A philosophical statement about man’s place in the universe, transcendent, awe-inspiring…

2001: A Space Odyssey

About: The genius is not in how much Stanley Kubrick does in “2001: A Space Odyssey,” but in how little. This is the work of an artist so sublimely confident that he doesn’t include a single shot simply to keep our attention. He reduces each scene to its essence, and leaves it on screen long enough for us to contemplate it, to inhabit it in our imaginations. Alone among science-fiction movies, “2001″ is not concerned with thrilling us, but with inspiring our awe.

What Kubrick had actually done was make a philosophical statement about man’s place in the universe, using images as those before him had used words, music or prayer. And he had made it in a way that invited us to contemplate it — not to experience it vicariously as entertainment, as we might in a good conventional science-fiction film, but to stand outside it as a philosopher might, and think about it.

— Roger Ebert

Presented by The Long Now Foundation.

Director:  Stanley Kubrick

Year Released: 1968

Rating: G

Run time: 129 minutes

Cast: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester

Showing: October 27, 9pm

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