Born: Stanley Kubrick

D.O.B.: July 26, 1928 

Died: March 7, 1999 

Cause of Death: Heart Attack 

Known For: 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket 

Cool Quote: “A film is - or should be - more like music than like fiction. It should be a progression of moods and feelings. The theme, what's behind the emotion, the meaning, all that comes later.”

Stanley Kubrick is an artist who truly mastered his craft. Through his films, Kubrick illustrated the value of technical prowess, creative innovation and narrative flair, while providing some of the most iconic and memorable films. Kubrick pushed boundaries and refused to accommodate to audiences. This rebellious spirit is infused in much of his best work and cemented his reputation as a leader in American cinema. Kubrick is often cited as being among the most talented and significant filmmakers of all time. His work influenced filmmakers like Paul Thomas Anderson and David Fincher and Kubrick’s name often appears in interviews and columns about the most impactful directors.

Kubrick was born on July 26, 1928 in Bronx, New York to Eastern-European Jewish parents. Kubrick showed an early interest in literature and was somewhat of a recluse as a child. At the age of thirteen, his father gave him a camera, which he was later inseparable from. Despite his more scholarly tendencies, Kubrick was a poor student and did not go on to college. Kubrick found school both boring and monotonous and often skipped class to go to the movies. After high school, Kubrick gained employment as a photographer and discovered his love for filmmaking.

Kubrick’s earliest films explore many pre-existing genres such as film noir or war movies. His style was influenced by the work of Orson Welles and Max Ophuls, whose fluid camera-work inspired much of Kubrick’s now-famous cinematography. The 1960’s brought much success for the young filmmaker. Some of his landmark pieces of work included “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb”, “Lolita”, “Spartacus” and “2001: A Space Odyssey”. Kubrick became a leader of the “New Hollywood” movement and earned a reputation as one of the most thorough, creative, and interesting filmmakers in the industry. Kubrick’s zealous research and meticulous filmmaking style allowed him to create vast cinematic landscapes in “2001” and beautiful set pieces in “Spartacus”. His penchant for special effects put Kubrick at the forefront of an emerging style of science fiction filmmaking.

Kubrick made some of the most lasting and important films of all time. Although his style was very fastidious and deliberate, his movies never feel stiff. Kubrick’s characters provided some of the most powerful performances of all time and told his stories through the lens of an impartial observer. Kubrick’s characters will forever remain iconic and his films will continue to inspire artists in a wide variety of mediums.

Obituary: http://www.nytimes.com/1999/03...