-FANTASTIC-

Rating: 10/10 (26 November 2004)

Stanley Kubrick has certainly showed the world how much humor can be found within one of the most serious subjects imaginable, nuclear war. 'Dr. Strangelove' details a particularly bad blunder by the United States military during the climax of the cold war. The film covers the time span of about two-hours beginning when the maniacal and mentally unstable General Jack D. Ripper, (Sterling Hayden), orders a surprise nuclear air-strike on dozens of installations inside Russia, cuts off all communication entering or leaving the base, and fortifies himself within the confines of his office. Frantically in an attempt to abort Ripper's order, President Merkin Muffley, (Peter Sellers), assembles the military's leading generals in Washington's top-secret WAR ROOM. Efforts are made by the assembly to storm Ripper's base and drive him into custody, however, because Gen Ripper ordered his troops to defend the base at all costs, the U.S. military are forced to open fireÂ….on their own men! Unable to get to Ripper, the WAR ROOM assembly contacts the Russian Premier and informs him of the impending attack. Russia then delivers some very disturbing news; the Top-Secret 'DOOMSDAY' device that has been developed for a situation like this will be set off during the attack. The grim information prompts the assembly to turn for help from one particularly eccentric scientist, the ex-Nazi Dr. Strangelove (Peter Sellers, again).
The film, in all respects, is a masterpiece for its wildly funny satire of inept individuals within the government who hold the apocalypse at the tips of their fingers. Filmed in stark black and white, the movie just 'screams' the Kubrick-style by including enormous portions of scenes filmed entirely in one shot. Kubrick also puts to use the technique of the 'long, tracking-shot' he has made himself famous for in previous efforts such as 'The Killing'(1956). The acting in this film is nothing below spectacular as Sterling Hayden is portrayed as the sadistic yet focused General Ripper. George C. Scott plays the gruff Gen. Buck Turgidson, who is basically a good natured individual but totally and utterly inept at his job. James Earl Jones also makes his film debut as Lt. Lothar Zogg, the bombardier aboard the aircraft ordered to nuke Russia. However, the one man who dwarfs all the other actors in his performance is Peter Sellers. Sellers plays three different characters in the film, Dr. Strangelove, Capt. Lionel Mandrake, and President of the United States Merkin Muffley. As the President, Sellers convincingly speaks perfect 'American' English without the slightest hint of his own accent. And as for special effects in this film, a single shot at the film's climax is regarded as one of the most memorable scenes in Hollywood history.
If quick pacing, witty dialogue, subtle jokes, sheer horror, and stark settings are what you dig, 'Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb' will be guaranteed not to disappoint.