Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

A book Stanley Kubrick didn’t want anyone to read is being published

theguardian.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 143 posts

Re: A book Stanley Kubrick didn’t want anyone to read is being published

#31

Post by cubefox »

lqet wrote: post #19

> "There are good things in Lolita. But in too many respects it squanders, impoverishes and conventionalises its source material, draining it of its complexity, nymphetry and eroticism." I think anyone who has read Nabokov's novel would agree that Lolita really isn't a great adaptation of the book. I think it is by far Kubrick's weakest film. There is a deep cynic darkness to the book that the movie misses completely…

There are also things that are still in the realm of the acceptable in a book but that would go too far in a movie.

Re: A book Stanley Kubrick didn’t want anyone to read is being published

#32

Post by iainmerrick »

miguelazo wrote: post #7
victorstanciu wrote: post #3

I guess it shows that no matter how objectively successful you are, your skin can still be see-through thin.

I was thinking the same, but it’s easy to do so when it’s not your life’s work— especially something that took so much time and dedication. The quote about the Lolita film was pretty damning, and imagine the shame of accepting that you had botched the adaptation of such a prolofic novel.

So what, everyone is supposed to pretend that everything Kubrick touched was completely perfect?

That would be a hagiography, not a serious artistic critique.

It seems more than fair to point out that Kubrick was touchy and thin-skinned. You could argue that it's an inseparable part of his overall genius -- but only if you're allowed to criticise him in the first place!

Re: A book Stanley Kubrick didn’t want anyone to read is being published

#33

Post by jfkrirj »

lqet wrote: post #22

I highly recommend the documentary Filmworker to anyone interested in Stanley Kubrick's character. It's about Leon Vitali, the actor who played Lord Bullingdon (the neurotic brother of Lady Lyndon) in Barry Lyndon . After filming Barry Lyndon, he quit acting and became Kubricks personal assistant / factotum for over 20 years. Although some would say he was Kubrick's personal slave. It is utterly shocking to see how b…

[flagged]

Re: A book Stanley Kubrick didn’t want anyone to read is being published

#34

Post by Hikikomori »

jfkrirj wrote: post #33
lqet wrote: post #22

I highly recommend the documentary Filmworker to anyone interested in Stanley Kubrick's character. It's about Leon Vitali, the actor who played Lord Bullingdon (the neurotic brother of Lady Lyndon) in Barry Lyndon . After filming Barry Lyndon, he quit acting and became Kubricks personal assistant / factotum for over 20 years. Although some would say he was Kubrick's personal slave. It is utterly shocking to see how b…

[flagged]

Maybe he was happy doing it but it doesn't mean that he was treated well. That era of director dictators caused a lot of suffering.

Re: A book Stanley Kubrick didn’t want anyone to read is being published

#35

Post by bitwize »

ycombinete wrote: post #25
lqet wrote: post #22

I highly recommend the documentary Filmworker to anyone interested in Stanley Kubrick's character. It's about Leon Vitali, the actor who played Lord Bullingdon (the neurotic brother of Lady Lyndon) in Barry Lyndon . After filming Barry Lyndon, he quit acting and became Kubricks personal assistant / factotum for over 20 years. Although some would say he was Kubrick's personal slave. It is utterly shocking to see how b…

Sounds like a two person cult.

Sounds like an Apple employee to Steve Jobs.

Re: A book Stanley Kubrick didn’t want anyone to read is being published

#37

Post by tiborsaas »

ggm wrote: post #10
ashurov wrote: post #4

So, why can they publish it now? His death doesn’t nullify the agreement, does it?

I would think it does, yes. It's personal rights, not concrete assets. Dead people have no right to privacy in law as I understand it. Not a lawyer, not in the economies involved in this. "it depends"

> Dead people have no right to privacy in law as I understand it.

Grim reminder to better control privacy while we are still alive.

Re: A book Stanley Kubrick didn’t want anyone to read is being published

#38

Post by amanzi »

I love Kubrick movies, but my one bit of criticism I'd give (from me - a random guy on the internet, who's never made a movie), is that both 2001 and The Shining both require the viewer to have read the respective books to fully appreciate them.

I know it's a cliché to harp on about the ending of 2001, but it really does make a lot more sense after having read the book, which in turn makes the movie a lot more enjoyable.

With The Shining, you really need to read the book to fully understand the back-story to Jack's issues, and Danny's premonitions. I was amazed at how much the movie left out, and after reading the book, the movie is so much better.

Re: A book Stanley Kubrick didn’t want anyone to read is being published

#39

Post by throw310822 »

lqet wrote: post #22

I highly recommend the documentary Filmworker to anyone interested in Stanley Kubrick's character. It's about Leon Vitali, the actor who played Lord Bullingdon (the neurotic brother of Lady Lyndon) in Barry Lyndon . After filming Barry Lyndon, he quit acting and became Kubricks personal assistant / factotum for over 20 years. Although some would say he was Kubrick's personal slave. It is utterly shocking to see how b…

> Lord Bullingdon (the neurotic brother of Lady Lyndon)

It's her son from the first marriage.

Re: A book Stanley Kubrick didn’t want anyone to read is being published

#40

Post by Hikikomori »

jfkrirj wrote: post #36
Hikikomori wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe he was happy doing it but it doesn't mean that he was treated well. That era of director dictators caused a lot of suffering.

[flagged]

So you believe that what OP wrote is normal boss behaviour? I wouldn't want to work for you.
Post reply on HN