Top Ten Greatest Films of All Time: #3

Stanley Kubrick directed numerous great movies, but none better than 2001: A Space Odyssey. 

Based off the novel by Arthur C. Clarke, 2001 was revolutionary in every aspect and spawned a new generation of movies. Even more so than Star Wars, Kubrick’s masterpiece define the science fiction genre and transcends that label, becoming an all time great film.

Kubrick won his only Oscar (which is ridiculous) for Best Visual Effects. Out of any movie I have ever seen before, no movie has had better visual appeal or cinematographic excellence. Movies from 2015 pale in comparison to some of the jaw dropping shots from 2001. Kubrick was also nominated for Best Director and Best Screenplay, along with another nomination for Art/Set Decoration.

Much like Jaws, the acting performances in 2001 go under appreciated. The viewer can get caught up in a philosophical story line and stunning effects and lose sight of the characters. Granted, 2001 isn’t about the acting and could be considered pretentious by some. But Gary Lockwood, Keir Dullea and even the voice of Douglass Rain,who immortalized himself by voicing the corrupt robot HAL-9000, carry the film through long sequences of silence with excellent performances.

2001: A Space Odyssey is a film told in three acts and the transitions between each are seamless. The story of mankind is told from our humble beginnings in caves to our ultimate demise at the hands of the tools we’ve created. The spiritual journey displayed is unrivaled by any movie made before or since it’s 1968 release.

What hurt Jaws is what powers 2001. After watching it for the first time, you are left in a state of shock and awe. You’re left with a profound question: What did I just see? Countless interpretations of what 2001 is really about add to it’s ever growing legacy.

However, 2001 comes up short in other areas. Kubrick’s art is unquestionable, but does come off as “show-offy”. Long sequences of silence of more than 20 minutes serve an artistic purpose but do come off as boring. Still, 2001: A Space Odyssey is a gem of film making and can currently be viewed on Netflix (something I highly encourage you do).

And then there were two. Only two films remain on my list as the Greatest Film of All Time gets closer to being revealed. Tune in next week for number two, an orange juice drinker’s dream.