As a film, Jacques Tati's PlayTime (1967) is rightly considered as one of the best films ever made. A satire of hyperconsumerism and corporate takeover of life that is more relevant than ever.
At the time, this wasn't the case, with the film losing money, which would in turn bankrupted Tati.
It is however, a new experience in the world of films, and fiction in general. Tati had intended the film to be something new, to be something he called a “spectacle cinématographique”, something similar to live theatre. However, what most people do not know is that PlayTime (1967) is more than a film —— it's atheme park.
Welcome to TatiVille. Enjoy your disorientation and reality!
Every so often, a forgotten film from the middle of the 20th century gets re-discovered and re-appraised as something ahead of it's time, something that should've been better-known, and in some cases, should've been a part of The Canon. Especially in the age of Internet and Streaming where lost gems its' way to smaller streaming services or archival video channels.
David and Lisa (1962) is one of such films. Carrying profundity and heart towards the then-taboo subject of mental health with care humanity at the time where the subject was looked down upon is a reason for this film to be remembered today.
However, there's more than heart in this underrated film, in that it tells us about life, death, love, and growth.
This is it. 2001: A Space Odyssey, the movie that changed movies in the Anglosphere forever. A movie that shows the evolution of the medium itself, and shows what the medium can do.
Reception of Stanley Kubrick (Star of the City) Final Act:A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
My eyes, buttered and wide open, have seen it all to the end.
This is a Steven Spielberg film. The sensibilities, feel, and philosophy is all Spielberg. But it also all Kubrick.
This is the final send-off from a futurist who envisioned a future. 2001: A Space Odyssey imagines a future of mechanical humanity from 1968 lens, A.I imagines a future of human mechanism from 2001 lens.
Reception of Stanley Kubrick (Star of the City) Act 8:Lolita (1962)
That was....a lot. For starters, I read the book back in highschool and actually planned to see this adaptation, but never gotten around to. Took me 6 years but I guess better late than never?
And yeah, very different from the book. This is less of “Vladimir Nabokov'sLolita” and more of “Stanley Kubrick'sQuilty” (drop your ao3, king stanley!! you're good at making canon-divergent fanfics of books!!!) to me.
Reception of Stanley Kubrick (Star of the City) Act 5:Full Metal Jacket (1987)
People didn't lie, the first part is simply....chef's kiss....perfect. One thing I am beginning to notice about Stanley the Manley is that his comedic skills are pretty good. R. Lee Ermey and Vincent D'Onofrio out-Joker'd the hell out of Modine that it's funny to see 'Joker' being the cringe one in the beginning.
But the second part is where the film shines. It is a good piece of anti-war film. And with that, we say goodbye to our sweethearts....
