Summary
Stanley Kubrick’s sci-fi opus2001: A Space Odysseyis widely regarded to be one of the greatest films ever made, but Christopher Nolan has pointed out the one part of the movie that’s underrated.2001: A Space Odysseychronicles the entire history of the human race, from the first hominids that evolved into humans in prehistoric times to the next stage of evolution kickstarted in the orbit of Jupiter in the distant future. It’s an epic in the truest sense, with an enormous scope, mind-boggling visuals, and a thought-provoking exploration of life’s biggest questions.
Just about every filmmaker who was around after 1968 was influenced by2001: A Space Odyssey, but Nolan has taken particular inspiration from Kubrick’s sci-fi masterpiece. Fromthe rotating sets ofInceptionto the existentialist spacefaring ofInterstellar,the influence of2001: A Space Odysseycan be seen all over Nolan’s work. While plenty has been said about2001’s poignant themes, stunning cinematography, and groundbreaking special effects, there’s one aspect of the movie that Nolan feels is criminally underappreciated.
2001: A Space Odyssey Ending Explained
From the Star Gate to a time-traveling bedroom, there is a lot to unpack in the ambiguous ending of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Christopher Nolan Believes Keir Dullea In 2001 Is One Of The Most Underrated Performances In Film History
Nolan thinks Dullea’s performance has been overshadowed by the film’s technical achievements
After presenting a screening of2001: A Space Odysseyat Cannes Film Festival to celebrate the movie’s 50th anniversary in 2018, Nolan was interviewed byFilm Comment. Nolan said that every time he watches2001, he discovers something new that gives him even more respect for the movie and insight into Kubrick’s vision. Nolan praised many aspects of the film, but he expressed particular affinity for Keir Dullea’s lead performance as astronaut Dave Bowman. Dullea was present at the screening, along with members of the Kubrick family, which Nolan described as “overwhelming.”
Nolan toldFilm Commentthat Dullea’s performance as Dave “has always been overshadowed by the magnitude of everything else surrounding the film”– the breathtaking visuals, the classical music, the meditation on human existence – and believes it’s “one of the most underrated performances in film history.” Nolan lauded Dullea’s ability to convey his character’s personality through what he calls “bureaucratic dialogue.” Dullea is burdened with a lot of exposition in2001, but he manages to make Dave’s individualism shine through his dry explanations of scientific concepts.
What Makes Keir Dullea’s Performance In 2001: A Space Odyssey So Great
Dullea brings some much-needed emotion to 2001
It’s understandable that the mind-blowing technical achievements have defined2001: A Space Odyssey, but it’s a shame that it’s overshadowedone of the best performances that Kubrick ever directed. The role of Dave presented Dullea with some serious acting challenges. He had to play a tense feud with a red dot on a black screen; he had to lose his mind as he was flung through cosmic landscapes beyond human comprehension; and he had to play an older version of himself slowly dying as the younger version watched. It wasn’t an easy role to play, and Dullea nailed it.
2001: A Space Odyssey
Cast
2001: A Space Odyssey is one of Stanley Kubrick’s most well-known films. A science-fiction epic, the film tells the story of the journey of Discovery One, a spacecraft operated by a group of scientists, astronauts, and a sentient computer, on a mission to Jupiter to investigate a mysterious monolith. Considered one of the greatest films ever made, Kubrick combines sparse dialogue with the heavy use of scoring and ambiguous imagery to create something that eschews conventional filmmaking.
