Words // Gemma Ross
Twitter // @kubrxck
Twitter // @kubrxck
The genius behind A Clockwork Orange, The Shining and 2001: A Space Odyssey - Stanley Kubrick
1. Individuality- As a director, Kubrick knew how to engage an audience. His difference from other directors set him ahead, a true independence and individuality which would earn him the title of 'one of the greatest film directors to have ever lived'. He took risks in his films, which is one of the bravest things he could have possibly done. The outcome though, was extraordinary. Stanley never copied anyone else, never repeated himself, and was one of the most controversial men of his time. He inspired many now great directors, such as Woody Allen, Paul Thomas Anderson and George Lucas.
2. Perfectionist- You could say that Kubrick was a bit of a control freak, a challenging man who had to have everything perfected, but the films he produced by doing this were beyond outstanding. There are not many directors today who are able to say that every one of their films is a masterpiece. He never cared about time, time was the least of his worries. Spending as long as he needed on a scene to make it perfect was one of his best features.
3. Un-Hollywood- Kubrick always shunned publicity, without the intention to become famous or even applauded for his work. He was not the typical Hollywood director; taking advice from no-one and moving to England with his family to get away from the home of film in 1965, originally just with the motive to make Lolita, yet remained in England for the next 40 years until his death in 1999.
2. Perfectionist- You could say that Kubrick was a bit of a control freak, a challenging man who had to have everything perfected, but the films he produced by doing this were beyond outstanding. There are not many directors today who are able to say that every one of their films is a masterpiece. He never cared about time, time was the least of his worries. Spending as long as he needed on a scene to make it perfect was one of his best features.
3. Un-Hollywood- Kubrick always shunned publicity, without the intention to become famous or even applauded for his work. He was not the typical Hollywood director; taking advice from no-one and moving to England with his family to get away from the home of film in 1965, originally just with the motive to make Lolita, yet remained in England for the next 40 years until his death in 1999.
4. Detailed- Whether Kubrick was attempting to create the future (A Clockwork Orange, 2001: A Space Odyssey) or the past (Full Metal Jacket, Spartacus), he always managed to pull it off and perfect everything down to a T. His hard work and all-round perfection of film-making allowed him to create any era, and also know how to make a scene more detailed and accurate. Stanley was specific with what he made, not settling for anything that hadn't had enough detail put in to it.
5. Cinematographist- Stanley was always fascinated by photography. He turned the photography skills from his school newspaper articles when he was a teenager into cinematography skills later on. He created amazing visuals, knew exactly where to place a camera and how to get a good shot, capturing the imagination with every photograph or scene.
6. Stargate sequence- 2001: A Space Odyssey was the motion picture that first made Kubrick known as one of the greatest film directors. Despite being accused of filming and faking the moon landing in 1969, Stanley only became more interested in science-fiction and then proceeded to make 2001, a film in which once made, he would laugh in the faces of those who doubted him. He was a brilliant futurist, spending a lot of time on how the set looked and then penultimately, the ending 'Stargate Sequence'. A pure 10 minutes of the Sci-Fi film shows unusual colour blocks and illusionary artist film representing how Bowman was being transported through to another dimension.
5. Cinematographist- Stanley was always fascinated by photography. He turned the photography skills from his school newspaper articles when he was a teenager into cinematography skills later on. He created amazing visuals, knew exactly where to place a camera and how to get a good shot, capturing the imagination with every photograph or scene.
6. Stargate sequence- 2001: A Space Odyssey was the motion picture that first made Kubrick known as one of the greatest film directors. Despite being accused of filming and faking the moon landing in 1969, Stanley only became more interested in science-fiction and then proceeded to make 2001, a film in which once made, he would laugh in the faces of those who doubted him. He was a brilliant futurist, spending a lot of time on how the set looked and then penultimately, the ending 'Stargate Sequence'. A pure 10 minutes of the Sci-Fi film shows unusual colour blocks and illusionary artist film representing how Bowman was being transported through to another dimension.
7. Memorable- It's fair to say that almost all of the films Kubrick made in his lifetime are now renowned classics. He never produced one bad film, even though many critics undermined his work saying it was too 'pretentious', which we can see now is clearly wrong. His 7 most memorable films are also 7 of the best films of all time to this day.
8. Soundtracks- Take the Clockwork Orange soundtrack, for example, and compare it with the soundtrack of a modern day movie. Controversial? Definitely. Although Alex from Clockwork was known for liking Ludwig Van Beethoven, the classical artist, there is much more classical music throughout this film which fits amazingly with the scenes. There's no doubt Kubrick was a soundtrack genius, knowing exactly what fit with what, using mainly classical to define a film.
9. Respected- Stanley was almost globally respected, with an audience that grew over the years of his lifetime and still grows today. MOST of those who watched his films loved them, yet there were numerous film critics who just couldn't see why people loved his films so much, especially after A Clockwork Orange was released and then later banned from the cinema. In spite of this, however, Kubrick's warm heart never failed to put a smile on all of his actors faces, being an 'actor's director' and treating them well, which then accumulated even larger respect.
10. Genius- Kubrick was a genius. There's no denying that. He used some of the greatest mind games in his movies, which made you think a little too much. In The Shining, a simple thriller story which was turned in to one of Kubrick's great masterpieces, there are many who believe it is not so simple. Stanley added in small mysteries and hidden elements, trusting his audience to find them and leaving you puzzled. Some think that the 1980 film, The Shining, was in fact a story of the murder of the Native Indians. I guess we will never find out what was really going on in the genius' mind.
8. Soundtracks- Take the Clockwork Orange soundtrack, for example, and compare it with the soundtrack of a modern day movie. Controversial? Definitely. Although Alex from Clockwork was known for liking Ludwig Van Beethoven, the classical artist, there is much more classical music throughout this film which fits amazingly with the scenes. There's no doubt Kubrick was a soundtrack genius, knowing exactly what fit with what, using mainly classical to define a film.
9. Respected- Stanley was almost globally respected, with an audience that grew over the years of his lifetime and still grows today. MOST of those who watched his films loved them, yet there were numerous film critics who just couldn't see why people loved his films so much, especially after A Clockwork Orange was released and then later banned from the cinema. In spite of this, however, Kubrick's warm heart never failed to put a smile on all of his actors faces, being an 'actor's director' and treating them well, which then accumulated even larger respect.
10. Genius- Kubrick was a genius. There's no denying that. He used some of the greatest mind games in his movies, which made you think a little too much. In The Shining, a simple thriller story which was turned in to one of Kubrick's great masterpieces, there are many who believe it is not so simple. Stanley added in small mysteries and hidden elements, trusting his audience to find them and leaving you puzzled. Some think that the 1980 film, The Shining, was in fact a story of the murder of the Native Indians. I guess we will never find out what was really going on in the genius' mind.