Stanley Kubrick

Known for DirectingBorn 1928-07-26Died 1999-03-07New York City, New York, USA

Stanley Kubrick (July 26, 1928 – March 7, 1999) was an American film director, writer, producer, and photographer who lived in England during most of the last four decades of his career. Kubrick was noted for the scrupulous care with which he chose his subjects, his slow method of working, the variety of genres he worked in, his technical perfectionism, and his reclusiveness about his films and personal life. He maintained almost complete artistic control, making movies according to his own whims and time constraints, but with the rare advantage of big-studio financial support for all his endeavors. Kubrick's films are characterized by a formal visual style and meticulous attention to detail—his later films often have elements of surrealism and expressionism that eschews structured linear narrative. His films are repeatedly described as slow and methodical, and are often perceived as a reflection of his obsessive and perfectionist nature. A recurring theme in his films is man's inhumanity to man. While often viewed as expressing an ironic pessimism, a few critics feel his films contain a cautious optimism when viewed more carefully. The film that first brought him attention to many critics was Paths of Glory (1957), the first of three films of his about the dehumanizing effects of war. Many of his films at first got a lukewarm reception, only to be years later acclaimed as masterpieces that had a seminal influence on many later generations of film-makers. Considered especially groundbreaking was 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) noted for being both one of the most scientifically realistic and visually innovative science-fiction films ever made while maintaining an enigmatic non-linear storyline. He voluntarily withdrew his film A Clockwork Orange (1971) from England, after it was accused of inspiring copycat crimes which in turn resulted in threats against Kubrick's family. His films were largely successful at the box-office, although Barry Lyndon (1975) performed poorly in the United States. Living authors Anthony Burgess and Stephen King were both unhappy with Kubrick's adaptations of their novels A Clockwork Orange and The Shining (1980) respectively, and both authors were engaged with subsequent adaptations. All of Kubrick's films from the mid-1950s to his death except for The Shining were nominated for Oscars, Golden Globes, or BAFTAs. Although he was nominated for an Academy Award as a screenwriter and director on several occasions, his only personal win was for the special effects in 2001: A Space Odyssey. Even though all of his films, apart from the first two, were adapted from novels or short stories, his works have been described by Jason Ankeny and others as "original and visionary". Although some critics, notably Andrew Sarris and Pauline Kael, frequently disparaged Kubrick's work, Ankeny describes Kubrick as one of the most "universally acclaimed and influential directors of the postwar era" with a "standing unique among the filmmakers of his day."Read more

Movies & web series

Spécial cinéma

The Shining

Full Metal Jacket

A Clockwork Orange

Paths of Glory

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Barry Lyndon

2001: A Space Odyssey

Kubrick by Kubrick

S Is for Stanley

Trumbull Land

Eyes Wide Shut

View from the Overlook: Crafting 'The Shining'

Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures

The Killing

Dark Side of the Moon

Once Upon a Time… A Clockwork Orange

A.I. Artificial Intelligence

Spartacus

Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound

The Visions of Stanley Kubrick

Lost Kubrick: The Unfinished Films of Stanley Kubrick

Lolita

Making 'The Shining'

Kubrick Remembered

Ain't Misbehavin

National Theatre Live: Dr. Strangelove

Secrets of British Animation

2001: A Space Odyssey - A Look Behind the Future

Lionpower from MGM

Killer's Kiss

Dreams That Money Can Buy

A Forbidden Orange

Day of the Fight

2001: A Space Odyssey – What Is Out There?

Fear and Desire

Flying Padre

The Seafarers

The Shining Play

Stanley Kubrick Considers the Bomb

Shooting 'Full Metal Jacket'

James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate

A Modern Art Masterpiece: The Untold Story of Full Metal Jacket