A brilliant, satirical, and black comedy for the ages.

Rating: 10/10 (4 October 2017)

Stanley Kubrick's political masterpiece "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" is a brilliant satire on the cold war as we follow absurd characters trying to deal with a rogue general and his order to bomb the enemy. While this isn't Kubrick's first impressive work, this one did separate himself as a filmmaker who genuinely and courageously follows his vision without much regard for outside opinion or public reaction.
A daring and controversial picture, "Dr. Strangelove" is a satirical and darkly comical take on a potentially genocidal war which could understandably anger audience members at the time. The film is filled with situational, tonal, cosmic, and dramatic irony that make this film anything but a casual time at the movies. In fact, it's best to see this film more than two or three times to pick up on new jokes and humor that normally go unnoticed.
Peter Sellers and George C. Scott offer ridiculous and characterized performances that feel so cartoonish we can't help but laugh. Together, they paint this picture of politics in the most absurd way. Yet at the same time, we feel that it could be plausible given the clearly defined character needs and wants. Kubrick helps us believe in the characters (notwithstanding their unbelievable behavior) by placing them in relatable circumstances and exposing them for their basic human needs and desires despite being in grave danger: survival and sex. Yes, the drive to survive and the constant subtle and obvious situations of reproducing as a means of not only distraction, but actual motivation for characters.
"Dr. Strangelove" remains a brilliant satirical piece that's wonderfully written, engaging, and eternally re-watchable. While the humor may be too subtle for most audiences to pick up on first viewing, "Dr. Strangelove" deserves a chance by the new generation of moviegoers. It's fantastic and while not easily accessible to everyone, worth the effort to try and understand because it will not disappoint.