Strange but No Love

Kubrick's Strangelove is a hard one to figure out. It was borderline great at times and borderline well lets say, not so great. Richardson spends a lot of time talking about the different satires, which I found to be hit or miss throughout the film. Richardson discusses the "fights of an uncontrollable arm", which represents Dr. Strangelove's loyalty to the Nazi regime. I personally thought that this scene was a bit overdone by Mr. Sellars. Another scene Richardson talks about is the one with "the two planes refueling" he describes it as sort of sex symbolism. I can see how he and others could come up with assessment though I feel that it is looking a little deep.
Stillman on the other hand spends much of his article talking about why the film shows the things it shows. He also made connections from the film to the personal lives of Peter Sellars as well as, Henry Kissinger. I enjoyed Stillman's article a bit better than Richardson's, because he seemed to know a bit more about the movie. "Every country has a nightmare that even if they put forth their best effors their survival may be jeopardized". This is a great quote for that period of time and now. We are never completley safe, because of the fact we never can really know what everyone is doing around us. We may be safe and in control but,that all can be taken away with one click of a button.

The sounds and score of this film were really good especially for 1964. The songs played in the background during the different scenes really enhance your senses to what is going on. "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" plays everytime there is a shot of the bomber. It was a very interesting tactic to help the viewer always make the connection, in more than visual way. The background noise levels in the war room were always different and they could help predict the mood in the room at different times throughout the movie.

The mise en scene was a very important aspect of the movie. A lot of the scenes and setups could tell a story in themselves. The war room is a great example because with them being in that room and looking at all the boards you can easily tell something of great significance is going on. The surroundings of the plane and the different backgrounds can help you to figure out where there at and what kind of shape the plane is in. Like the scene when the engines have blown out and they fly right above land for there on out. The scenes with the president's talking to one another bring on a sense of humor more than seriousness.

The film was a hard one for me to judge. The satire was a bit old school giving in more appeal in the late 60's early 70's. I found it difficult at times to relate with the characters due to differing attitudes of my generation. I personally have found Kubrick's lesser works more entertaining and better such as the Shining and Eyes Wide Shut compare to his more recognized works Full Metal Jacket, Dr. Strangelove, 2010 A Space Odyssey, and A Clockwork Orange. I'm not sure if I either sometimes don't understand his messages or don't really like them. All in all I found Dr. Strangelove a bit luc warm.

Kubrick, Stanley, dir. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the

Bomb. 1964. Columbia Pictures, 2009.

Stillman, Grant. "Two of the MaDdest Scientists." Film History. 20 (2008): 487-500.

Web. 17 May. 2010.

Richardson, Jack. "'Strangelove' and 'the Silence.'" The Hudson Review. 17.2 (1964): 250-255.

Web. 17 May. 2010.