Movie Guide: The Golden Years - 1968 – 2001: A Space Odyssey

Second recommendation of this magnificent year 1968 and that, due to the transcendence of the film and that we are going to recommend below. And it is that with a note of 7.8 it has the best the second best rating of the year. Good note then, to travel through space, which is what this offers us «2001: A Space Odyssey». One of the great classics of Science Fiction and that, under a double prism, shows us space from a philosophical and surreal perspective that begins from the first evolutionary step of the human being.

An unrepeatable work that, at the time and with respect to its technical aspects, broke in this genre, with everything shot up to the moment of its realization. Bringing this to technical perfection. Therefore, the fusion of said innovation with surrealism, achieves its first objective, to leave no one indifferent, logically getting all kinds of criticism: from the most exacerbated admirers, to the staunchest detractors. Therefore, the vision of it is recommended, to know from our own point of view: what is the true meaning of that happy "monolith" in the middle of the history of the human being. Surely, each of us will give an interpretation. Therefore, in our entrustment it only remains to dissect it for you. Shall we start?

And so, we find that this "2001: A Space Odyssey" is a British-American film of the science-fiction genre that, as we said, with a score of 7.8, currently occupies the positions 87 and 22 of the prestigious Imdb and Afi lists respectively. A recognition of its importance.

On the other hand, "2001: A Space Odyssey" was produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, assuming a great hit for its coffers because, despite the fact that its technology and avant-garde design cost $12M, it had a box office of $190.7M . Therefore, collection that multiplied by at least 6, the income of the second films that this year as the highest grossing accompanied him: "Rosemary's Baby", "Planet of the Apes" and "Night of the Living Dead" which, in due course, we will also recommend.

In short, an excellent film, transgressive, well received by critics and by the box office. But like everything in the vineyard of the Lord, it has a but, and that is that, like other great works for cinema, it was not even nominated for any of the two great awards from the film academies: The Oscars and the Golden Globes for best movie. "What are you going to do"

But hey, leaving the film itself aside, let's focus now on its director and who is none other than the great Stanley Kubrick. One of the most influential filmmakers of the 20th century and who stood out both for his technical precision and for the remarkable stylization of his films. Of course, all of them loaded with a deep symbolic charge. If we do not review some of them, to realize the significance and the level of the character we are talking about. Of course, a character nominated for a number of years for best director, but unfortunately, he never got one of the long-awaited statuettes. "One more injustice of the academies, although as recognition we will remember them by mentioning them as they were":

1960 - "Spartacus " Golden Globe nomination for Best director.

1962 - "Lolita" Golden Globe nomination for Best director.

1964 - "Dr. Strangelove " Oscar nomination for best director.

1968 - "2001: A Space Odyssey " Oscar nomination for best director.

1971 - "A Clockwork Orange" Oscar nomination for best director.

1975 - "Barry Lyndon" Oscar and Golden Globe nomination for Best director.

1980 - "The Shining"

1999 - "Eyes Wide Shut"

Therefore, we could say that Stanley Kubrick's cinema could well be considered "authentic auteur cinema", "or rather a director's" since its protagonists remain in the "background" In short, a multifaceted director, disrespectful of what established and that despite being surrounded by great actors, many of them considered true stars, the only thing they managed to do was appear at his side. Although, yes, at the time getting nominations for best performances. Let's see a list of them:

1960 - "Spartacus " Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier Golden Globe nomination for best actor and Tony Curtis. and Jean Simmons.

1962 - "Lolita" James Mason Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor. Shelley Winters and Sue Lyon Golden Globe nomination for Best Leading Actress and Most Promising Actress.

1964 - "Dr. Strangelove " Peter Sellers Oscar nomination for Best Leading Actor.

1968 - "2001: A Space Odyssey " Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood.

1971 - "A Clockwork Orange" Malcolm McDowell Golden Globe nomination for Best Leading Actor.

1975 - "Barry Lyndon" Ryan O'Neal.

1980 - "The Shining" Jack Nicholson.

1999 - "Eyes Wide Shut" Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.

So, according to the relationship that we have reflected in the previous section, you can see that, the main performers of this, "2001 a Space Odyssey" was played by low-level actors such as: Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood. Accompanied as supporting actors by: Douglas Rain and William Sylvester. So let's leave, on this occasion, the interpretive aspect for a better occasion.

