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Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

Starring: Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Todd Field, Sydney Pollack

Rated: R for Strong Sexual Content, Nudity, Language and Some Drug-Related Material

Running Time: 2 h 39 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directing, Cinematography, Writing, Some Acting

WEAKNESSES: Some Acting, Length and Pacing, Climaxes Too Early

Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

September 21, 2018

A wealthy Doctor living in New York City reevaluates his life and marriage while wandering through the city after his wife admits she fantasized about cheating on him.

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In Art House, Crime, Drama, Epic, Mystery, Thriller, Romance, Kubrick Retrospective Tags Stanley Kubrick, Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Todd Field, Sydney Pollack
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Full Metal Jacket (1987)

Directed by:Stanley Kubrick

Starring: Matthew Modine, R. Lee Ermey, Vincent D’Onofrio

Rated: R

Running Time: 1h 56m

TMM Score: 4 Stars

STRENGTHS: Theme, Acting

WEAKNESSES: Not A Typical War Film

Full Metal Jacket (1987)

September 21, 2018

A young military recruit, nicknamed Joker, got through bootcamp and then becomes a reporter for the Army’s newspaper, “The Stars and Stripes.” What he sees the military and war do to his fellow recruits is dehumanizing and thought provoking.

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In Drama, Kubrick Retrospective, War Tags mjamesmcdonald, Stanley Kubrick, Full Metal Jacket, R Rated, 1987, Matthew Modine, R. Lee Ermey, Vincent D’Nofrio, Vincent D Onofrio
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The Shining (1980)

Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers

Rated: R

Running Time: 2 h 26 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directing, Writing, Acting, Cinematography, Atmosphere

WEAKNESSES: -

The Shining (1980)

September 20, 2018

A writer takes his wife and child to be a caretaker for an isolated hotel during the winter, only to find that there might be an evil presence lurking in the hotel.  

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In Drama, Epic, Fantasy, Horror, Kubrick Retrospective, Mystery, Thriller Tags Stanley Kubrick, Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers, 1980, The Shining, R, 5 Stars
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Barry Lyndon (1975)

Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

Starring: Ryan O'Neal, Marisa Berenson, Patrick Magee

Rated: PG

Running Time: 3 h 5 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Mise-En-Scene, Cinematography, Writing, Acting, Directing

WEAKNESSES: Length, Pacing During Second Act

Barry Lyndon (1975)

September 19, 2018

An Irish scrapper slowly rises through the ranks of English aristocracy.​​​​​​​ 

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In Adventure, Art House, Biographical, Comedy, Drama, Epic, Romance, War, Kubrick Retrospective Tags Stanley Kubrick, Ryan O'Neal, Marisa Berenson, Patrick Magee, 4.5 Stars, PG, 1975
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A Clockwork Orange (1971)

Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

Starring: Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Michael Bates

Rated: R

Running Time: 2 h 16 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Direction, Story, Irony, Writing, Production Design

WEAKNESSES: Content, Some Acting (?)

A Clockwork Orange (1971)

September 18, 2018

After a couple nights of ‘ultra-violence’ Alex DeLarge is sent to prison, where he undergoes an experimental surgery that will curb his more devious impulses.

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In Adventure, Art House, Biographical, Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Kubrick Retrospective, Horror, Thriller Tags A Clockwork Orange, 1971, R, 5 Stars, Stanley Kubrick, Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Michael Bates
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Dr. Strangelove (1964)

Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

Starring: Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, Slim Pickens

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1h 35m

TMM Score: 5 Stars

STRENGTHS: Acting, Script

WEAKNESSES: NA

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

September 17, 2018

When a  US General in the 1960s suffers a nervous breakdown, he orders an all out nuclear strike on Russia and the entire United States Military must try to stop him from starting World War III and the Apocalypse.

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In Comedy, Drama, Kubrick Retrospective, War Tags mjamesmcdonald, Dr. Strangelove, Stanley Kubrick, Peter Sellers, George C Scott, Sterling Hayden, Slim Pickens, PG, 5 Stars
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2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

Starring: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester

Rated: G

Running Time: 2h 29m

TMM Score: 5 Stars

STRENGTHS: Cinematography, Special Effects, Sound Design, Theme

WEAKNESSES: NA

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

September 17, 2018

From the age of prehistoric man to the future space age, man and technology have coexisted, but when an incredibly powerful supercomputer on a manned mission to Jupiter goes haywire, man must evolve beyond.

