Animals in Chains

Rating: 9/10 (2 August 1999)

What a frustrating and magnificent film! Here again, as in all of Kubrick's other movies, humans are coping with their animal urges by keeping them in chains, but there's always a weak link. Dr. Bill is a true mechanical man, despite his job as a healer of bodies. But he can't suppress dat ol' debbil. Even worse, he can't forgive his wife Alice for her fantasied infidelity. A study of men and women -- the woman holds the high ground because of her compassion, and her honesty, which includes her acceptance of her animality. The script's last word is K's last hope for returning to our lost essence. God, those skin tones! Kubrick's use of available light and high speed film raises primitive technique to sublime sophistication. But that's the point, isn't it. The naked ape creates stunning mechanisms -- laws, social norms, movies -- in a hopeless attempt to purify human existence. Kubrick grins sardonically, but can't stop joining in. Here he creates another elegant and sad monument to the ridiculous human experiment. A fitting wrap to the career of a genius.