It has been 26 years since Stanley Kubrick died on March 9, 1999. He never got to see the year 2001, sadly. I would have loved to see him interviewed about that year and where humanity was at that time. However, because of the influence of his thirteen feature films, he still feels alive in the same way as all great artists. No matter how many times I view his films, I always make new discoveries and observations. This is partially due to aging with the films, and my own unique perspective changing with my own life experiences, such as having children, or seeing history consistently repeating itself, but it is also due to the immense depth of his artistic creation. Kubrick’s films are too much for only one viewing.
As a film professor, I am also constantly aware of his influence as a filmmaker. Other than Orson Welles, a strong argument can be made that he is the most influential film artist in cinematic history. Like Citizen Kane, you can draw a line before and after the Kubrick effect. From his groundbreaking use of the Stedicam to the unnerving repetition of the “Kubrick Stare”, you know instantly that you are watching a film by Stanley Kubrick. His distinctive style and approach to filmmaking challenged the Hollywood structure in the 1950s and he continued to push cinematic boundaries until his final film in 1999. He had several unfinished projects at the time. Watching filmmakers like Clint Eastwood, Martin Scorsese, and others work into their eighties and beyond, leaves us wondering what visions we missed.
Kubrick’s films demand to be seen on the big screen with the best possible sound. He made films at a gigantic scale. You should be overwhelmed by the spectacle and shocked by the imagery. Marvelling at his mastery of finding the perfect music to accompany an image. I encourage everyone to take the opportunity to see his films as they were meant to be seen. You will gain a greater appreciation for them and his artistic vision. To me, they are as fresh and vibrant as the day they were first released. Take this opportunity to support your only local independent cinema in Birmingham, and make sure to use the bathroom when you are there to complete the Kubrick experience.
– Gareth Jones, Film Scholar at UAB and Co-Host of Substrate Radio‘s Sleep In Cinema
Gareth Jones will be introducing the Thursday, June 19th 7:00pm screening of Sidewalk Film 101: 2001: A Space Odyssey and will be giving a Barry Lyndon and Stanley Kubrick: Reel Talk Conversation after the Sunday, June 22nd 4:00pm screening of Barry Lyndon.
Tickets for all titles available at sidewalkfest.com/tickets.