Stanley Kubrick is perhaps the most mysterious director in history, and this documentary sheds some light on the mystery. If you're a Kubrick fan and you want to learn more about him, this is a must see. It's certainly better than the documentary Room 237, which tries too hard to read into the mind of Kubrick. Filmworker offers a lot of reliable insight into Kubrick, told by his right hand man Leon Vitali, who is perhaps just as interesting, or at least obsessive, as Kubrick himself. Thus far, I've seen five movies this week and this is my favorite. Check it out!
26 Reviews
Leon, A dedicated man.
michaelcooke702 June 2018
A fascinating insight into one of Kubrick's faithful assistants. Essentially this film is aimed at Kubrick fans and film fanatics, but it goes much deeper than that and has the power to absorb anyone who views it. Leon is a dedicated, devoted worker bee who strived tirelessly to help Stanley archive his vision. Stanley Kubrick is obviously a genius, an enigma, and Leon was emersed in this magical world, he worked his fingers to the bone for a man he obviously admired and this devotion comes across, even though the demands Kubrick put on him took it's toll. I would give my right arm, left arm, heart, lungs , body and soul to have worked for Stanley Kubrick, Leon Vitali was lucky enough to to have been the man who did!
20 Years A Slave
DC197713 March 2019
I thought this film really shone a spotlight on the sad consequences of a career decision made by Leon Vitali and was one of the most severe indictments on Stanley Kubrick as a person.
A few years after appearing as Lord Bullingdon in Kubrick's Barry Lyndon, Vitali abandoned what we are led to believe was a promising acting career to work full-time (and then some) for Kubrick himself.
Whether Vitali did have a promising acting career ahead of him is not really the point, my own feeling is that if his performance in Barry Lyndon is anything to go by then an illustrious career in front of the camera was by no means guaranteed.
The real story here is the level of devotion that Vitali gave to his new career and the price he paid for it; neglecting his family and the detrimental effect the extreme workload had on his health. Vitali looks like a walking corpse and has done for many years.
This problem could have been easily solved if the very wealthy Kubrick had dug a little deeper into his pocket and employed another two or three assistants to share the workload but apparently this never happened. And the fact that Vitali has had to rely on financial support from his children clearly indicates that not only did Kubrick pay him a low salary he also left Vitali very little, if anything, in his will. Kubrick comes across as a modern-day Ebenezer Scrooge.
At least Dolores Claiborne was eventually rewarded for going above and beyond the call of duty, Vitali just seems to have been exploited and taken for granted by Kubrick for 20 years.
Kubrick must have had some special kind of charisma to treat Vitali this way and still have him coming back for more. Or maybe Vitali is just downright stupid.
Viewers will decide for themselves.
A few years after appearing as Lord Bullingdon in Kubrick's Barry Lyndon, Vitali abandoned what we are led to believe was a promising acting career to work full-time (and then some) for Kubrick himself.
Whether Vitali did have a promising acting career ahead of him is not really the point, my own feeling is that if his performance in Barry Lyndon is anything to go by then an illustrious career in front of the camera was by no means guaranteed.
The real story here is the level of devotion that Vitali gave to his new career and the price he paid for it; neglecting his family and the detrimental effect the extreme workload had on his health. Vitali looks like a walking corpse and has done for many years.
This problem could have been easily solved if the very wealthy Kubrick had dug a little deeper into his pocket and employed another two or three assistants to share the workload but apparently this never happened. And the fact that Vitali has had to rely on financial support from his children clearly indicates that not only did Kubrick pay him a low salary he also left Vitali very little, if anything, in his will. Kubrick comes across as a modern-day Ebenezer Scrooge.
At least Dolores Claiborne was eventually rewarded for going above and beyond the call of duty, Vitali just seems to have been exploited and taken for granted by Kubrick for 20 years.
Kubrick must have had some special kind of charisma to treat Vitali this way and still have him coming back for more. Or maybe Vitali is just downright stupid.
Viewers will decide for themselves.
