2001, l'odyssée de l'espace (1968)

Humanity finds a mysterious, obviously artificial object buried beneath the Lunar surface and, with the intelligent computer H.A.L. 9000, sets off on a quest.

Director:

Stanley Kubrick

Writers:

Stanley Kubrick (screenplay), Arthur C. Clarke (screenplay)

Stars:

Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester

Top Rated Movies #92 | Won 1 Oscar. Another 13 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Keir Dullea	...	Dr. Dave Bowman
Gary Lockwood	...	Dr. Frank Poole
William Sylvester	...	Dr. Heywood R. Floyd
Daniel Richter	...	Moon-Watcher
Leonard Rossiter	...	Dr. Andrei Smyslov
Margaret Tyzack	...	Elena
Robert Beatty	...	Dr. Ralph Halvorsen
Sean Sullivan	...	Dr. Bill Michaels
Douglas Rain	...	HAL 9000 (voice)
Frank Miller	...	Mission Controller (voice)
Bill Weston	...	Astronaut
Ed Bishop	...	Aries-1B Lunar Shuttle Captain (as Edward Bishop)
Glenn Beck	...	Astronaut
Alan Gifford	...	Poole's Father
Ann Gillis	...	Poole's Mother

Storyline

"2001" is a story of evolution. Sometime in the distant past, someone or something nudged evolution by placing a monolith on Earth (presumably elsewhere throughout the universe as well). Evolution then enabled humankind to reach the moon's surface, where yet another monolith is found, one that signals the monolith placers that humankind has evolved that far. Now a race begins between computers (HAL) and human (Bowman) to reach the monolith placers. The winner will achieve the next step in evolution, whatever that may be.

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Plot Keywords:

monolith | star child | number in title | computer | year 2001 | 

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Taglines:

Let the Awe and Mystery of a Journey Unlike Any Other Begin

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Genres:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Tous publics

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English Russian

Release Date:

27 September 1968 (France)

Also Known As:

2001, l'odyssée de l'espace

Filming Locations:

Desierto de Tabernas, Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£69,567 (UK) (30 November 2014)

Gross:

$56,954,992 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Stanley Kubrick Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

149 min 142 min (theatrical release) 161 min (initial release) 134 min (Canada VHS French Version)

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (35 mm magnetic prints) 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) DTS 70 mm (2001 re-release)

Color:

Color (Technicolor) Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

MGM took a four-page advertisement in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Star to launch its publicity campaign for the film on 25 February 1968.

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Goofs

HAL knows that Dave and Frank were planning to disconnect him because, "... although you took very thorough precautions in the pod against my hearing you, I could see your lips move..." but moments before discussing the plan, when Dave and Frank were directing HAL to rotate the pod, their lips clearly visible to HAL, HAL did not comply with their request. This is not a goof as HAL anticipated that Dave and Frank were planning something and didn't want HAL to hear them talking by switching off the communications in the pod. HAL deliberately rotated the POD so he could read their lips to find out what Dave and Frank were planning. HAL didn't rotate the pod to make Dave and Frank believe that HAL wouldn't be able to determine what they were saying.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Aries-1B stewardess: Here you are, sir, main level please.

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Crazy Credits

The original theatrical release had Ligeti's Atmospheres to a black screen for roughly 8 to 10 minutes before the movie began, and Strauss' The Blue Danube well after the end credits to a black screen.

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Connections

Spoofed in Code Lisa: Genie Junior (1998)

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Soundtracks

Requiem
(1963)
("Requiem for Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Two Mixed Choirs, and Orchestra")
Music by György Ligeti
Performed by Bavarian Radio Orchestra (as the Bavarian Radio Orchestra)
Conductor Francis Travis

User Reviews

A film of monolithic proportions.

A review I have put off for far too long....

Bluntly, 2001 is one of the best science-fiction films made to date, if not the very best. Stanley Kubrick was a genius of a film maker and this is one of his very best works. And although it is misunderstood by many, and respectively underrated, it is considered one of the best films of all time and I'll have to agree. Back in 1968, no one had done anything like this before, and no one has since. It was a marvel of a special effects breakthrough back then, and seeing how the effects hold up today, it is no wonder as to why. The film still looks marvelous after almost forty years! Take note CGI people. Through the use of large miniatures and realistic lighting, Kubrick created some of the best special effects ever put on celluloid. This aspect alone almost single-handedly created the chilling void of the space atmosphere which is also attributed to the music and realistic sound effects. I can't think of another film where you can't here anything in space, like it is in reality. Not only is the absence of sound effects in space realistic, it is used cleverly as a tool to establish mood, and it works flawlessly.

Aside from the magnificent display of ingenious special effects, there are other factors that play a part in establishing the feel of the film. The music played, all classical, compliment what the eyes are seeing and make you feel the significance of man's journey through his evolution from ape to space traveler.

The story, while seemingly simple, is profound. Sequentially, several mysterious black monoliths are discovered and basically trigger certain events integral to the film. What are they? Where did they come from? What do they do? These are all questions one asks oneself while watching the story develop and is asked to find his own way. While most come away with a general idea of what took place in the story, each individual will have to decide what it means to them. Any way one decides to answer these question results in profound solutions. It's not left entirely up to interpretation, but in some aspects it is. Experience it for more clarification. The end result is quite chilling, no matter your personal solution.

While it is a long film, and sometimes slows down, it has to be in order to accurately portray the journey of man. It's not a subject that would have faired well in a shorter film, faster paced feature. Those with short attention spans need not apply.

Last but not least, is the epitome of a remorseless antagonist, HAL 9000, the computer. Never has a machine held such a chilling screen presence. Which reminds me, for a film with such profound ambition and execution, there is surprisingly little dialogue. Another sign of Kubrick's genius.

All in all, one of the best films made to date and one of the very best science fiction films made. A personal favorite. Everyone must see this film at least once.

Very highly recommended.