proof of Kubrick's range

Rating: 8/10 (25 June 2000)

"Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" might prove that Stanley Kubrick is in fact the greatest director of all time. That's not to say "Dr. Strangelove" alone is his best work -- only that it proves a range of direction that has never been matched.
So many other directors are acclaimed for their ability to define a genre -- John Frankenheimer paved the road of action films; Billy Wilder was the king of comedy; and Alfred Hitchcock is of course the master of suspense.
But Kubrick arguably made significant contributions into each of these genres -- all while tackling forbidden subjects. You want action? Try "Full Metal Jacket." You want horror? Try "The Shining." You want science fiction? Try "2001: A Space Odyssey." You want crime? Try "The Killing."
You want comedy?
"Dr. Strangelove" is Kubrick's genius at work in a dark comedy. The movie laughingly shows the dangers of a nuclear holocaust when an insane general begins an unwarranted attack on communist Russia. Meanwhile, the U.S. president and other politicians try to figure out a way to avoid the earth's destruction.
Without taking anything away from Kubrick, it should be noted he has some help with "Dr. Strangelove." -- namely, Peter Sellers ("The Pink Panther"), who takes on three roles in the film, including the wacky title character, the U.S. president and a captain trying to bring the insane general to reason. Sellers is remarkably funny in each role, without overlapping any techniques. His characters truly have their own identity, and it's easy to overlook that the same man is playing all three roles.
Perhaps the most surprising performance, however, comes from George C. Scott ("Patton") as an egotistical general who is advising the president on the situation. Scott is hilarious -- there's no other word for it. His character is perfectly played: Although not entirely bright, the general is quite sure he is the smartest person in whatever room he's in. His lines are filled with stutters and uh's, as if he simply enjoys hearing his own voice even if he isn't sure what he is going to say.
But all acclaim for this film should rest with Kubrick, who also co-wrote the screenplay. His timing -- including the carefully timed camera shots of his actors -- is unmatched. The way each character enters the film is also superb.
Of course there is also a message being sent in his film. "Dr. Strangelove" was released at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The anti-war sentiment Kubrick captured so well in "Full Metal Jacket" is attacked by yet another angle -- absurdity.
And, as always, he had to slight his message to get it through. This time he used satire.