breaks all the rules.