We’ve had an awful lot of reviews here for modern-day cinema lately, haven’t we? So why not wind it all the way back to 1964 and take a look at a classic?
Dr. Strangelove (see above for full, lengthy title) is set during the height of the Cold War in the USA. The movie starts when the humorously named Army General ‘Jack D. Ripper’ appears to have gone insane and initiates a nuclear strike on the Soviet Union. Even if you know nothing about the politics of war, you’ll know that’s bad. The film centres from thereon in around a room full of politicians (with the aid of a Russian diplomat) frantically trying to stop the attack… and it’s bloody hilarious.
Stanley Kubrick, you absolute weirdo. He truly created the genre of political satire, didn’t he? Armando Iannucci has a lot to thank him for, that’s for sure. In fact, modern comedy in general owes a lot to Kubrick – SNL being just one major benefactor of his style.
The fact that my degree dissertation focused on 1950s and 60s Cold War policy makes it utterly shameful that I’ve never seen this before. Most frighteningly, Dr. Strangelove is still relevant almost 60 years later, and with a few character name changes it could just as easily be based on the political circus we find ourselves in the middle of today. (You know what I’m talking about.)
The shots of the war room are so masterful, and even with today’s technology would be so difficult to obtain. (See above for an establishing shot of the room.) It’s so impressive that Kubrick managed to create such technical images, and such frames are deservedly iconic in the present day.
Just a quick note on the cast, because that’s all we need. Peter Sellers. That is all. What a talent. Playing 3 different characters that cover such different aspects of the political spectrum? And playing them all to perfection? He’s nuts.
I’ll be honest, it took me a while to get into this and some of the humour didn’t hit me quite as much as it probably did with audiences in 1964, but there were points that killed me. The President calling the Soviet leader on the phone to say a bashful ‘sorry’? Hilarious.
All in all, I just wasn’t as taken by this as I wanted to be. However, I can completely see why this movie is so highly regarded, with precise performances, spot on cinematography, and some truly funny sequences. Plus, that ending with Vera Lynn and the mushroom clouds? May be the best conclusion to a movie that I’ve seen all year.
Dr. Strangelove is available to stream on Sky Cinema and Now TV in the UK.
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