Stanley Kubrick is deemed as one of the most iconic filmmakers of the 20th century to ever grace the earth. He left an indelible imprint on the cinematic world thanks to his distinct style of filmography paired with unparalleled storytelling.
Over his illustrious career which extended more than half a century, he directed a very limited number of films, i.e., 13 feature films to be precise. However, every single creation of his stands as a solid testament to his meticulously artistic vision and uncompromising craftsmanship.
This article will list some of Kubrick’s most loved masterpieces and decode the Stanley Kubrick style of filmmaking by diving deep into the numerous crucial elements of his filmography and offer insight into his methods along with the everlasting impact his work has had on the film landscape as a whole. Let us dive right into it:
Stanley Kubrick’s Must-Watch Cinematic Masterpieces
Here are some of Stanley Kubrick’s best works that every cinelover should watch:
- 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
- A Clockwork Orange (1971)
- The Shining (1980)
- Full Metal Jacket (1987)
- Dr Strangelove (1964)
- Barry Lyndon (1975)
- Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
- Paths of Glory (1957)
- Lolita (1962)
- Spartacus (1960)
Aesthetic Accuracy & Visual Components
Stanley Kubrick’s stern commitment to aesthetic perfection as well as visual composition is one of his filmography’s defining characteristics. This comes from the fact that Stanley started off his career as a photographer. His background in photography hugely influenced him and his overall approach when it came to directing films.
Even to this day, many of his compositions are framed by enthusiasts as they serve as carefully-curated visual tableaus. The top-notch symmetry of “The Shining,” as well as the bright & vibrant cinematography in “2001: A Space Odyssey” are fine specimens which clearly depict that his creations are true masterclasses when it comes to visual storytelling.
In his film “A Clockwork Orange,” Stanley’s masterful use of wide-angle camera lenses and unconventional yet stunning camera angles offer viewers a highly immersive experience. Moreover, the intentional framing of specific scenes in the film enhances the storytelling’s appeal in addition to establishing a visual language, which is unique to Kubrick’s style of representing visuals.
Narrative Ambiguity & Intellectual Engagement
Narrative ambiguity refers to a literary technique wherein the majority of aspects related to the plot line are not made clear. Kubrick is one of the handful of directors who managed to make a name for himself for his tendency to perfectly implement narrative ambiguity in his films. This factor makes the audience engage with his films.
Examples of narrative ambiguity are apparent in many of his creations. For example, in movies like “Eyes Wide Shut” and “2001: A Space Odyssey,” Kubrick intentionally left multiple plot points open to the audience’s interpretation, leading to interesting intellectual discussions & debates that continue to baffle yet captivate the audience’s minds even to this day.
For instance, in “2001: A Space Odyssey,” Dave Bowman, the astronaut’s bizarre journey besides the enigmatic monoliths, leaves ample room for numerous interpretations. Through his films, Kubrick willingly challenged the intellect of the audience and offered open-ended narratives. This made his films stand apart from the competition, and made them interesting subjects for analysis & debates.
Consistency in Themes: Scrutinized Human Nature
Another evident trend in Kubrick’s filmography is thematic consistency. Although his films explored various diverse genres, Kubrick always made it a point to maintain a consistency in themes. It usually revolved around human nature’s exploration along with its complexities.
Some examples of Kubrick’s filmography continuously probing the human psychology’s depths include the psychological horror showcased in “The Shining,” the existentialism depicted in “Dr. Strangelove,” or lastly, the dystopian future featured in “A Clockwork Orange”.
The thematic consistency is also evident in “Full Metal Jacket,” Kubrick demonstrates the degrading effects of war via the lethal transformation of the Vietnamese war soldiers.
The film also features sharp and tactful commentary on violence and its nature, and the impact wars have on the souls of human beings. To conclude, this film showcases Kubrick’s brilliant ability to trespass beyond temporal boundaries.
Unmatched Attention to Detail
Another key characteristic of Stanley Kubrick’s filmography is attention to detail. Kubrick was and is still known for this obsession with highlighting the smallest of details precisely. This characteristic permeates each and every frame of his movies. Let us elaborate with a few examples.
Starting off with “Barry Lyndon,” the film featured replicated looks of numerous 18th century paintings to add to the film’s appeal. Another example is the technical accuracy of zero-gravity scenes in the film “2001: A Space Odyssey”.
These significant additions showcase Kubrick’s utmost dedication to ensuring that the audience experience authenticity & realism at their finest. Kubrick’s commitment to detail is also very apparent in the performances of his films’ casts. A fine example is Malcolm McDowell’s portrayal of Alex in the film “A Clockwork Orange”.
The character prep required very intense practice to captivate the complexities of the character with precision. Thanks to Kubrick’s meticulous efforts and approach which demanded the absolute best from his actors or collaborators, the performances in his films were nothing less than exceptional.
Selection of Music: A Landscape of Sounds
Lastly, Kubrick’s impeccable music selection in his movies is another one of his filmography traits that makes him stand out as a director and filmmaker. His choice in musical scores not only added to the already stellar visual storytelling but also chipped in in creating and maintaining the films’ emotional tone.
The usage of classical music scores in his films, such as the the iconic Richard Strauss’s masterpiece “Thus Spoke Zarathustra,” in the film “2001: A Space Odyssey” struck the chords with audiences and immediately became Kubrick’s trademark style.
The proximity between classical compositions and futuristic themes and settings in Kubrick’s filmography merged to create a distinctive sonic landscape, which successfully heightened the emotional aura of important scenes.
Conclusion
Stanley Kubrick is a monumental name in the cinematic landscape, mainly because of his brilliant filmography. Kubrick’s filmography consists of a very rich tapestry filled with cinematic brilliance mixed with his authentic distinguishable style, consistent thematic unity, and extreme attention to detail. His films, after so many years, still manage to captivate the hearts of audiences. Each element of his filmography, as discussed in detail above, contributes to his legacy that is and will always remain unparalleled.
