Stanley Kubrick was a master of his craft and one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. His works are renowned for being innovative, thought-provoking and oftentimes controversial. Gregory Monro’s Kubrick by Kubrick is an insightful peek into the reclusive director’s life and brilliant career. Through his own words, uncovered in audio interviews with noted French journalist Michel Ciment, we get to explore his creative vision and film-making methods.
Kubrick started his career at “Look” magazine as a photojournalist, where he learned the basics of his craft and how to frame scenes and make them stand out. His first film Fear and Desire (1953) was heavily criticized for being pompous and embarrassing, but it revealed the director’s knack for setting up interesting shots. Hollywood soon beckoned when actor Kirk Douglas came calling and Kubrick signed on to direct 60s classic Spartacus (1960). His most famous films include 2001 A Space Odyssey (1968), The Shining (1980), and Full Metal Jacket (1987).
For Kubrick, the story always came first, and he preferred to adapt existing material because it already had the elements of a great story – a conflict and the potential for discovery. Believing in the power of the camera, the filmmaker shot all of his films in the UK and was often criticized for his demanding nature on set, often doing take after take until he was satisfied. He also insisted on using candles for interior lighting in films such as Barry Lyndon (1975) for a more realistic effect, and his crew was often amazed by the detail in his films. To make the Vietnam War epic Full Metal Jacket (1987), Kubrick even used a burned-out tenement near his own home for the Hue location.
Kubrick was also never afraid to tackle controversial issues, as was seen in his adaptations of Lolita (1962) and A Clockwork Orange (1971). The latter in particular received a lot of criticism, causing Kubrick to eventually remove it from the British cinemas. Actor Malcolm McDowell, the star of the film, even shared his own experience following the misunderstood responses to the movie. Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman’s Eyes Wide Shut (1999) was Kubrick’s last flick before he passed away in 1999.
Kubrick by Kubrick provides a rich and invaluable insight into the filmmaker by utilizing interviews with the director and his crew, as well as his own words and clips from his films. We get to explore his creative process and understand Kubrick on a more personal level, leaving the viewer amazed by the power of the cinematic master and inspired by his genius.
The Kubrick Estate is the guardian of Stanley Kubrick’s memory and legacy, preserving his films and associated works for future generations to appreciate. The Estate works to safeguard Kubrick’s vision and artwork, with an emphasis on using digital technology to ensure that his films remain authentically reproduced for future generations. The Estate also supports a number of Kubrick-related projects and events, in order to ensure that his pioneering talent is shared with a wide audience.
Michel Ciment is a renowned French journalist, editor and film historian, who wrote extensively about films and filmmakers. Throughout his career he regularly interviewed Stanley Kubrick for a number of articles and films, and so has created an immense body of work pertaining to the director and his films. Ciment’s incisive and intuitive questions during these interviews reveal the methods behind Kubrick’s madness and illuminate his films to the public. He was an invaluable source of knowledge in creating a picture of Kubrick that otherwise may not have been accessible.