A Must See!!
gator11103 June 2018
If you're a film fan or a Stanley Kubrick fan this movie is a must see. Leon Vitali truly gave and is still giving his life to the work of Kubrick's legendary films. Leon does not begin to get the recognition he deserves. He was truly Kubrick's right hand man. There is so much that goes into completing a film project and Leon became the jack of all trades strictly for the art of Kubrick's films. It has taken a physical, mental, and personal toll on his life, but the man is not bitter. In the current day of digital aid Leon Vitali perfected the films without this help. This film displays literally thousands of documents and notes that Leon wrote while filming. He is truly a one man film crew. Other crew members and actors bring the story to life on how this man gave everything he had and more. Fantastic and inspiring documentary.
How Sausages Are Made
ockiemilkwood13 September 2018
Filmworker provides invaluable insight into how sausages were made, into the workings of the greatest post-studio system director in the world, Stanley Kubrick. Leon Vitali was his right hand. Vitali's story, intimately told in the first person, is indirectly Kubrick's. We see the backbreaking details of what it took Kubrick to make 2 of his 5 perfect, genre-defining films: Barry Lyndon, the defining period costume drama, and The Shining, the defining Gothic horror film. (Vitali did not work on Dr. Strangelove, the defining Cold War film (and satire), 2001, the defining outer space film, or Clockwork Orange, the defining future dystopia film. He did, however, work on Full Metal Jacket and Eyes Wide Shut, lesser films, IMO.)
The movie consists of real, factual, technical nitty-gritty, not the self-congratulatory generalizations which make up almost all documentaries about filmmakers and their films. This is the mountain both Kubrick and Vitali fought their entire lives to surmount. One comes to see how poor and shabby today's films are by comparison, especially with TV streaming and cable replacing real films.
Leon Vitali is a fascinating character study, a unique man, in and of himself. One wonders if Kubrick could have made his films without the blind devotion of Vitali. Those who question his devotion miss the point. Vitali was as uncompromisingly devoted to Kubrick as Kubrick was to his films. They both served the same demanding mistress, art.
If you love Kubrick, you have to see this.
The movie consists of real, factual, technical nitty-gritty, not the self-congratulatory generalizations which make up almost all documentaries about filmmakers and their films. This is the mountain both Kubrick and Vitali fought their entire lives to surmount. One comes to see how poor and shabby today's films are by comparison, especially with TV streaming and cable replacing real films.
Leon Vitali is a fascinating character study, a unique man, in and of himself. One wonders if Kubrick could have made his films without the blind devotion of Vitali. Those who question his devotion miss the point. Vitali was as uncompromisingly devoted to Kubrick as Kubrick was to his films. They both served the same demanding mistress, art.
If you love Kubrick, you have to see this.
Effective, if a bit disconcerting Doc about Kubrick's assistant Leon Vitali
gortx21 May 2018
Stanley Kubrick was known as one of the most fanatically detailed Directors in cinema. But, even the most detailed of filmmakers could not possibly attend to each and every facet of the process. It required many co-workers. One of those collaborators was Leon Vitali. But, Vitali wasn't just an assistant, he literally became Kubrick's jack of all trades for much of the last quarter century of his life. One of the ironies is that Kubrick was so picky with his projects that he completed only three films (THE SHINING, FULL METAL JACKET and EYES WIDE SHUT) from the time that Vitali became his assistant to his death (and even then, post-production had to completed on EYES posthumously).
FILMWORKER is Director Tony Zierra's effective, and sometimes confounding, portrait of Vitali. Vitali first became enthralled by Kubrick when he went to see 2001 as a young man. By the time that CLOCKWORK ORANGE came out, Vitali had begun a career as an actor, largely on British television. His fascination with Kubrick continued so the opportunity to score even a small role in Kubrick's BARRY LYNDON was literally the chance of a lifetime. As fate would have it, Kubrick took a liking to Vitali's performance as Lord Bullingdon and re-wrote the script in order to increase the part. This gave Vitali an opportunity to not only observe the Director at work, but, to put a bug in his ear that he might like to work for him on his future films. That opportunity came with work with THE SHINING.
