CINEMANIA:

Ben and I discuss how Barry Lyndon's charms prove elusive (USA, Kubrick, 1974)

Ben sed:

Just feeling overworked enough to accept and half a day's job and what with having a free afternoon, I gave it all to Kubrick. I don't think I can say anything that we didn't already say in advance. I'm happy to confirm that it's not all costumes and candles but I'm sad to report that it's not too much more. Brought back memories of Days of Heaven, and that is truly an insult. Of course, it is sumptuous to see, especially the use of natural light, both outdoors (love those end of the day best-light shots) and indoors (not only the flames at night but also the diffuse stuff streaming through the windows during the day.) Plus the colors of the landscape and the fabulous architecture.

Ben and I get lost in Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (USA, 1968)

Ben sed:

[Warning: Big Warm-Up Paragraph for a Long Review]

I seem to recall Geoffry O' Brian - in passing, not in a feature on Keaton - saying that Buster's art is perhaps even more meaningful now than it was back in his day. Or maybe this is just me talking. Dan and Ben may be in love with the meta-statement of Sherlock Jr. but back then the audience was still naive about how the camera could fool the eye.

Ben and I discuss the why it is that leading to the grave are all those Kubrickian Paths of Glory (USA, 1957)

Ben sed:

I don't know what I was expecting but it didn't occur to me that this was a war picture. Caught me off guard. Although in many respects it is not a war picture. At least I interpret it such. It's not just that many of the conventions of the war picture are not adopted in POG. That's missing the point, it seems to me.

Conversing with Ben about Kubrick's near-miss Lolita (USA/UK, 1962)

Ben sed:

There is one glaring reason why this film is ultimately not successful, but after that it is hard to identify exactly why the film fails to gel. To get the obvious out of the way, the problem may be explicated by way of the blurb on the box. The story ''explores the theme of sexual obsession,'' true enough, but not enough truth.

Conversations with Ben about Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket (USA, 1986) specifically and the man's ouevre in general.

Ben Begins:

The critique in the film is even stronger than I remember it. I told you that I initially did not appreciate FMJ, but I kept coming back to it and eventually I got it. Seeing it now for the second time, I can't imagine why it took me so long the first time. Actually, I can imagine why and I will address this momentarily.

Conversations with Ben take us to The Overlook and a chat about Stanley Kubrick's The Shining (USA, 1979)

Ben Begins:

Contrary to my desire to watch Paths of Glory as you instructed me, Jaocb won the day and we saw the above. This is clearly the film to differentiate Kubrick from Hitchcock.

Chatting with Ben about the sands of time that trickle on through Woman in the Dunes (Japan, 1964, Teshigahara)

Ben sed:

I was attracted to her the second she appeared in the film and he worked for me too.

Ben and Dan examine the majesty of The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928, Dreyer)

Ben sed:

This film makes Andrei Rublev look like Herbie: The Love Bug.

But seriously - Jesus Christ!

It really comes down to that, to Him. When she finally calls out for/to/with/as Him at the end... Lord have mercy... on her... on us...

Where to begin? Keith Richards - yes, of the Rolling Stones - may serve me now.

Then Ben and I talk about The Thin Red Line (USA, Malick, 1998) between love and hate.

Ben sed:

Yuck! And damn near three hours of it. Maybe this time we can have the fight we never had over DOH because I got the impression that you quite like TTRL. I dislike it in spades. To be honest, it so bugged me, I don't think I am able to articulate all of the ways it grated on me. (How do I hate thee? Let me count the ways...) So I will try to give a general negative impression.

Then Ben and I talk about The Thin Red Line (USA, Malick, 1998) between love and hate.

Ben sed:

Yuck! And damn near three hours of it. Maybe this time we can have the fight we never had over DOH because I got the impression that you quite like TTRL. I dislike it in spades. To be honest, it so bugged me, I don't think I am able to articulate all of the ways it grated on me. (How do I hate thee? Let me count the ways...) So I will try to give a general negative impression.