Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures

2001

Biography / Documentary

Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Certified Fresh 86% · 14 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 89% · 5K ratings
IMDb Rating 8.0/10 10 12479 12.5K

career conversation interview

Director

Jan Harlan Photo
Jan Harlan

Top cast

Tom Cruise Photo
Tom Cruise as Self - Actor & Film Producer
Steven Spielberg Photo
Steven Spielberg as Self
Nicole Kidman Photo
Nicole Kidman as Self
Martin Scorsese Photo
Martin Scorsese as Self

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by MaxBorg89 8 / 10

A Life in Pictures - exactly what it sounds like

Because of his reclusive nature, Stanley Kubrick was never the best choice of subject for a documentary, in life as well as in death. Then again, that depends on who's behind the camera - in this case, the late director's brother-in-law and collaborator Jan Harlan, who also appears as one of the interviewees.Harlan's choice is very simple: skip any attempt to understand the man and just focus on what we have, namely the pictures (hence the film's title). Not just the movies, but also the photos he took in his youth, before discovering cinema. This aspect is covered through comments by friends and family members. Fans, however, are probably more interested in what people have to say about the films, and so we've got some of the key cast and crew of almost all of his movies (one notable exception is Dr. Strangelove, given Peter Sellers and George C. Scott died a long time before Harlan shot the documentary) describing their experiences. In addition, other filmmakers express their sincere admiration for Kubrick, with heaps of praise coming from Scorsese, Spielberg (who directed the Kubrick-inspired A.I.) and Woody Allen (the original choice for Sydney Pollack's role in Eyes Wide Shut).All possible anecdotes surrounding the man and his methods are recounted with joy, and the effect his films had on culture and society are explored in detail. Hearing Allen's first impressions of 2001 is refreshing (he didn't like it at first), whilst Scorsese's reaction to Paths of Glory is a perfect tribute to that picture's power ("It was so honest, it was shocking!"). The most famous controversy remains that surrounding A Clockwork Orange, and it's almost touching when Kubrick's widow recalls his decision to withdraw it from theaters in England until his death. We don't learn anything new about the great director, but hearing it from those people completely justifies Harlan's effort.That said, there is one little problem in the film, and that's the fact that everyone is completely incapable of saying anything bad about Kubrick. Okay, maybe his death has something to do with it, but after dozens of occasions during which both Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall berated him for how he treated them on the set of The Shining, hearing them say it was generally a positive experience is surprising to say the least. The closest anyone comes to a bit of criticism is when Malcolm McDowell, always the ultimate Kubrickian icon, describes their relationship like this: "I loved him one moment and wanted to kill him the next!".Overall A Life in Pictures doesn't add much to what we knew about one of the world's best filmmakers, nor does it take anything away. But remembering him through his work and the people who appeared in his movies is the most appropriate way to make a chronicle of his eventful life.
Reviewed by afreder 9 / 10

Great tribute to a great director

I saw this film April 26th at Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival in Champaign, Illinois. I found it to be a thorough and captivating overview of the life of a brilliant director. There is much in this documentary that is new, as many of the interviews were conducted following Kubrick's death in 1999.While this documentary does present a fairly glowing portrayal of Kubrick, there is the occasional comment regarding his darker side (which, frankly, was not really all that dark). This film basically serves as a tribute to Kubrick from his family and friends. And what's wrong with that?If you want to know something about this irreplaceable film maker, this is the documentary to watch.
Reviewed by ekisest 9 / 10

impressive documentary on one of the most mysterious filmmakers of all time

This impressive documentary covers most of Stanley Kubrick's work, through the recollections of major figures in the film industry that, somehow, came into contact with this legendary director. Tom Cruise's presentation is no good, but all the rest works. Nevertheless, the "great absent" in this picture is Kubrick himself. All the way I was waiting for a glimpse at the real, flesh and blood Stanley Kubrick talking about his work. His voice appears briefly, in a recorded speech about "2001", but he doesn't say anything, really. The absence of significant footage with the central figure of this documentary, enhances the mystery surrounding the resources and hidden agenda behind most of his films. Anyway, while watching carefully one of the many pictures of Kubrick's childhood - the one where he's playing the piano with his sister, you can see something beyond those apparently innocent, childish eyes, something that reminded me of the kid in "The Shining".
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