What follows is a fascinating portrait of Kubrick as a combination of kindly Maestro and toxic Vampire. He could cajole Vitali and the cast and crew of a picture on one hand, and, then demand effort (and frankly, ability) above and beyond on the other. Not just Vitali, but others describe how exhausting Kubrick's demands were (more than one person is mentioned as having a form of a nervous breakdown on his sets!). Through it all, Vitali's importance to Kubrick grew and grew. From being a fairly defined purely Director's Assistant on THE SHINING to what would become an all-consuming full-time job as his boss' virtual alter-ego (Kubrick would even sign Vitali's name on some of his missives).
Director Zierra's documentary is densely packed for it's 94 minutes. A good assortment of clips illustrate both Kubrick's films, but, also Vitali's early career as an actor. Plus, there's a smattering of behind the scenes footage. Most of it is well chosen, even if, occasionally, they became the equivalent of visual wallpaper in order to have stuff to cut away from the talking heads. Vitali is the main interviewee, but, we also get other Kubrick collaborators both in front of, and behind the camera, and extending to techs in charge of post-production, distribution and home video. Zierra managed to get lead actor Ryan O'Neil to speak about BARRY LYNDON, but, was unable to secure Jack Nicholson or Shelly Duvall from THE SHINING (Danny Lloyd, who was all of 6, represents). Disappointingly, neither Tom Cruise nor Nicole Kidman co-operated either (17th billed Marie Richardson is the lone cast member other than Vitali). Matthew Modine and the late R. Lee Ermey (who's death came after FILMWORKER was completed) speak about FULL METAL JACKET. The interviews are informative and well-edited (Although it must be noted that Kubrick himself would have been aghast at the chalky HD camera-work in them! In one amusing scene we see Kubrick 'direct' a brief video-taped acceptance speech that Vitali recorded. Yes, he was THAT detail oriented).
What emerges is a compelling portrait of one artist (Vitali) essentially giving his life over to facilitate another's (Kubrick). As mentioned, Kubrick only made three movies during the nearly 25 year tenure of Vitali as his assistant. What was he doing in between films? FILMWORKER shows that Kubrick's attention to minutiae extended to attending to each and every painstaking detail of how his completed films were preserved, distributed and promoted. Kubrick would cut special trailers for each major country his films got released in (sometimes differing by only a frame or two). We see Vitali standing in pile after pile of boxes full of old files, VHS tapes, clippings etc.. It became, by his account, a 24-7 position (including holidays) -- even during the 'off' years between films (a full dozen between JACKET and EYES alone).
Zierra thoughtfully dedicates his Doc to all 'Filmworkers' - not just Vitali, but, one can't help but feel he never quite addresses the elephant in the room - why did Vitali give up a promising career as an actor to become a glorified gofer? Other than his professional work, we are given precious little insight to Vitali, the man. We see his three children briefly interviewed, but, his wives (supposedly three) aren't discussed. Perhaps appropriately, the only old footage we see of his kids is with Vitali steeped in work with the children playing in those boxes of Kubrick world. Vitali addresses the camera directly and says it was all worth it, but you can't help but wonder. Yes, it was all done voluntarily, but, at a certain point one has to ask if it wasn't some deranged form of Stockholm Syndrome. While Vitali may never have become a great actor, his resume was adding up. You would think he had some creative bones still in him, that, at some juncture he would have asked Kubrick for a more creative role (or, to even strike out on his own). It's somewhat consoling that Vitali feels he played a role in a great filmmaker's oeuvre, but, one can't escape a mild feeling of depression slipping in. The thought of the dozen years between METAL and EYES being taken up not by artistic input, but instead slaving over the box art for the Japanese VHS tape of 2001 or re-re-re-cutting a trailer for the French re-release of THE SHINING does cast a pall on FILMWORKER.