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In Art House, Epic, Kubrick Retrospective, Sci Fi Tags mjamesmcdonald, Stanley Kubrick, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester, Keir Dullea, 1968, 2001: A Space Odyssey, G Rated, 5 Stars
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Lolita (1962)

Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

Starring: James Mason, Shelley Winters, Sue Lyon

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Strong Thematic Material)

Running Time: 2 h 33 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Directing, Acting

WEAKNESSES: Content

Lolita (1962)

September 14, 2018

A middle-aged man marries a widow to be closer to her young daughter.

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In Art House, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Romance, Thriller, Kubrick Retrospective Tags 1962, Stanley Kubrick, James Mason, Shelley Winters, Sue Lyon, NR, 4 Stars, Peter Sellers
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Spartacus (1960)

Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

Starring: Kirk Douglas, Jean Simmons, Laurence Olivier, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov

Rated: PG13

Running Time: 3hrs 17min

TMM Score: 5 Stars

STRENGTHS: Epic Scale, Themes

WEAKNESSES: None

Spartacus (1960)

September 13, 2018

A slave, Spartacus, leads a rebellion of thousands of slaves across Italy, threatening the power of the Roman Empire.

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In Kubrick Retrospective, Action, Adventure, Biographical, Epic Tags mjamesmcdonald, 1960, Spartacus, Stanley Kubrick, Kirk Douglas, Jean Simmons, Laurence Olivier, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, PG13, 5 Stars
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Paths of Glory (1957)

Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

Starring: Kirk Douglas, Ralph Meeker, Adolphe Menjou, George Macready

Rated:NR (Suggested PG-13 for War Violence and Thematic Elements)

Running Time: 1 h 28 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Message, Story, Cinematography, Characters, Writing, Acting

WEAKNESSES: -

Paths of Glory (1957)

September 12, 2018

After failing to attack a well-fortified position, a general accuses soldiers of cowardice and a commanding officer steps in to defend them. 

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In Action, Drama, Thriller, War, Kubrick Retrospective Tags Paths of Glory, 1957, Stanley Kubrick, Kirk Douglas, Ralph Meeker, Adolphe Menjou, George Macready, NR, 5 Stars
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The Killing (1956)

Directed by:Stanley Kubrick

Starring: Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Vince Edwards

Rated: NR (Suggested PG-13 for Some Violence)

Running Time: 1 h 25 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story and Story Structure, Writing, Acting

WEAKNESSES: Pacing in First Act (?)

The Killing (1956)

September 11, 2018

Mobsters plan to rob a racetrack.

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In Action, Crime, Drama, Noir, Thriller, Kubrick Retrospective Tags The Killing, 1956, 4 Stars, Stanley Kubrick, Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Vince Edwards
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Killer's Kiss (1955)

Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

Starring: Frank Silvera, Irene Kane, Jamie Smith

Rated: NR

Running Time: 1h 7m

TMM Score: 3 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Cinematography

WEAKNESSES: Standard Story

Killer's Kiss (1955)

September 10, 2018

When a low level boxer, Davey, falls for a private dancer, Gloria, he runs afoul of her manager, Vincent, who fancies her and has no qualms about using violence to get her.

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In Romance, Crime, Drama, Noir, Kubrick Retrospective Tags mjamesmcdonald, 3 Stars, NR, Killer's Kiss, Stanley Kubrick, 1955, Frank Silvera, Irene Kane, Jamie Smith
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Fear and Desire (1953)

Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

Starring: Frank Silvera, Kenneth Harp, Paul Mazursky

Rated: NR

Running Time: 1h 2m

TMM Score: 2 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Cinematography

WEAKNESSES: It's not doing anything special.

Fear and Desire (1953)

September 10, 2018

Four soldiers are stuck six miles behind enemy lines after a plane crash. As they make their way back to their camp they must face their own fears and decide which risks are worth taking when they run a cross a village girl who may turn them in.

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In Action, Drama, Thriller, War, Kubrick Retrospective Tags mjamesmcdonald, NR, 1953, Fear and desire, Stanley Kubrick, Frank Silvera, Kenneth Harp, Paul Mazursky, 2 Stars
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