A cinematic journey through the mind and space.

Rating: 9/10 (21 February 2012)

As is the case with many of his other works, Stanley Kubrick brings this bizarrely epic and philosophical sci-fi to life with a powerful usage of Mise-en-scene. I found this particular aspect of the film impressive, as he crafts a convincing future with the unique use of lighting, sets, and various other elements of design. Every room in every location feels as thought it was built with meticulous complexity, as if this cannot be an imagined world but one that has been captured for the sake of the film. This quality, which is so immersed into the narrative of the film that it is almost unnoticeable with close analysis, makes the intense and difficult story come to life in a way that makes its deep yet arduous plot compelling and believable. With unique camera work, the elements of design and composition use the unusual costumes, sets, and lighting to create a movie that is as surreal as the human mind but as realistic as nonfiction, making it a powerful viewing experience.