STANLEY KUBRICK
Stanley Kubrick is one of the most influential filmmakers of his time; his films were embedded with controversy and critical acclaim. Fellow colleagues of his describe him as a very strange man, with a methodical technique, and a severe perfectionist mentality. I would assume someone with the level of artistic vision he acquires you would probably be a little odd. In fact I consider most artists if not all to be a little insane in their own way. He has directed some fantastic films touching base in almost every genre in cinema. You think of “Spartacus” to “ 2001: A Space Odyssey” to “The Shining” and it doesn’t get much more random then that. His meticulous dedication to all elements of his films plus his inventive camera work allowed him to stand out among other directors of his time.
Kubrick is known for his ability to create a film that is hard to understand the first time around. A single hand movement or eye roll could have significant meaning. He chooses every element of the film with exquisite detail: from the background scenery down to a belt buckle or shoelace. Everything you see in his films are meant to be there and have a purpose. He was one of the only directors who controlled every aspect of his films. Most directors will hire outside help when it comes to the score or editing, but Kubrick would be there every step of the way. He used a technical tool known as mise-en-scene, which balances all elements of film harmoniously. All the fundamentals were included, lighting, sets, acting, dialogue, music, and in particular editing. While describing his editing process he explained,
“Everything else in film comes from something else. Writing, of course, is writing, acting comes from the theatre, and cinematography comes from photography. Editing is unique to film. You can see something from different points of view almost simultaneously, and it creates a new experience. One can create a performance in the editing room and often re-direct a film.”
You could tell by this demeanor that he took extensive pride in his work and was truly able to call it his own. In other words, his films weren’t ones you left the theater to go to the bathroom.
My favorite Kubrick film is “The Shining” not only because it’s highly entertaining and that I’m an absolute lover of horror films but also because the artistic subtleties imbedded throughout the film bring the underlining subtext to life. The first time I saw it or rather the first fifteen times I saw it I never really understood what was going on. Ghosts are randomly everywhere, the time travel element, and the actual “shining” the young boy Danny possesses. While taking a film class here at Hofstra we watched “The Shining” and discussed every detail about it and it was then I realized that I never really knew what the film was about. The most important aspect is time, the way he uses titles throughout the film, “The Interview”, “Tuesday”, “Thursday”, “8 am”, “4 pm”. You can notice that the titles seem to be building up to a specific moment, starting with just an event turning into days then hours. Even though these titles only flash on the screen for a couple of seconds at a time, Kubrick allows the subconscious to notice these subtle details. These tricks he uses cause you to build tension during a specific scene or permit you to leave the theater wondering why you feel so emotionally distraught. His artistic vision could transform a scene into something beyond what the dialogue was, or sometimes no dialogue at all. The maze motif runs strong throughout “The Shining”, not only figuratively and literally but also visually. During scenes where Danny is playing throughout the hotel the carpet is designed and chosen to look maze-like, watch the video below. He has a great ability to let the subtext seep through his visual choices. These few examples are just the tip of the iceberg; the list of topics to discuss is never-ending.
A lot of controversies surrounding Kubrick’s films are “the unknowns”; discussing just one of his films could take months, possibly years. You never really know what his intentions are regarding specific details of his films. For example, many speculate the use of the number 114 in his films. In “Dr. Strangelove” there is a critical radio device called CRM 114 and in “A Clockwork Orange” there is a medicine called serum 114. Some claim that this is just coincidental but others are adamant that it has specific meaning Kubrick never discusses it publicly. He wasn’t much of a public figure never buying into the machine that is Hollywood. He passed away in ’99 and is remember as one of the most influential directors of all time. Many contemporary directors, including Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese, have listed Kubrick as a source of inspiration.
Works Cited:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kubrick
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtrykMTDfO4
