Review of Lolita (1962) by Michael C — 06 Jul 2009

While it hasn't reached the classic status of some of Kubrick's other films, this is still a very accomplished movie among his body of work. Adapted from the infamous Nabokov story, it tells the story of an older man who begins to develop amorous feelings for an amorous preteen girl, and the turmoil and friction that ultimately produces in his life.

It's a testament to Kubrick's direction that he is able to take the viewer from feeling repulsed by the initial behavior of James Mason's character to really feeling sympathy for his relationship with young Lolita.

Despite this fact Mason still succumbs to tragedy as a result of his relationship with her, and the film isn't some sort of an endorsement of the behavior in any way. The best part of the film to me was Peter Sellers; I still maintain Sellers work in Dr.

Strangelove is some of the best acting in film history, but Sellers succeeds in being very funny and very talented in his role as Clare Quilty in this film. Kubrick never hid from controversy with each film he did and this film was no different; however, one of my biggest foibles with the movie was that the content of the book was toned down dramatically for the film, and I can tell Kubrick didn't get to tell the exact story he wanted to; fortunately though he is a man of enough cinematic talent to make a great film regardless of these limitations.