This past weekend would have been the 87th birthday of the iconic filmmaker Stanley Kubrick. Still considered one of cinema's most influential filmmakers, Kubrick's works are memorialized by directors through the incredibly iconic style he established. Many elements signify Kubrick's unique style, from his love and incorporation of the color red to his use of the Kubrick Stare — a long soul-piercing stare, head down, eyes fixed up (pretty much the most sinister expression you could think of). Perhaps one of Kubrick's most cherished contributions to cinema is his pioneering of camera movements. In this short birthday tribute supercut, we see some of Kubrick's most influential tracking shots.
Kubrick is noted for being one of the first filmmakers to use a Steadicam for a feature film. The fluid movement of this equipment revolutionized the industry. Conveying emotion by drawing the audience deeper into the story became so much more complex. However, like all new perspectives, they can easily be overused (e.g., today's use of drones). Soon after its introduction, the Steadicam would become standard practice gear on set. In this short film we are able to see Kubrick's use of the equipment to create these dynamic shots. Pay attention to how the tracking clips, though seemingly innocuous, pull you deeper into the character's action. These shots, combined with other Kubrick clichés, create some of the most powerful cinema that has ever been made to date.
Happy birthday, Mr. Kubrick.
[via Browbeat]
The Shining. Epic.