Literally breathtaking

Rating: 10/10 (2 February 2018)

If you're one who searches best movies of all time on your browser then you must have found this one on every list available on the web, Most probably you've seen it already. It would also be likely that you haven't. Well, if I may say, you've are missing out a great movie experience my friend.
Deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant", 2001: A Space Odyssey was selected for preservation in the National Film registry by the US Library of Congress in 1991.
Considered to be his magnum opus, 2001 surely is the best film to start with if you haven't seen any Stanley Kubrick film yet.
In a nutshell, it is about a US space mission lead by scientists Dr. David Bowman and Dr. Frank Poole, with three other scientists in crypto sleep, aboard the spaceship Discovery bound for Jupiter. Discovery was programmed to be operated mainly by Hal, a sentient HAL 9000 supercomputer. When Hal alerted the scientists about an antenna control devise failure, Bowman and Poole - after launching an EVA (extravehicular activity) - found nothing wrong and began suspecting Hal. This raised a great concern especially because Hal claims he is "foolproof and incapable of error". Afraid that this might cause mission failure, both scientists decided that if Hal is indeed malfunctioning they will disconnect him and go on manual control. When Hal found out about this plan, the mission started to go awry and everything that followed went out of plan. (Also, there are these mysterious monoliths of various sizes scattered around the outer space. What these black slabs are nobody knows but they trigger most of the action in the film.)
Prior to watching the film, I have not expected anything other than it must it turning out to be a great film. I only intended to watch this film because I bought the book 2010: odyssey two by Arthur C. Clark which is the sequel of the book which this film was based on.
Author Arthur C. Clark shares the credit for the conception of this film. Kubrick asked Clarke to write for him a story about space exploration and both later started thinking about the "proverbial good science-fiction movie". The novel 2001: A Space Odyssey was written during the years 1964-1968 and was published shortly after the release of the film in July 1968. Kubrick and Clarke later won an Oscar for the screenplay of this film.
It would be no exaggeration if I say that everything about this film is remarkable considering that it was made in the late 1960's. The film explored possibilities in film that no one before 1968 has ever tried. The conceptualization to production to execution is nothing short of impressive. Even the sound design and scoring is a feat in cinematic history.
There are certain elements that fascinated me while, and even after, watching the film. Aspects of the film that are very distinct had I watched it earlier would have been the basis of my science fiction cinematic standards. These can be narrowed down into five aspects:
The scoring and sound design - for about two minutes or so, I thought I'm watching a busted copy of the film because as the music progresses into a crescendo of eerie sounds that resonates horror all I'm seeing is black on the screen. In hindsight, this opening technique helped build up the tension I was about to feel throughout the film. I don't know if it was intended that way but it established the mysterious mood of film.
A minor element I like about this film is the sound the characters make when breathing. Hearing the inhale and exhale of the characters in their space suits gives the audience an immersive experience. This was a minor detail I noticed and liked in the movie Interstellar, which I thought was original having seen Interstellar first.
Production design -There is something about the quality of each frame that makes if pleasing with the eyes, probably because the whole production wasn't cluttered with faux futuristic props. Even the strategic use of lighting in every scene gives off an aesthetic appeal as if every frame is a work of art. I don't know if you're supposed to feel it but everything from the costumes to props to vehicles and models and the sets are incredibly believable (for a 1968 film).
Visual effects - again, this was made in the late 1960's and way before the first Star Wars film but it's unarguably still better than the latter. The seamless visual effects will make you scrutinize every scene to find lapses but it still manages to leave you wondering if they really didn't actually film it in space.
That scene where Frank Poole runs around the circular track of giant centrifuge still confuses the hell out of me. I mean, sure, they could have made it look more believable these days but in 1968? That's impressive. Also, about weightlessness effect in zero gee? I know, impressive.
The camera angles and actors' movements - I haven't seen any other film by Kubrick yet to prove this impression but in 2001 Kubrick masterfully projects a sense of balance and symmetry in every frame, as well as an eye for details which can only be products of discipline. The subtle movements of the characters and the camera pacing allow you to take in everything on the screen; from the set design to the view of the outer space on the background.
Less dialogue - why would you ask for more dialogue when you're already served too much on the screen? I think what Kubrick and the film in general wants to present is a possibility of what it would be like if one journeys out in space that is still a great mystery to the human mind, a visual experience - enthralling, vague, one that is beyond words.
I can't stress it enough but for a film that was made in 1968, 2001: A Space Odyssey is a milestone in science fiction and deserves to be experienced. No wonder why it is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made.