Top 5 Kubrick Films - A RMNT Countdown Special

Today celebrates the 90th birthday of one of the greatest and influential film directors of all time, Stanley Kubrick. Known for his dedication to well-executed cinematography, realistic quality, and unique use of classical music, Kubrick truly is what many regard as a “cinemaster”. And now, here are my top 5 favorite Kubrick films that I’ve always considered creative inspirations in terms of writing and character aesthetic:

#5) Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

This was Kubrick’s final film that he completed before having passed away at the age 70 several days after its theatrical release. Based on Arthur Schnitzler’s 1926 novella Traumnovelle (German for Dream Story), the story centers on Dr. Bill Harford, whose wife, Alice, reveals to him that she once dreamt of being in an affair with someone they previously met. This puts Bill in a nightlong journey where at some point, he infiltrates an unnamed secret society where they host sex rituals. Yep, this is a Kubrick film, all right. The movie stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman as the main couple, who both do amazing jobs in their roles. I feel that this is one of Tom’s underrated performances as you can see how he’s processing everything that’s happened in the film, from his wife’s secret, the surprises he encounters, and the sheer weight of doubts that he carries over in his head. Then there’s also Nicole herself, who let’s face it, was very stunning in the film and can carry her scenes very well, especially with Tom since they’ve worked together several times, plus the fact that they were married at the time of production. With Kubrick’s eye for detail, you know that this movie will look gorgeous in cinematography, from the streets, the interiors of sets of the first party Bill and Alice to, the mansion that Bill infiltrates, especially the ritual with the group of people cloaked in black and the atmosphere during one of the rituals. The story alone is a very intriguing as well, as you get pulled into Bill’s complicated situation where you enter this secret world filled with sex, power and secrets. The reason I put this on the number 5 spot, is not because of the quality, its probably due to the amount of times I’ve seen it, which I think is less than 2 to 3 times, but regardless, you can bet Kubrick himself gave his all into his final film.

#4) The Shining (1980)

Based on Stephen King's novel of the same name, this was Kubrick’s first horror film that he tackled. The film centers on Jack Torrance (played by Jack Nicholson), a writer and recovering alcoholic, who’s accepted a position of being caretaker to the Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies during the long winter season. Joining him at the hotel, is his wife Wendy, and his son Danny, who possesses psychic abilities. Things may seem fine at first, but as many days pass, so does Jack’s mental state and he’s got his eye on his family. To this day, its still regarded by many as one of the greatest horror films of all time, and if you’ve heard the name without having even seen it, chances are, you probably know it for a couple of things: one is the iconic scene where Jack uses an axe to break apart the bathroom door in which Wendy is hiding and after he makes a hole, he places his face in and shouts “Here’s Johnny!”, which has been referenced and used in many other films, TV shows, video games, comic books, you name it. It’s just that memorable! Then there’s also the famous scene where Danny encounters the twin girls in the hallway, which has also been used for inspiration and parodies. While the pacing can be pretty slow at times, its very well worth the wait for its buildup and suspense as you witness Jack Nicholson at his best as he slowly loses his sanity! I mean, this is Jack where talking about and no one can out-crazy Jack and this was released nine years before he would eventually play as Joker in Tim Burton’s Batman. Perhaps his role as Jack was a “shining” example that led him to it. The film was also groundbreaking in its use of the Steadicam, best used for when Danny was riding around his tricycle in the hallways. The film received mixed reviews and was a modest success at the box office, but you know who hated the film? Stephen King himself for how Kubrick adapted his novel. I’ll admit, while the film has great cinematography, atmosphere, buildup, and a scary performance by Nicholson, it does have its flaws, like Shelley Duvall’s over-the-top performance as Wendy, the slow pacing, and its ending that leaves you thinking like “What…?”. Other critics consider it as Kubrick’s weakest film, even leading him to receiving a Razzie Award nomination for Worst Director and a Worst Actress nomination for Duvall. Whether you’ll love it, I will say this: don’t ever take a job of being caretaker to a hotel in the middle of winter cause if you do, you’ll probably end up losing your mind!