But if something makes this iconic science fiction film especially different, it is its technical aspects. Therefore, to say that "2001 a Space Odyssey" was born from the imagination of the novel "The Sentinel" by the British writer Arthur C. Clarke and made into a film through a script created by the writer Arthur C. Clarke himself and director Stanley Kubrick himself. Work for which they got the Oscar nomination for best adapted screenplay.

On the other hand, it is worth mentioning the special effects that surround the film, and that marked a milestone for their visual and revolutionary communication style, making such an avant-garde projection due to their scientific realism that influenced future film directors such as: George Lucas or Ridley Scott or David Lynch, and movies like: 1977 - "Star Wars", 1979 - "Alien", or 1982 - "Blade Runner" and the 1990 - "Twin Peaks" series. "There is nothing" Tribute, then, to its director and head of "special effects" who was neither more nor less than the American Douglas Trumbull, and took part in films such as: 1968 - "2001 a Space Odyssey", 1977 - "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", 1979 - "Star Trek: The Motion Picture", 1982 - "Blade Runner" and 2011 - "The Tree of Life" and directed 1972 - "Silent Running" and 1983 - "Brainstorm". As I told you "Total nothing"

Lastly, and in this film what has a special meaning is the music that accompanies the film. Initially classical music with a good set of composers such as: Richard Strauss, Aram Khachaturián, Gaynes, György Ligeti and Johann Strauss.

Well, who does not recognize in the introduction of it the "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" by Richard Strauss. And despite the fact that everyone recognizes this suite, the setting for the entire symphonic part of the work is the composition of Ligeti's music which, without having been requested for his copyright, Kubrick included up to four works of this kind in the soundtrack: "Réquiem", "Lux Aeterna", "Atmosphères" and "Aventures". By the way, "Réquiem" is the theme that accompanies the appearances of the monolith. And, it is also Ligeti's micropolyphony that plays out during David Bowman's final abstract journey. While. the theme of "Gayane: IV", the adagio" by Gaynes, is the theme that accompanies the segment of "Mission to Jupiter" and which influenced the Californian composer Jerry Goldsmith so much, that he simulated it in his 1979 - "Alien".

Come on, an explosion of musicality with which Stanley Kubrick really takes a journey through the music of the 20th century that begins with "Zarathustra" and culminates with Ligeti, to start the cycle again with the final chords of Richard Strauss's work.

Finally, note that, in truth, the good Alex North, who had worked for Stanley Kubrick composing the soundtrack for "Spartacus " had also composed the soundtrack for: "2001 a Space Odyssey" But Stanley Kubrick did not include it. Imagine the "disappointment" of the composer when on the day of the premiere and sitting in the box, he did not hear a single note that he had composed. A godless that ended, using music by a composer he had not hired: Ligeti with the corresponding demand. And, discarding a soundtrack by Alex North and for which he had paid. "Come on, genius stuff"

And now, finally, dissected this "2001 a Space Odyssey" let's enjoy the film. To do this, keep in mind that, as always, under the cover we have left the post published on Ok.ru and, under its trailer, the link to the full film in the original version with subtitles. So you only have to click on any of them, to be able to enjoy the chosen content.

Synopsis: The film sequence begins with the image of the Earth ascending over the Moon, while the Sun ascends over the Earth, all in alignment. At this moment, the musical composition "Thus Spoke Zarathustra", by Richard Strauss, begins to be heard, the same one that accompanies, for the most part, the first part of the film, entitled "The Dawn of Man". And that presents the rest of the parts in which the film is segmented, such as: "TMA-1 (Tycho Magnetic Anomaly no. 1)", "Mission to Jupiter" and "Jupiter and beyond infinity" (Wikipedia) Now, guess what are the secrets of each of them.

The quintessential science-fiction film in the history of cinema narrates the various periods in the history of humanity, not only from the past, but also from the future. Millions of years ago, before the appearance of "homo sapiens", some primates discovered a monolith that leads them to a higher level of intelligence. Millions of years later, another monolith, buried on a moon, arouses the interest of scientists. Finally, during a NASA mission, HAL 9000, a machine equipped with artificial intelligence, which can become very dangerous and is in charge of controlling all the systems of a manned spacecraft. (Filmaffinity)

Note: Precursor film that already warns us of the dangers of artificial intelligence. Do you want me to sing you a song? Her name is Daisy.