Review of Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures (2001) by Walter M — 12 Jul 2008

[font=Century Gothic]After Stanley Kubrick died in 1999, I remember a woman talking about how after seeing "2001: A Space Odyssey," her and her boyrfiend instead of making out like normal teenagers, discussed the film. Can you think of a higher compliment than that?[/font].

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[font=Century Gothic]"The looks of befuddlement on your faces speak volumes." - usher at the Screening Room, New York City, following a showing of "Eyes Wide Shut" in October, 1999.[/font].

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[font=Century Gothic]"Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures" is a captivating and insightful documentary that fully humanizes the late, great Stanley Kubrick(1928-1999), filmmaker extraordinaire, whose life is told through never before seen photos and films starting with his early life in the Bronx. Also included are interviews with collaborators(most notably Ken Adam), fellow filmmakers(Sydney Pollack, Woody Allen, Alex Cox, Paul Mazursky and Steven Spielberg all worhsip at this particular altar), actors(especially Malcolm McDowell and Jack Nicholson) and family members who attest to a rich family life that was never far from where he worked.(The press had long established Kubrick as an eccentric recluse, instead of the detailed and passionate filmmaker he really was. He just never gave that many interviews which tends to antagonize the media, especially the sports division.) [/font].

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[font=Century Gothic]If I have a bone to pick with this very fine documentary, it is with the chronology of events in the early 60's. "Spartacus" is an excellent film but it is decidedly schizophrenic in telling both personal and political stories. It is also debatable whether it should be fully considered one of Kubrick's films.(One book on his films gives the movie all of two lines.) In his autobiography, "The Ragman's Son," Kirk Douglas so disliked Kubrick, that not only did he include his personal attacks, but also what Malcolm McDowell said which he has since recanted to a degree. The documentary fails to mention that Kubrick got fired from "One-Eyed Jacks" after Spartacus which was probably the best thing that ever happened to him. Even with "Lolita," he is still learning the ropes. It feels like it is made by somebody who is tap dancing through a minefield blindfolded.(For that reason, I prefer Adrian Lyne's remake. Mind the blasphemy.) Once it was decided to do "Dr. Strangelove" as a comedy(but I still very much like both "Fail Safe" and "Seven Days in May"), then there was no looking back and a string of memorable movies begins which is ended by "Eyes Wide Shut."(I had an epiphany while watching "Unconscious" last year that it was a mistake for Kubrick to set this movie in the present day.) [/font].