The Killing
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Movie Reviews of The Killing
Movie Review: Kubrick's First Masterpiece
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the third feature film directed by Kubrick and the one which probably established his eminence, subsequently enhanced by Paths of Glory (1957), Spartacus (1960), Dr. Strangelove (1964), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), A Clockwork Orange (1971), and Full Metal Jacket (1987). The title refers to the one last lucrative theft which Johnny Clay (Sterling Hayden) carefully plans so that he can retire from his life of crime and live happily ever after with Fay (Colleen Gray). Although Kubrick carefully tracks the preparations by Clay and his associates, he seems more interested in what (for lack of a better term) can be viewed as a self-fulfilling negative prophecy. That is to say, there seems to be little (if any) chance that the robbery of a race track will turn out well. In fact, it doesn't. Clay is a world-weary, semi-paranoid leader of losers. Henpecked by wife Sherry (Marie Windsor), George Peatty (Elisha Cook, Jr.) is a reluctant accomplice, obviously motivated to satisfy his financially insatiable spouse. He as well as Nikki (Tim Carey) and Tiny (Joe Turkel) are Keystone Bandits. The quality of acting throughout the cast is first-rate. Kubrick obtains from Hayden in this film and in Dr. Strangelove his two strongest performances. The final scene on the airport tarmac is unforgettable, a fitting and (for me) an inevitable conclusion. If pressed to use one word to describe this film, I would suggest "tidy." Also "compelling." Those who share my high regard for this film are urged to check out The Public Enemy (1931), You Only Live Once (1937), High Sierra (1941), and They Live by Night (1949).Movie Review: One of the best endings ever for a crime film noir movie!
Summary: 5 Stars
This review is for the 2001 MGM DVD.
'The Killing' wasn't Stanley Kubrick's first movie but it is arguably the film that launched his career beyond just being an ordinary director. The story is rather simple. Johnny Clay (Sterling Hayden) organizes an eclectic mix of men to pull off a major racetrack heist. An interesting subplot of the film is a love triangle between a pint-size loser named George Petty (Elisha Cook Jr.), his wife Sherry (Maria Windsor) and her secret lover, a stud named Val Cannon (Vince Edwards). The chemistry between George and Sherry is a sight to behold and Val's involvement in the plot goes beyond just an affair with Sherry. The robbery is pulled off with a minor snag, but some major problems follow. The ending is brilliant.
A very minor problem with the movie is that it is narrated and jumps around in chronological order (that's probably why it had to be narrated) and it's also very business-like in its presentation. The robbery is slick and there is a terrific twist shortly after the gang returns to their holdout spot. Again it has a very original and clever ending and Maria Windsor gives a great performance in this film.
The DVD transfer is very sharp but some tiny specs of deterioration were noticeable once in a while during the film. The sound is very good but unfortunately there are no DVD bonus features for this important Kubrick film.
Movie: A-
DVD Quality: A-
Movie Review: Classic Film Noir
Summary: 5 Stars
The Killing, being Stanley Kubrick's first big film, is hardly one you can call your everyday run of the mill film. This classic film is about a group of cons led by Johnny Clay (Sterling Hayden) who plan to rob the racetrack during the 7th race by timing all of the steps taken with precision and skill. The great thing about this film though was how Kubrick used the timing of the plan to his advantage when filming and telling the story. All the jumps back and forth give it a very strong "Oceans 11" feel. The plan is set out for you in the story however, but the greatest part of this film is watching their demise as certain things go wrong.
This is one of the big film noir movies I would recommend to anyone who likes mystery, intensity and a driving plot that keeps you on your toes the whole movie. Although this is a classic film noir, the lighting, which is normally that key element used to dramatize it more, is rarely used. More than half the movie based during the day outside. So it is safe to say that this film word by word could be adopted to color very easily keeping the same mystery and drama that goes with it.
Not many heist movies take place around a racetrack, so the plot was fresh even though shot in 1956. Anyone who enjoys Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, or Orsen Wells will love this movie. It has all the elements of a film that sells big in the box office.
Movie Review: "The Killing" and your future
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Killing" is a classic film noir. "The Killing" tells a story of a group of miscreants planning to rob a racetrack. Johnny Clay, the mastermind of the robbery, was recently released from Alcatraz. Johnny is hoping, with the help of his gang of deviants, to make two million dollars from this job, his big score. The heist is meticulously planned and everyone knows their task, surely it is fool-proof.
Aside from the interesting plot of the movie, the film noir elements will also interest viewers. George Peatty's wife plays the classic femme fatal and gets her boyfriend in on the cut, betraying her husband in a manner classic to the film noir style. The film also contains several classic one-liners also familiar to the film noir style. The organization of the film maintains a fast pace that is paralleled nicely with the horse race. The film shows the heist in brief clips from various views of the different thieves. While this can be a little confusing, it aids to maintain the viewers interest and to express how complex the heist really is, and how any human error could affect the success of even a carefully planned venture.
Overall, this is a great film, one that fans of film noir and common viewers can both enjoy. "The Killing" is a great Stanley Kubrick film noir.
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Movie Review: The penultimate crime caper film
Summary: 5 Stars
Back in the days when Stanley Kubrick was still a relative unknown, he made this gem of a film which has since earned a reputation for being one of the best crime caper films ever made. The film is tightly structured and well-paced with an eye on increasing the tension until the very end. A wonderful movie, and those who have seen "Reservoir Dogs" will immediately recognize the influence "The Killing" had on the latter film. The plot-line is simple - a band of crooks, each with his own motivation, conceive of a plan to rob a racetrack. The plan works fine...until something goes wrong. Kubrick filmed this classic with a minimal budget, but his genius is evidently on-screen in how he arranges the furniture and lighting and actors to get the most out of his limited funds and to augment the clastrophobic sense of suspense. Truly a great film.I purchased the DVD of this film, and it looks quite good. The picture quality is pristine (unlike in the DVD version of Kubrick's later films, alas). I had no problems with the sound, either, though it is monophonic. There aren't any real extras on this DVD except for a trailer, but the presentation is somewhat cool and adds to the tension of the film. So, I will recommend this DVD of "The Killing" to fans of Kubrick and good crime films.