Top 10: Stanley Kubrick
When the average movie is nowhere near unnerving enough, you can always trust Kubrick to come in and save the day. From ghosts to robots to Tom Cruise, here’s our top picks… in no particular order…
The Shining
What’s so great about it?
Jack Nicholson is all “ARGHH!” and his family are all “AHHH!” and there are these twins that are all “…” REDRUM and HERE’S JOHNNY and ELEVATORS. Yeah. It’s intense. Also, snow. Lots of snow.
Fun fact:
The infamous “Here’s Johnny!” line was actually improvised by Jack Nicholson. Four for you, Jack. You go, Jack.
Behind the scenes:
A Clockwork Orange
What’s so great about it?
Feel like being chilled to the bone? Feel like never trusting anyone ever again… especially a guy in a bowler hat? Well, have we got the thing for you! For the low, low price of what’s left of your innocence, catch this Kubrick film you’ll only understand about half of.
Fun fact:
Speaking of improv that ended up being unforgettable, Alex’s version of “Singin’ in the Rain” was also made up on the spot. Like, we’re all for a bit of karaoke, but c’mon…
Behind the scenes:
2001: A Space Odyssey
What’s so great about it?
Stop… Dave… Will you stop, Dave? Stop… Dave… I’m afraid… BAM, everyone is crying over a robot because maybe Dave should’ve given him a second chance?! This is just not the way things were meant to turn out. 100% unacceptable. 11/10 feel conflicted.
Fun fact:
This was the last space movie made before Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin actually went to the moon… apparently. We’re pretty sure it was all a hoax, put together using leftover shots and props. (But don’t let the government hear us…)
Behind the scenes:
Full Metal Jacket
What’s so great about it?
Sometimes in life you just have to watch a movie with 170 swear words in it. For the aesthetic. Counting curse words will probably be the only way to survive this movie, it’s dark and hurts and you’ll be crying for about 31 days. Whatever you do, don’t ever make the Thousand-yard Stare.
Fun fact:
Ronald Lee Ermey made up about 150 pages of insults. Legend.
Behind the scenes:
Lolita
What’s so great about it?
Kubrick seems to love corrupting his audience… and why stop there? Let’s mess with literally everybody everywhere. The movie might be… uncomfortable and twisted AF, but you gotta give credit where credit’s due. It’s a real journey.
Fun fact:
Sue Lyon (Lolita) was denied entry into the premier of the movie because she was under 18. (Spin-off blog: Movie Stars Who Were Denied Entry To Their Own Movie Premier.)
Behind the scenes:
Dr Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
What’s so great about it?
Okay, firstly, the title. #Iconic. We need more movies that mirror our level of indecisive. Some plots are complicated, and some are this. There’s about 84 bombs involved in this movie about a super unhinged general first strike nuclear attack… but we promise it’s funny…
Fun fact:
The movie was originally meant to end with a big pie fight. ? Give ? Us ? That ? Version ?
Behind the scenes:
The Killing
What’s so great about it?
A sharpshooter, police officer and betting teller walk into a bar… and the bartender doesn’t really do much bartending. Instead, they’re all banded together to pull off a heist, and plane luggage size restrictions are still the most annoying thing in the universe.
Fun fact:
The film was shot in 24 days. We’ve literally been on public transport for journeys that have felt longer.
Behind the scenes:
Barry Lyndon
What’s so great about it?
It’s got the typical Stanley Kubrick stamp of deceit, betrayal, numerous shady dudes, and laughing at things you probably shouldn’t be laughing at. The only thing it’s missing is obnoxiously big hats. OH WAIT.
Fun fact:
The crew basically never wanted to see a candle again after shooting this. After every shot they had to blow out candles and light up new ones… and we’re talking about 30 takes for each scene ‘cause Kubrick has no chill.
Behind the scenes:
Eyes Wide Shut
What’s so great about it?
Love Tom Cruise? This Cruise ship sails in with a mask, a costume, and a movie that makes you feel like you’re watching American Psycho and Phantom of the Opera at the same time. Yeah. It’s spicy.
Fun fact:
It took Tom Cruise 95 takes… to… walk through a door…
Behind the scenes:
Spartacus
What’s so great about it?
No, I’M SPARTACUS! We’re ALL Spartacus! Feel the original “FOR NARNIA!” vibes in this true gem. Spartacus has been a slave for forever, but now he’s breaking free, and he’s taking errbady with him.
Fun fact:
Literally nobody who worked on this got along. Nobody. If you look close enough, you can actually see the death stares they couldn’t act away.
Behind the scenes:
