stanley kubrick | Writer By Night

Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb(1964)

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Starring: Peter Sellers,George C.Scott.

Dr.Strangelove is a political black-comedy comedy film which satirically characterises the fears of a nuclear conflict between the USA and the USSR prevalent during the Cold War.

Comic legend Peter Sellers stars in a triple role, as nuclear arms expert and former Nazi Dr.Strangelove,British RAF Exchange Officer Lionel Mandrake and American President Merkin Muffley.

The plot follows the events set in motion after Jack D.Ripper, an insane and jingoistic General cuts off all communication from his Burpelson Air Force base and orders B-52 bombers to drop nuclear warheads on Russian soil. Paranoia and chaos ensue, with the Russians set to execute Operation Doomsday in reply, a nuclear holocaust that could wipe out all forms of life on the earth.

Dr.Strangelove is widely regarded as one of the greatest comedies of all time,and eminent film critic Roger Ebert described it as “arguably the best political satire of the century.” It was nominated at the Academy Awards for Best Picture,Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor for Peter Sellers, and won the BAFTA Award for Best British Film.

Full Metal Jacket(1987)

Director:Stanley Kubrick

Starring: Matthew Modine,Vincent D’Onofrio,R.Lee Ermey.

Full Metal Jacket is a film which depicts the experiences of two US Marines(Matthew Modine,Vincent D’Onofrio) during the Vietnam War.The first half follows their gruelling training along with other recruits under Gunnery Sergeant Hartman(R.Lee Ermey), who rules over the training recruits with an iron hand in order to prepare them for combat.

The second half focusses on their experience as soldiers in Vietnam,at the start of the Tet Offensive.The film explores the travails of those who fought in Vietnam, and lays bare the pointlessness of the widely criticized war. The film was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the Academy Awards.