Zierra has made a fine documentary. The fact that not every question is answered may be unknowable. Just like Kubrick. And, just like Vitali, perhaps.
FILMWORKER is Director Tony Zierra's effective, and sometimes confounding, portrait of Vitali. Vitali first became enthralled by Kubrick when he went to see 2001 as a young man. By the time that CLOCKWORK ORANGE came out, Vitali had begun a career as an actor, largely on British television. His fascination with Kubrick continued so the opportunity to score even a small role in Kubrick's BARRY LYNDON was literally the chance of a lifetime. As fate would have it, Kubrick took a liking to Vitali's performance as Lord Bullingdon and re-wrote the script in order to increase the part. This gave Vitali an opportunity to not only observe the Director at work, but, to put a bug in his ear that he might like to work for him on his future films. That opportunity came with work with THE SHINING.
What follows is a fascinating portrait of Kubrick as a combination of kindly Maestro and toxic Vampire. He could cajole Vitali and the cast and crew of a picture on one hand, and, then demand effort (and frankly, ability) above and beyond on the other. Not just Vitali, but others describe how exhausting Kubrick's demands were (more than one person is mentioned as having a form of a nervous breakdown on his sets!). Through it all, Vitali's importance to Kubrick grew and grew. From being a fairly defined purely Director's Assistant on THE SHINING to what would become an all-consuming full-time job as his boss' virtual alter-ego (Kubrick would even sign Vitali's name on some of his missives).
Director Zierra's documentary is densely packed for it's 94 minutes. A good assortment of clips illustrate both Kubrick's films, but, also Vitali's early career as an actor. Plus, there's a smattering of behind the scenes footage. Most of it is well chosen, even if, occasionally, they became the equivalent of visual wallpaper in order to have stuff to cut away from the talking heads. Vitali is the main interviewee, but, we also get other Kubrick collaborators both in front of, and behind the camera, and extending to techs in charge of post-production, distribution and home video. Zierra managed to get lead actor Ryan O'Neil to speak about BARRY LYNDON, but, was unable to secure Jack Nicholson or Shelly Duvall from THE SHINING (Danny Lloyd, who was all of 6, represents). Disappointingly, neither Tom Cruise nor Nicole Kidman co-operated either (17th billed Marie Richardson is the lone cast member other than Vitali). Matthew Modine and the late R. Lee Ermey (who's death came after FILMWORKER was completed) speak about FULL METAL JACKET. The interviews are informative and well-edited (Although it must be noted that Kubrick himself would have been aghast at the chalky HD camera-work in them! In one amusing scene we see Kubrick 'direct' a brief video-taped acceptance speech that Vitali recorded. Yes, he was THAT detail oriented).
What emerges is a compelling portrait of one artist (Vitali) essentially giving his life over to facilitate another's (Kubrick). As mentioned, Kubrick only made three movies during the nearly 25 year tenure of Vitali as his assistant. What was he doing in between films? FILMWORKER shows that Kubrick's attention to minutiae extended to attending to each and every painstaking detail of how his completed films were preserved, distributed and promoted. Kubrick would cut special trailers for each major country his films got released in (sometimes differing by only a frame or two). We see Vitali standing in pile after pile of boxes full of old files, VHS tapes, clippings etc.. It became, by his account, a 24-7 position (including holidays) -- even during the 'off' years between films (a full dozen between JACKET and EYES alone).
