“I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that.” —HAL
Today’s quick review: 2001: A Space Odyssey. Millions of years in the past, a black monolith sparks the first steps in humanity’s development as an intelligent species. Years in the future, an identical monolith is found buried on the Moon, prompting a manned mission to Jupiter to discover its secrets. Aboard the craft, Dave Bowman (Keir Dullea) and Frank Poole (Gary Lockwood), must contend with the malfunction of their onboard AI, HAL 9000.
2001: A Space Odyssey is a science fiction drama from director Stanley Kubrick. 2001 is an ambitious undertaking that combines polished visual effects, intelligent camerawork, and an iconic classical soundtrack to produce a unique and unconventional cinematic experience. Its remarkably slow pacing, limited amounts of dialogue, and abstract plot are both its greatest strengths and its greatest weaknesses, making it a classic that won’t suit everyone.
The main action of the story takes place on the Discovery One, a spaceship bound for Jupiter on a secretive mission for the US government. The crew begins to worry when the craft’s supposedly infallible artificial intelligence begins making mistakes. However, the travails of Bowman and Poole are only part of the story. Their voyage is linked to two other episodes by the presence of a black monolith that seems to have designs for humanity.
2001: A Space Odyssey is best known for its cinematography. Its practical effects hold up remarkably well even after 50 years and give the credible illusion of being in space. The exteriors are gorgeous, and Stanley Kubrick’s expansive style gives the viewer plenty of opportunity to soak them in. The camerawork demands attention and gets it, drawing parallels between the film’s events and conveying much of the film’s meaning without dialogue.
However, 2001 has an unconventional story that will leave many viewers perplexed. The story, co-written by sci-fi legend Arthur C. Clarke, is ambitious in scope, spanning from the Dawn of Man to its first contact with an extraterrestrial intelligence. But its events are abstract to the point of being incomprehensible, more thematically potent and visually striking than logically coherent. Those hoping for a grounded sci-fi yarn will be disappointed.
The end result is a movie that’s sure to be polarizing. Marks against 2001 include its lengthy run time, its limited amounts of expository dialogue, its disconnected plot, and its opaque subject matter. Marks in its favor include its patient cinematography, its economical writing, its focus on visual storytelling, and its open-ended interpretation. 2001 achieves what it sets out to do, but its vision must be bought into wholesale or not at all.
Watch 2001: A Space Odyssey if you’re a fan of abstract sci-fi or gorgeous cinematography for its own sake. 2001 earns its place as a cultural touchstone, but at the cost of accessibility. Those looking for a tight, concrete story should steer clear. For those who love cinematic artistry, it’s a must-see. For a sci-fi movie with a darker tone, a more active plot, and gorgeous, brooding visuals, check out Blade Runner 2049.
8.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 to 8.0 for iconic cinematography; your score will vary considerably.