Kubrick the Master Filmmaker falls just short of a classic

Rating: 8/10 (30 April 1999)

The Shining has some of the most memorable scenes of any film that I have ever watched on the silver screen. A superbly well crafted, and well written film that somehow falls short at the end.
Wagner's opening music, genius art direction and strong performances from Nicholson and Duvall help create the feeling of subtle uneasiness in the first act. I only wish that the kid had been a better actor. He has very little screen presence. Kubrick does a superb job in giving the Overlook menacing characteristics. It's size and vast rooms creates the feeling that it is an object far too overwhelming for the Torrance family to fight, thus making Nicholson's slow crawl to insanity that much more convincing. I found the film to be more frightening on a cerebral level than on an emotional one. This isn't a movie that makes you jump out of your seat in fright or cover your eyes. Duvall's performance is the emotion needed to make the fear real even though I had a certain feeling of detachment throughout the movie. Though the final image of Nicholson is memorable, the ending somehow seemed anti-climatic.