Zierra thoughtfully dedicates his Doc to all 'Filmworkers' - not just Vitali, but, one can't help but feel he never quite addresses the elephant in the room - why did Vitali give up a promising career as an actor to become a glorified gofer? Other than his professional work, we are given precious little insight to Vitali, the man. We see his three children briefly interviewed, but, his wives (supposedly three) aren't discussed. Perhaps appropriately, the only old footage we see of his kids is with Vitali steeped in work with the children playing in those boxes of Kubrick world. Vitali addresses the camera directly and says it was all worth it, but you can't help but wonder. Yes, it was all done voluntarily, but, at a certain point one has to ask if it wasn't some deranged form of Stockholm Syndrome. While Vitali may never have become a great actor, his resume was adding up. You would think he had some creative bones still in him, that, at some juncture he would have asked Kubrick for a more creative role (or, to even strike out on his own). It's somewhat consoling that Vitali feels he played a role in a great filmmaker's oeuvre, but, one can't escape a mild feeling of depression slipping in. The thought of the dozen years between METAL and EYES being taken up not by artistic input, but instead slaving over the box art for the Japanese VHS tape of 2001 or re-re-re-cutting a trailer for the French re-release of THE SHINING does cast a pall on FILMWORKER.
Zierra has made a fine documentary. The fact that not every question is answered may be unknowable. Just like Kubrick. And, just like Vitali, perhaps.
A solid documentary about the man behind the world's greatest filmmaker.
ollie1939-97-95799427 November 2018
Filmworker is a wonderful tribute and reminder of the tireless effort that goes into the process of filmmaking. Focusing on Stanley Kubrick's assistant Leon Vitali who worked with him from Barry Lyndon onwards, it reminds you how dedicated to the craft you must be in order to make it in the industry.
Looking at Vitali, you get the sense of who he is. Tired and worn out but also undeniably enthusiastic and holding great affection to the maestro of Kubrick. He is filled with wonderful stories and it's both heart-breaking and reaffirming that he dedicated so much of his life to an extraordinary but also difficult individual. I would argue that Kubrick was not only the greatest director to who have ever lived but one of the greatest artists ever, equivalent to film what Shakespeare was to theatre. However, as with all great artists, Kubrick asked for an unbelievable amount from the people surrounding him and there is no clearer example that Vitali.
Interviewing Vitali as well as many of Kubrick's collaborators, the documentary really gives a peek into the strange world of Kubrick. Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures gives a more definitive biography of the man but Filmworker gives a great sense of what it was like to work for him or on any film set for that matter.
Whilst I would've liked to have seen more about Vitali's and Kubrick's personal lives, it's a great account for anyone interested in the making of Kubrick's last few films as well as the undeniably important legacy that he had.
Looking at Vitali, you get the sense of who he is. Tired and worn out but also undeniably enthusiastic and holding great affection to the maestro of Kubrick. He is filled with wonderful stories and it's both heart-breaking and reaffirming that he dedicated so much of his life to an extraordinary but also difficult individual. I would argue that Kubrick was not only the greatest director to who have ever lived but one of the greatest artists ever, equivalent to film what Shakespeare was to theatre. However, as with all great artists, Kubrick asked for an unbelievable amount from the people surrounding him and there is no clearer example that Vitali.
Interviewing Vitali as well as many of Kubrick's collaborators, the documentary really gives a peek into the strange world of Kubrick. Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures gives a more definitive biography of the man but Filmworker gives a great sense of what it was like to work for him or on any film set for that matter.
Whilst I would've liked to have seen more about Vitali's and Kubrick's personal lives, it's a great account for anyone interested in the making of Kubrick's last few films as well as the undeniably important legacy that he had.
Love to rally learn what makes things happen?
petermdisalvo8 November 2018
Personally I love autobiographies or documentaries where I can really learn about the details this film fulfills that and more. It gives you an incredible look Into the unrelenting work effort of a dedicated soul. Leon is a truly amazing person and I love the behind the scenes footage of all the great movies. I wonder if Kubrick ever knew how lucky he was to have such dedicated help. I ended the movie exhausted .
Diary of a perfectionist's assistant
shakercoola9 March 2019
An American documentary film. A story about Leon Vitali, an English TV and film actor turned personal assistant to mercurial filmmaker Stanley Kubrick. One can forgive the often gushing praise by contributants to the film of Kubrick's talents because it is a revealing and stirring celebration of one of cinema's unacknowledged heroes, a maestro's trusted confidant and expert on Kubrick's thought processes and genius. The film strikes upon an interesting theme about endurance for vicarious pleasure, when the person you work for you idolise and respect. The film also deals with the personal life of Vitali which is touching, showing his passion and dedication to safeguarding his boss's posterity.