#3) 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

The most hypnotic film I’ve ever seen and one of Kubrick’s finest works. Based on Arthur C. Clarke’s short story, The Sentinel, from the sun rising above planet Earth to Richard Strauss’s Also sprach Zarathustra, the prehistoric times where one of the hominids discovers the use of a bone as a blunt weapon, that ended with one of the best uses of the match cut, leading to the first appearance of the space ship millions of years later in the future, full of wonder and spectacle in terms of the special effects that were ahead of their time, all done by Kubrick himself, which earned him his first and only Academy Award win. The best way to describe the film is by experiencing it firsthand, especially when it involves the ship’s computer HAL 9000 slowly becoming one of the greatest villains in film history. The cinematography is pushed to new heights as it beautifully captures the essence of how it looks and feels to be in the distant future. Amazingly, most of the technology featured eventually do come true, from making video calls, voice print identification, in-flight entertainment, and among others. But this is a film that requires both patience and full attention, due to its long running time and slow pace, so it’ll feel boring at times, but this is truly something to behold in terms of its featured classical music, groundbreaking effects, Kubrick’s detailed direction, the settings and the visual storytelling.

#2) Full Metal Jacket (1987)

Based on Gustav Hasford’s novel The Short-Timers, the film centers on a platoon of U.S. Marines going through their intense training, including two privates, Joker (played by Matthew Modine) and Pyle (played by Vincent D’Onofrio), who struggle to get through boot camp under their abusive drill instructor, Gunnery Sergeant Hartman (played by the late R. Lee Erney), and the experiences of two of the platoon's Marines in the Tet Offensive during the Vietnam War. When I first saw this movie, I could tell right away that its going to be intense and it doesn’t hold back. You may not know fully about the young members of the platoon in terms of their backstories, but you connect with them from their interactions and camaraderie, making you feel like you’re part of the gang, but the real scene-stealer during the first half is R. Lee Erney as the drill instructor, who spews out some of the most insane analogies mixed with massive amounts of swearing I’ve ever heard in a film! He is brutal, direct, shows no mercy, and whatever you do, DO NOT hide any donuts while he’s around! Vincent D’Onofrio is also another star whose performance is a huge highlight, growing from a cowardly, timid chubby boy to slowly becoming more determined, sharp, and focused, but eventually losing his sanity when he kills the drill sergeant and then himself! To this day, its still one of the most shocking moments I’ve ever seen on film! Then we jump into the Vietnam War where we follow Joker, now a sergeant and a war correspondent for the military newspaper Stars and Stripes, where he eventually reunites with an old boot camp friend and joins the Lusthog Squad during the Battle of Huế, where things get even more intense until the climax! Full Metal Jacket also remains as one of my favorite war films, from its recreated locations of the Vietnam war setting, its surrounding atmosphere, and the heavy emotional toll shown in the eyes of the characters, portrayed well by the strong performances of its young cast. If ever wish to see a psychological experience of being in intense boot camp, then look no further than this film!

#1) A Clockwork Orange (1971)

And here we are, my favorite of all of Kubrick’s work, and also his darkest! What makes it a standout is the psychological study of its characters, especially that of Alex DeLarge, who’s regarded as one of the greatest villains in film history, all because of the wonderfully brilliant Malcolm McDowell, who you clearly tell is having too much fun while also bringing a sophisticated charm. In fact, you might say that he’s an influence to a character that I’ve been developing… But moving on, the dystopian futuristic setting is bleak, dark, and full of violence, as Kubrick shows the disturbing side of humans, whether its for lust and respect. The biggest highlight of the film is Alex and his gang, especially from how the film opens up with the iconic slow zoom out of them drinking at an erotically-decorated bar, plus the music playing during it. Who knew the use of classical music blended with violence can be used so beautifully poetic, especially with good ol’ Beethoven! When the film was released, it received critical praise for its direction, story, themes, production value and performances, but also bought forth controversy for its brutal violence along with scenes of rape and torture, leading to many reports of young men in London beating up old people. Kubrick would then receive threats for the damage caused by the film, but eventually ceased after it was removed from theaters. The film would later gain a massive cult following, restoring its reputation to being regarded as a cinematic masterpiece.

To this day, Kubrick remains as among the many great influences to generations of film directors, including Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan, Ridley Scott, Wes Anderson, George Lucas, George A. Romero, James Cameron, the Coen Brothers, Terry Gilliam, David Fincher, Guillermo del Toro, David Lynch, Lars von Trier, Tim Burton, Michael Mann and Gaspar Noé! I mean, geesh! Talk about impactful! If you wish to collect and view most of his work, I highly recommend buying the Stanley Kubrick: The Essential Collection, in which its tenth disc is a documentary feature called Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures, as it tells his life story from his childhood, how he got into photography, his start in making documentary shorts, to the making of all his films until his death. And that’s my Top 5 favorite films from the late great cinemaster, who I thank for showing the artistic value and appreciation to the craft of filmmaking!