In a recent interview, a performer from Stanley Kubrick‘s final movie shared insights on the director’s well-known practice of filming “millions of takes.”This method, often seen as excessive, is now recognized as a crucial aspect of the filmmaking process that ignited passion among actors. Kubrick, celebrated as one of the greatest directors in cinema history, is renowned for his masterpiece films across varied genres, including the iconic sci-fi journey 2001: A Space Odyssey, the thought-provoking dystopian film A Clockwork Orange, and the chilling horror classic The Shining. His last film, Eyes Wide Shut, was completed just days before his passing in 1999.
Kubrick’s distinctive style was characterized by meticulous attention to detail and a relentless pursuit of perfection, which often led to numerous takes of the same scene. This method was particularly evident during the production of The Shining, where one scene featuring Wendy (played by Shelley Duvall) facing off against Jack Nicholson’s character reportedly required over one hundred takes. The exhaustive repetition led to significant emotional and physical strain on Duvall, illustrating the potential downsides of such an exhaustive approach.
Alan Cumming Shares Insight on Kubrick’s Directing Style
The Actor’s Single Scene in Eyes Wide Shut
Actor Alan Cumming, who had a brief appearance in Eyes Wide Shut, articulated why he believes Kubrick’s exhaustive filming method was justified. In Kubrick’s 1999 film, which explores themes of infidelity and secrecy, a Manhattan doctor, played by Tom Cruise, finds himself entangled in a clandestine masked event after his wife, portrayed by Nicole Kidman, reveals her past contemplations of betrayal. Although Cumming’s role as a hotel desk clerk spans just one scene, his experience with Kubrick left a lasting impression.
During his feature on Vanity Fair, Cumming recounted the meticulous nature of working with Kubrick. He reflected on how the director’s commitment to numerous takes was instrumental in refining performances and enhancing every aspect of the production. This thorough process allowed Cumming to grasp the improvements needed with each shot, turning the experience into an exhilarating opportunity rather than a tedious task. Below are his insightful remarks:
This is, well, I don’t even know, a four minute, three-four minute scene, if that. And it’s two people talking across a counter. So, you would normally have a wide shot, you might have been a mid shot, and you’d have two closeups. Even on a big film, this would be one day max. And this took a week to shoot. We did, however, shoot this for about two days, and Stanley decided to scrap it and start again, and shoot it in a different way. It was millions and millions and millions of takes.
Often on films, or stuff, you know, you’ll finish it, and they go, “Cut.”And you’d hear the director going, “Perfect. One more.”You think, well if it was perfect, why the f**k are we doing one more? With Stanley, every single time I did another take, I went to the monitor with him, he looked through it, and he showed me a little detail to change, a little intonation, even a little facial movement. I knew exactly why I was going to do it again, and what we’re aiming for. And so that made me excited about doing it again. I loved making this film. It made me, truly made me excited about being an actor in film again.‘Cause, you know, there are no small parts, just small actors.
Impact of Cumming’s Remarks on Kubrick’s Directing Approach
The Justification of Kubrick’s Methodology
While different actors, like Shelley Duvall, may have voiced frustration with Kubrick’s repetitive shooting style, Cumming’s reflections provide an alternative perspective that highlights the potential benefits of such a rigorous approach. Kubrick’s relentless pursuit of perfection, although taxing for some, often led to transcendent performances by enabling actors to explore every nuance, ultimately crafting a highly polished final product. This technique illustrates that Kubrick’s methodology was not only justified but essential to achieving the artistic excellence he strived for.
For further insights, check out the original interview on Vanity Fair.
Source: Screen Rant
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