Cherished Cinema

The Shining (Stanley Kubrick, 1980)

Hello all.

This post is coming late today, and for that, I apologize. I did not like the draft I wrote last night and figured it would be for the best just to rewrite the damn thing when I got home from school. This is an incredibly difficult film to write about due in large part that it is a masterpiece. In the last two years, I have become obsessed with the notion of a “perfect film” and how rare it occurs. In my lifetime, I think I have seen six (maybe more but definitely not more than ten). I need to elaborate a bit more – when I say perfect I mean that it is so hard to find any faults with it to the point where when you do find one, you are stretching too far away from the film for that to even count. Of course there are more than six perfect films, and I am sure I could think of more if I took some time out to do so. The six I am referring to are Vertigo, No Country for Old Men, La Dolce Vita, The Godfather Part II (and most likely Part I as well, but I would need to give that more thought), Citizen Kane, and finally, The Shining. These films are incredibly well-constructed, have a particular lasting quality, are groundbreaking, and are virtually without fault.

Now, on The Shining, this is quite possibly the best film to watch the night before Halloween. It is terrifying, haunting, and it perfectly sets the mood for the following day. Jack Nicholson’s performance is flawless. He brilliantly portrays insanity, especially in the scenes between him and the bartender, Lloyd, in which the viewer learns everything he or she needs to know about Jack. The viewer learns of the problems that he blames on his family, how he feels burdened, and of his racial problems. I took very few notes on this film and I think that only speaks for how great the film actually is. The one note that stood out I thought I would share with you all, “Jack Nicholson just wreaks insanity.” I jotted this down within the first thirty minutes.

The use of colors is magnificent, which only contributes to this film’s masterful construction. The noises and the score, just as in any other horror film that I have watching lately, are absolutely crucial in setting the audience up. You may have noticed how I did not warn anyone about reading this before watching it because this is one of those films that I honestly cannot believe people have not seen. It’s a wonderful film; I enjoy it more every time I watch it.

Thank you for reading!