We arrive at 1975, this is the year of Stanley Kubrick’s costume drama Barry Lyndon. Barry Lyndon is a 18th century Irish man played by Ryan O’Neal .The film follows his rise from been a nobody on the run from the law to getting married into Nobility. Unfortunately his success doesn’t come from a genuine way of hard work, he lies, cheats and gambles his way to getting noticed, and eventually finds the power he craves by marring a Noble woman. For me it is Kubrick’s hidden gem, the way he shot the film is brilliant, the use of the English countryside and huge manors for interior shots is beautiful, well worth a watch I say.

1980, now we have Stanley Kubrick’s movie about a descent into madness, The Shining. Jack Nicholson’s performance is just brilliantly insane, the look he has in his eyes just looks wild and savage like, he really looks like something has clicked in his head and has drove him over the sanity barrier. Full Metal Jacket is next for Kubrick in 1987, this is a war movie set during the Vietnam War.  This film is like a film in two halves, the first following recruits at a training camp, the second, following the war through the eyes of one of the recruits from the first half. For me the first half of the film is stronger, in my opinion. Lee Emery plays a drill Sgt. training these recruits he is such a character you just never forget him and some of the things he comes out with. Kubrick goes back to his strong use of music too, lets say you will never see the Micky Mouse Club Song sung in any other way stranger and darker than this.

It would be a long wait for his next film, 1999 to be exact. That film was Eyes Wide Shut starring Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise. This film is another not often talked about gem from Kubrick. The film is like one big daydream, the use of color and long camera panning shots is brilliant. Believe it or not both leads were great in their roles too. This film I believe has a R rating in the US, believe me it needs that rating, there is a few scenes taking place in a mansion with a strange cult, these scenes are not for young eyes. This film reminds me of Alfred Hitchcock‘s work because its like a mystery cat chase mouse film. Unfortunately Kubrick never got to see the release of it he died on March 7th, 1999. The world lost a great visionary director, who tried to make every film different but also somewhat familiar with his usual tricks of music and sound. Watch his movies you will not regret it. Thanks for reading.