079 - Lolita

Synopsis: Man's obsession with teenage girl

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Actors: James Mason, Peter Sellers, Shelley Winter, Sue Lyon

Date: 1961

How viewed: Bought on Amazon

Rating: 2/5

David Meyer says:
A serious, cruelly funny, slow British art movie of a Russian novel about the core of the American Experience. 

I say:

For someone who has not read the book or had seen the film (or films) just the word Lolita conjures up visions of old men seducing young girls, or vice versa. So, Kubrick's 1962 film comes as a bit of surprise, as it is not the least bit erotic, leaving everything to the imagination, and is also, in places, surprisingly funny, if you enjoy Peter Sellers hamming it up mercilessly as several characters in a similar vein as in Kubrick's Dr Strangelove, and pick up on the double-entendres (although I'm not sure how many were intended as such!). However, reading the reviews reveal how hampered Kubrick was by the censorship laws of the time. Nevertheless, his version of the story, in which there is no backstory for Humbert Humbert (James Mason as always seems somewhat suave rather than repulsive), Lolita's age is never mentioned, (she's 12 in the novel, is played by Sue Lyon who was 14 but looks at least 16), and extends Quilty's role enormously, rather dilute the story. So, generally pretty disappointing, though I did like his huge station wagon (not a double entendre by the way!). 
   

064 - Paths of Glory

Synopsis: 1st world war tale of 'lions led by donkeys'

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Actors: Kirk Douglas, Adolphe Menjou, George Macready, Wayne Morris, Richard Anderson, Ralph Meeker, Timothy Carey

Date: 1957

How viewed: Lovefilm rental

Rating: 5/5

David Meyer says:

Kubrick sought to make a Big Theme picture and he succeeds where so many others have failed.

I say

Rightly lauded as one of the greatest anti-war films, even though this is set in the trenches of the 1st World War, the story resonates today, in the way it depicts the disregard for the fate of fellow humans by those who find themselves in positions of power. In this case, it's 1917, and in the French/German conflict there have been 2 years of trench warfare with no gain on either side (but enormous cost of life). The officers remain in their sumptuous chateau, enjoying the good life while the troops on the ground suffer appalling hardships. A French general (possibly under pressure from the media, public and his superiors) orders an impossible assault by his troops on a small hill held by the Germans. The assault inevitably fails, but to save his own skin (and promotion), innocent scapegoats (2 privates and a corporal), are found and court martialed. Kirk Douglas plays the only officer with a shred of decency who stands by his principles and for his men. This is not an easy film to watch, it's a desperately depressing commentary on the human condition, although the final (rather obtuse) scene offers some hope. Nevertheless it is essential viewing. 

036 - Barry Lyndon

Synopsis: The rise and fall of an 18th century Irish lad

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Actors: Ryan O'Neal, Marisa Berenson, Patrick Magee

Date: 1975

How viewed: Already in my collection

Rating: 3/5

David Meyer says:

It's a textbook in the dress, manners, morals, mores, warfare, conversational styles, art, dining, lighting, and politics of its time. 

I say:

Every shot is beautifully composed with fantastic colour and design, but the film is so long (3 hours) and so slow, that you're tempted to fast-forward just to move the story along! At one point the narrator (and there's a lot of narration, which is irritating, as the film should tell the story) says (about one particular episode) "anyway, to cut a long story short'...  pah! In fact the film is so long that there's an intermission!! In Part 1 Barry (Ryan O'Neal) grows up in Ireland, falls for his cousin Nora, fights a duel with her intended, joins the British army and fights in France, deserts, is forced to join the Prussian army, after the war finishes up in Berlin and joins forces with a fellow Irish gambler (Magee), and makes some fortune and friends in high places. In Part 2 he marries a rich widow (Berenson) and loses all her money. So, you can tell that at least in the first half there's relatively a lot more action, and indeed the battle scenes are brilliant, but the second half is a bit of a struggle, although at times Berenson's hair is a thing of wonder and threatens to take over the screen! I suppose though, at the end of the day, you can cope with a long slow film if the story is gripping, and you can identify with, or at least believe in, the main characters. The problem here is Ryan O'Neal, who personifies one of my pet hates, which is Americans cast as English (or in this case Irish) characters, (or vice versa). Why, oh why do they do it? Well, reading the background on IMDb it says Warner Bros would only finance the film if Kubrick used one of the Top 10 Stars of the time (1973) which left him (because of age and gender) with a choice of O'Neal or Robert Redford (and Redford refused).