A big fat IMDb 9 rating as a sign of respect to Mr. Vitali
Geekofriendly20 November 2021
It's absolutely mind-boggling that most movie buffs don't know the story of Leon Vitali. I am grateful for this documentary and the context it provided me with. I now know that Leon should have been given much more credit that he received. If ever there was the perfect occasion for the lifetime achievement Academy Award, I'm hard-pressed if ANYBODY in Hollywood could find a better reason to hand it out than to the man who perfectly restored Kubrick's movie legacy for all to enjoy in its perfection.
Being a big fan of Kubrick, I have watched many documentaries about the virtuoso director, but it's only today, after seeing "Filmworker", that the mosaic is more complete. Therefore, while not a perfect piece of cinema, "Filmworker" still deserves all the praise because it told a story that absolutely needed to be told!
Being a big fan of Kubrick, I have watched many documentaries about the virtuoso director, but it's only today, after seeing "Filmworker", that the mosaic is more complete. Therefore, while not a perfect piece of cinema, "Filmworker" still deserves all the praise because it told a story that absolutely needed to be told!
YOU'RE GONNA FOLLOW WHO...?
masonfisk26 November 2018
A doc on Leon Vitali, an actor who worked w/Stanley Kubrick on Barry Lyndon but was so artistically taken w/his brilliance he decided to shelve his acting to become his right hand man. Coming on the heels of other docs on the legend like Room 237, Boxes & another revolving his driver (!) this is more of the same but for someone who is a completist on everything Kubrick, this one gets the job done.
A largely misunderstood piece
lakerman-274919 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Seems like you either hate this film, or love it. It is certainly tormenting in some aspects but that goes to show that the director somehow wanted to bring balance into the picture.
Stanley Kubrick, genius.
Stanley Kubrick , slave master.
Who is Stanley Kubrick?
He is both. Unfortunate? Reality often times is.
Let's move forward. What is he , again?
An utterly dedicated man, even obsessive. Yes, you watched his movies. Marveled at the attention he put into the details, the grace in execution.
Making movies I think, in Kubrick's eyes was akin to waging wars. There will be causalities.
Actors that cry on camera till this day.
A filmworker.
Causalities or heros? Have an opinion about it. With empathy, you will certainly say that it is horrible.
But the movie wants you to think about the other way too.
For me , Leon Vitali is a hero. Heros sacrifice. Working with a perfectionist requires that you give your all, or more.
Anytime he could have quit, but he haven't. Anytime Stanley could fire him, but he didn't. Now consider:
Til this day he has not quit.
71 years old, looks frail, but I bet he has more energy that you can Imagine. Something is still burning behind those eyes.
It was his decision. He found something he loved, and let it kill him.
And this movie is about him.
The way I see it, it was due.
Leon, you did a damn good job.
Filmworker
henry8-38 March 2019
Extraordinary documentary charting one man's decision to stop being a well respected actor and devote himself to supporting and learning from genius film director for the rest of his life.
It is rewarding to stick with Leon to hear his story to understand both what a nice and talented guy he is and how, contrary to most people's view who knew him and thought him slightly crazy, that he did exactly what he wanted to do. Quite inspirational.
It is rewarding to stick with Leon to hear his story to understand both what a nice and talented guy he is and how, contrary to most people's view who knew him and thought him slightly crazy, that he did exactly what he wanted to do. Quite inspirational.
Should have been called Slave Worker
thebogofeternalstench31 August 2021
I was left with a bitter taste in my mouth after watching Filmworker. It's inexcusable to me that Vitali was exploited in many regards, and that Kubrick paid Vitali peanuts in return for Vitali dedicating his life and acting career to be Kubricks personal workhorse. Yes, Vitali wanted to do this, but I think the man went way too far, letting this so called 'genius' work him to the bone and Vitali ending up needing financial help from his own children.
