Dr. Strangelove

I would rate this film four stars, with an extra star for the fascinating extras. They were just as interesting, if not more so, than the film itself. The performances from everyone, especially the President, were outstanding without overdoing the American accent. While the special effects may be primitive by today's standards, the message remains powerful. The black and white format adds to its atmospheric quality and delivers a chilling view of potential chaos. It has moments of amusement but still effectively conveys its message, even though some Americans are portrayed with stereotypical gung ho attitudes. The pace is slow but ahead of its time, and it eerily mirrors a real-life situation that almost occurred.

I have always struggled to decide between this film and 2001: A Space Odyssey as Kubrick's best. After rewatching it, I would say it's a tie. Dr Strangelove brilliantly examines the madness of "Mutually Assured Destruction," the Cold War policy that allowed for the potential annihilation of humanity multiple times over. Unfortunately, we haven't learned anything from it, as nuclear arsenals still exist. Maybe political leaders with control over such weapons should be required to watch this film. Peter Sellars delivers some of his finest performances in this movie, playing an RAF officer, a deranged Nazi scientist advisor, and a US president. The visual quality of this 1080p version is excellent.