forty years?

Rating: Null/10 (16 October 2003)

Amazing what a difference forty years makes in looking at a film. While some work becomes more and more appreciated, some of it. . . well, some of it just doesn't hold up. About forty years ago Dr. Strangelove seemed cutting edge, strongly satirical, and vibrant-- today, seen again by means of an original print on a full size screen (thanks, Madstone) it makes you flinch.
I remembered a couple of minor technical bobbles from long ago. Today, sitting in that big, dark room with sticky floors I lost track of the lighting problems, the bad plates, the voice and foley synch errors, and found myself wincing at poorly thought out writing and acting that should have been kept under control. On a small screen at home it doesn't look nearly so bad, but in a theater? Go to see it as a document of history, not as a work of art. Now it is obvious that Kubrick had an anti American bias-- of which he was accused then, but without the hysteria of the cold war polarization to cover it, is now blatant. While it was known, and even acknowledged in the preamble that there were safeguards that would prevent this from occurring, today we know that five years before Kubrick filmed Dr. Strangelove this problem was addressed by military and civilian leadership in both the USA and the USSR. It was a serious concern, but Kubrick treats it shabbily.
It feels strange to watch a DVD of Dr. Strangelove and enjoy it as a light satirical comedy, then to go watch it on the big screen and wonder if it would be considered even fair work today from the technical standpoint. Maybe this was the best they could do "way back then." Trouble is, other work from way back then does not have the bumbles, the flaws, the bias, and the heavy handed political message.
Take a look at Runaway Jury-- in the same way a heavy handed political message is used to justify the actions, there are technical errors throughout it, and the flaws overwhelm the whole; even so, it will be acclaimed by people who are unwilling to hold it to the standards all of the non political movies are held to.
It is a pity, and it hurts to see just how bad on the big screen a great memory and good DVD can really be. .