There's this famous quote which goes something like , the Americans make movies, the Italians 'films', and the French 'cinema'. And maybe you can add one more to that - Stanley Kubrick simply makes classics.
As part of an ongoing Kubrick festival in college, 'Lolita' was screened yesterday. And like all his other works, it was one helluva good ride, with all his trademark black humour and brilliant individual performances - none more so than the amazing Peter Sellers, who after his quite sensational triple-role in Dr Strangelove, puts in another career defining act. Not to forget the bewitchingly beautiful Sue Lyon , as Dolores 'Lolita' Haze, the object of the lustful attention of Humbert Humbert .
What makes the film all the more remarkable is that Vladimir Nabokov's classic book is one that greatly challenges adaptation to the big screen, with its long drawn style and lyrical nature. However, despite marked differences in movie and book, the transiton is seamless, as was the case with 'A Clockwork Orange', '2001:A Space Odyssey' and 'The Shining'.
Every Kubrick movie leaves one particular scene imprinted in the mind - i remember '2001 ' had 'Also Sprach Zarathushtra' and ' The Blue Danube' reverberating in my ears,even though the movie itself i found difficult to understand ; the scary-as-hell 'All work and no play' scene from 'The Shining' ; Alex singing 'Singin in the Rain' as he assaults the old author and his wife in '..Clockwork..' ; the training officer's monologue in 'Full Metal Jacket' ; and of course, the infamous orgy in 'Eyes Wide Shut'
It is an absolute travesty that despite 4 Best Director nominations, Kubrick does not have an Oscar, but I guess when Oscars are given out these days to just about anyone who lobbies hard enough, that is not an entirely bad thing....
1 comment:
You know why I hate 'Lolita'.
I hate people like Humbert. They only know how to scar, not to love.
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