Just what I expected

Best movie ever!

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Director Stanley Kubrick made three films of absolute genius: PATHS OF GLORY (1957), DR STRANGELOVE (1963) and 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968). The first two were on the subjects of war and treason, but while the former was extremely serious, DR STRANGELOVE is a dark comedy which tells many truths about the delicate balance of the nuclear bomb and peace, in contrast with FAILSAFE, a film which came out on the same year but which approached the subject of nuclear conflict from a much more factual and formal angle.I can safely say that DR STRANGELOVE made me far more aware of the world's perilous balance, because my guffaws at some of the film's funny lines caused my mind to imagine the real consequences much more realistically than the serious-minded FAILSAFE ever could. To that end. the acting was first class: Peter Sellers is very good as a feeble US president, a powerless British commander, and the mentally disturbed Dr Strangelove, who reminds me of Werner von Braun, with his SS past and trip to the Moon future. Sadly, Sellers gives Dr Strangelove a distracting Indian accent, otherwise he is a joy to watch. George C. Scott is marvelous as the US Armed Forces commander with side interests and an eye always firmly tracked on the military solution, conveying suspicions about the Ruskies and sending shivers down your spine with his mad eyes and his confidence in US military capacity; Keenan Wynn does well with a tiny part and his quip about Coca Cola Company's power is so outlandish that it is frightening; Peter Bull is superb as the Russian ambassador called to the War Room, who uses the opportunity to take spy shots; Slim Pickens, as commander of the aircraft which delivers the bomb, is memorable in his desire to serve his beloved country, to the extent of going down with the bomb; and Sterling Hayden is also at the top of his form as the base commander who loses his marbles and orders the air attack on Russia, and then takes the coward's way out.Great photography, special effects, fitting soundtrack, and fantastic dialogue, full of sharp one-liners, always pursuing the absurd and darkly comic angle, complete the bouquet. Masterpiece! PS: And so I learned not to worry... if not quite to love the bomb!

This brilliant movie is a blazing accusation against the entire male gender. Yes, my fellow gentlemen, through rational looking, but deeply down, sexually motivated power play, we placed the knife to the entire world's throat. Nothing nails this better than the iconic ride of a proud 30-megaton tail. The film's humour may redeem our stupidity for some, but the potential death of billions is not an easy fun matter for me. This film makes me feel ashamed to be a man whenever I watch it.

Dr. Strangelove Or : How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The BombIts quite clear from the title that the movie doesn't have anything serious to offer even though being Stanley's work (which I have to say this is the best one) but that also doesn't mean that it doesn't raise any serious issues, it's just that they do it with some levity.

No film has so brilliantly combined broad comedy and sharp satire to the degree of "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" — before or since. Stanley Kubrick made many incredible films in his lifetime, but none of them have the unique, distinctive edge of "Strangelove." The prodigious auteur made plenty of anti-war films both prior to and following this film, but it's "Strangelove's" manifold comedic gifts that elevate it to the level of classic.Anchoring the entire film is comedic genius Peter Sellers playing three vastly different characters with impeccable prowess, a feat that still has no equivalent. He loses himself complete into the roles of Captain Lionel Mandrake, President Merkin Muffley and Dr. Strangelove — it would be no surprise that if shown to large number of people without any previous knowledge of the film or Sellers, that a large percentage of that group would not realize all three characters were the same actor. He's brilliant, on a whole other level."Dr. Strangelove" imagines a ludicrous doomsday scenario in which a rogue Air Force general, Brig. Gen. Jack D. Ripper (Sterling Hayden) sends codes to initiate a massive nuclear offensive on the U.S.S.R., enacting a plan/loophole that would allow him and only him to send the codes that could abort the mission. Ripper holes himself up in his base with Mandrake, who is subjected to his wild conspiracy theories and warped world view. Meanwhile, in the Pentagon War Room, Gen. Buck Turgidson (George C. Scott) briefs the president and they weigh their options.The script, written by Kubrick, Terry Southern and Peter George (based on George's non- satirical book "Red Alert") expertly skewer the Cold War mindset at a time when nuclear war was still a paralyzing concern in the world, especially America. The strength of the writing lies in the way the characters behave and say things that are exaggerate but don't feel implausible. Turgidson talking about the benefits of killing 20 million people as opposed to 150 million has both validity and absurdity to it and proves that such drastic matters are better off out of the hands of men. And how deep the trenches of distrust and machismo go in regards to the arms race and other "races" against the Soviets is both insane and reflective of how some people probably felt.The action of "Dr. Strangelove" is largely contained to the deck of a B-52 bomber, the War Room and the military base where Ripper and Mandrake are hunkered down, so Kubrick has to flex the more subtle filmmaking muscles to tell this story in a compelling way. He balances both long takes from a single, wide angle and meticulously strung together, more suspenseful sequences with lots of close-ups. He manufactures a good amount of tension considering the humor of the entire film prevents it from being a thriller like its equally excellent (but for different reasons) cinematic peer, Sidney Lumet's "Fail- Safe." Nevertheless, "riveting" isn't among the words that best describe "Strangelove."Instead, "hilarious" and "sad" are more apt. The film's biggest action sequence takes place at the base in a battle between American forces — the ones ordered by Ripper to protect the base at all costs and the ones ordered by the president to stop Ripper. Kubrick doesn't shy from filming an all-out war scene and the result is comedy at its absolute blackest. The "Peace is Our Profession" billboard is delightful (and sadly non- contrived) irony."Dr. Strangelove" can be interpreted in the more academic sense countless ways, but it really comes down to the comedic achievement. Most films that insist on big performances and other over-the-top elements don't have the intelligence in the writing and storytelling to buoy that kind of swing for the fences. "Strangelove" does thanks to Kubrick's meticulous direction, Sellers' other-worldliness and a comedic conceit that's dead on for its time and place.~Steven CThanks for reading! Visit Movie Muse Reviews for more