"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room." - President Merking Muffley

Rating: 9/10 (3 June 2005)

#1 Film of 1963
It's been over forty years, since Stanley Kubrick released his highly controversial yet intricate and beautifully made spoof comedy circling around the conflict the U.S. had with the Russians during the Cold War. 'Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb' held up wonderfully with age, and is still considered by many even today not only one of the funniest films of all time, but one of the very best films of all time. It's amazing to me after so much time has passed (the movie was in black and white for god's sake), audiences all over the country still get the dry and deadpan humor that 'Dr. Strangelove' so exquisitely expresses, and still are left to ponder the subtle but definitely present political statements at the heart of movie. Since I wasn't alive in 1963 I don't know for sure, but I heard from reliable people around during that time, a lot of Americans (especially in politics) hated this film because it shows them as something less then the geniuses they usually think themselves to be, it kind of just shows them as idiots, or buffoons.
The film chronicles what seems like the cold war, a war that could turn out to be World War III. The movie stars the immensely talented Peter Sellers in three roles, that are all different and carefully crafted by Sellers. The first is Group Captain Lionel Mandrake, a captain in the United States Army under the command of Brig. General Jack D. Ripper (Sterling Hayden - The Godfather), who fears the Russians because they intend to fluoridate water -- oh no!!!!!! General Ripper and Group Captain Mandrake are stranded in an office building under attack from the Russians, and Gen. Ripper goes completely insane in one of the plot lines 'Dr. Strangelove' possesses. The second character Sellers portrays is the president of the United States, Merkin Muffley, whose in the war room during the entire course of the film, trying to decide what to do when the Russians try to bomb the U.S. Merkin Muffney is a short bald fellow, who never seems to quite understand what's going on around him. Helping him make decisions, are the war hungry General Buck Turgison (George C. Scott - Patton), and the ex-Nazi mad genius scientist, Dr. Strangelove (who is also played by, you guessed it - Peter Sellers - in his funniest role of the entire film), who tries to refrain himself from involuntarily giving Hitler salutes throughout his hilarious scenes. 'Dr. Strangelove' is based on a book that isn't presented in a comedic fashion like the film adaptation. Slim Pickens and James Earl Jones co-star in this off-the-wall dark comedy.
There are so many wonderful things to be said about 'Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb'. Kubrick provides eye-popping direction way ahead of it's time, and also provides a rich, engaging and timeless screenplay based on the popular novel. Peter Sellers gives his very best screen performance in 'Dr. Strangelove' (in my opinion) tearing up the screen with his three fabulous and ingenious characters. George C. Scott is surprisingly witty and likable as the war room General, Sterling Hayden provides us with solid work as the crazy General Ripper who fears that evil fluoride in water plot the Russians are planning, and Slim Pickens is funny as the Major T.T. 'King' Kong, who actually rides a missile being fired into Russian soil from his fighter plane. The movie was nominated for four Academy Awards -- Best Actor in a Leading Role - Peter Sellers, Best Director - Stanley Kubrick, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Motion Picture of the Year, and sadly didn't receive awards for any of them. If it was up to me, I'd give it awards for all four categories, because looking back, 'Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb' is by far the best film of 1963.
In conclusion of this film review, I have to say 'Dr. Strangelove' is a terrific accomplishment in regards to film-making. Kubrick really hits it out of the park with this, making it his second best film of all time (the first being 1971's A Clockwork Orange, based on Anthony Burgess' vision of a horrific future). The movie has minor shortcomings, like moving a little slow towards the first half hour or so, but besides that I have to say it's all near perfect. I think I admired 'Dr. Strangelove' not only because it's very funny and delivers interesting political messages, but because it stars one of my favorite actors of all time (Peter Sellers) and is directed by one of my favorite filmmakers of all time (Stanley Kubrick). If you have a taste for an abnormal dark comedy, and haven't seen this already, go out and rent it. Chances are you might just like it. Grade: A-
MADE MY TOP 300 LIST AT #44