Comments on: Stanley Kubrick and The Limits of Control http://bitchinfilmreviews.com/stanley-kubrick-and-the-limits-of-control/ Tue, 22 May 2012 20:42:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Mitch http://bitchinfilmreviews.com/stanley-kubrick-and-the-limits-of-control/comment-page-1/#comment-1976 Mitch Mon, 04 May 2009 07:06:39 +0000 http://bitchinfilmreviews.com/?p=466#comment-1976 "Spartacus" was Kubrick's one and only project that was purely a for-hire studio assignment. (Actually, when you consider it, Kubrick is entirely unique among the great American film makers: he worked exclusively in the studio system, but maintained complete artistic and financial control of his projects for the entirely of his career. I cannot think of another filmmaker who managed to do that. Even guys like Wilder and Hitchcock.) The film is not without merit, but it is overly-long (which is to be fully expected for a big studio technicolor sandal epic of the time) and lacks the auteurist notes of Kubrick's other work. Michael Mann once said that all of "Dr. Strangelove" is a third act. That's about right. The first time that I saw it, I rewatched it three times in the same week. I have never done that with any other movie before or since. “Spartacus” was Kubrick’s one and only project that was purely a for-hire studio assignment. (Actually, when you consider it, Kubrick is entirely unique among the great American film makers: he worked exclusively in the studio system, but maintained complete artistic and financial control of his projects for the entirely of his career. I cannot think of another filmmaker who managed to do that. Even guys like Wilder and Hitchcock.) The film is not without merit, but it is overly-long (which is to be fully expected for a big studio technicolor sandal epic of the time) and lacks the auteurist notes of Kubrick’s other work.

Michael Mann once said that all of “Dr. Strangelove” is a third act. That’s about right. The first time that I saw it, I rewatched it three times in the same week. I have never done that with any other movie before or since.

]]> By: blake http://bitchinfilmreviews.com/stanley-kubrick-and-the-limits-of-control/comment-page-1/#comment-1958 blake Sun, 03 May 2009 06:28:46 +0000 http://bitchinfilmreviews.com/?p=466#comment-1958 Spartacus is your last pic, Mitch? I've been avoiding that one anyway. I've got Dr. Strangelove right now, but I'll check out Barry Lyndon next. And Ivy, I work at a home for the mentally handicapped. I had to work a grave earlier this week, so I rented The Shining and watched it while they were all sleeping. It scared the shit out of me. It's certainly not the film I remember watching as a 16 year old... Spartacus is your last pic, Mitch? I’ve been avoiding that one anyway. I’ve got Dr. Strangelove right now, but I’ll check out Barry Lyndon next.

And Ivy, I work at a home for the mentally handicapped. I had to work a grave earlier this week, so I rented The Shining and watched it while they were all sleeping. It scared the shit out of me. It’s certainly not the film I remember watching as a 16 year old…

]]> By: Mitch http://bitchinfilmreviews.com/stanley-kubrick-and-the-limits-of-control/comment-page-1/#comment-1935 Mitch Fri, 01 May 2009 23:48:21 +0000 http://bitchinfilmreviews.com/?p=466#comment-1935 Here are my rankings of Kubrick oeuvre: 2001 Dr. Strangelove Barry Lyndon The Shining Paths of Glory A Clockwork Orange Full Metal Jacket Eyes Wide Shut The Killing Lolita Spartacus I haven't seen the early docs or noirs. "Barry Lyndon" is the neglected masterpiece; if you get a chance, make that your next Kubrick. I am a huge Jim Jarmusch fan. You should start with his early stuff -- get "Stranger Than Paradise" and "Down By Law." His '90s films are much more of an acquired taste, so it may help to get into his aesthetic before tackling something like "Dead Man" or "Ghost Dog." Here are my rankings of Kubrick oeuvre:
2001
Dr. Strangelove
Barry Lyndon
The Shining
Paths of Glory
A Clockwork Orange
Full Metal Jacket
Eyes Wide Shut
The Killing
Lolita
Spartacus

I haven’t seen the early docs or noirs. “Barry Lyndon” is the neglected masterpiece; if you get a chance, make that your next Kubrick.

I am a huge Jim Jarmusch fan. You should start with his early stuff — get “Stranger Than Paradise” and “Down By Law.” His ’90s films are much more of an acquired taste, so it may help to get into his aesthetic before tackling something like “Dead Man” or “Ghost Dog.”

]]> By: Ivy http://bitchinfilmreviews.com/stanley-kubrick-and-the-limits-of-control/comment-page-1/#comment-1918 Ivy Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:16:55 +0000 http://bitchinfilmreviews.com/?p=466#comment-1918 It's hard to choose, but I had to go with The Shining, because it's beautifully shot and absolutely terrifying... It’s hard to choose, but I had to go with The Shining, because it’s beautifully shot and absolutely terrifying…

]]> By: Jessica http://bitchinfilmreviews.com/stanley-kubrick-and-the-limits-of-control/comment-page-1/#comment-1916 Jessica Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:53:42 +0000 http://bitchinfilmreviews.com/?p=466#comment-1916 Um . . . I've only seen like two and two-thirds of these movies. Don't worry; I voted anyway. Um . . . I’ve only seen like two and two-thirds of these movies. Don’t worry; I voted anyway.

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