I don't care how amazing or 'genius' a director is, I would never trade time with my family for some director. Vitali doesn't get the recognition or respect he deserves. If you are losing sleep every night and being worked to the bone just to please some 'god', you are going to end up strung out and your health, mental well being and sanity will greatly suffer.
Vitali looked like he hadn't slept in years, it was painful watching how gaunt and wrecked he looked. Jesus wept.
I'd also imagined that Vitali would go on to make a film of his own after learning all the craft from Kubrick, but no.
I don't care how amazing or 'genius' a director is, I would never trade time with my family for some director. Vitali doesn't get the recognition or respect he deserves. If you are losing sleep every night and being worked to the bone just to please some 'god', you are going to end up strung out and your health, mental well being and sanity will greatly suffer.
Vitali looked like he hadn't slept in years, it was painful watching how gaunt and wrecked he looked. Jesus wept.
I'd also imagined that Vitali would go on to make a film of his own after learning all the craft from Kubrick, but no.
An Awesome Story of Undying Loyalty
vernreo4 November 2018
An extraordinary deep dive into the world of film production with the great Stanley Kubrick. Leon Vitali speaks to the heart of all filmworkers who give so much to participate in the realization of the project at hand. Thank you, Leon, for sacrificing and sharing so much of your life with one of the most important filmmakers of all time in order to share it now with the rest of us. It's a great story that many of us old production warriors can identify with, though most likely not on your scale.
When you have the opportunity to work with a master, you take it.
chris-holm29 April 2021
These days there's so much cinema history on from creators on YouTube, it's rare to see something like this, an untold story. A good documentary and interesting story. Something from another era, a different mindset, a different way to do things.
Thoughtful Portrayal
Tail_End_Charlie5 December 2018
While I certainly appreciate Leon Vitali's dedication, I do have mixed feelings about why certain people put their own goals on hold for decades, in the service of their esteemed mentors. Vitali doggedly worked alongside the masterful Kubrick, accepting the responsibility for a wide array of tasks, including casting, distribution, graphics, and marketing. I did have hopes that this film would reveal an archival clip which featured SK and Vitali having an invigorating conversation. There are a number of interviews with industry pros who comment on the challenges of working with Kubrick, but I wonder if any of them ever took a risk to have a frank conversation with SK, regarding his meticulous demands. After reading some of the worthwhile reviews here, I recommend the astute thoughts from the reviewer known as "gortx".
Filmworker
jboothmillard15 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Stanley Kubrick is one of the most renowned, sometimes controversial, and highly influential filmmakers of all time, having written, produced and directed some of the most famous films of all time. But he is also one of the most reclusive figures in filmmaking, a very rarely gave interviews, this documentary film examines his life and career, through the man who got closest to him. Basically, Leon Vitali was an up-and-coming English actor, having made successful appearances on stage and screen. He first Kubrick in 1974, when he was cast as "Lord Bullingdon" in Kubrick's period drama Barry Lyndon. Vitali was already an admirer of Kubrick's work, having seen his work, including Paths of Glory, Spartacus, Lolita, Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and A Clockwork Orange. Kubrick and Vitali bonded during the shoot, Vitali was fascinated to find out about the process of editing, Kubrick agreed to let him stay on, without pay, to observe him. Five years later, Kubrick and Vitali stayed in contact, one of the last acting roles Vitali performed was Terror of Frankenstein (1977). Kubrick sent Vitali a copy of Stephen King's novel The Shining and asked him to join production on his next film project, to which Vitali eagerly agreed. Vitali is credited in The Shining (1980) as "personal assistant to director"; he selected 5-year-old Danny Lloyd, out of 5,000 children, to portray Danny Torrance in the film. It is by this time that Vitali surrendered his thriving career to become Kubrick's loyal right-hand man for the next two decades. During these nineteen years, Kubrick made the films Full Metal Jacket and Eyes Wide Shut, with a lot of shooting taking place in Great Britain. Kubrick had a reputation for being difficult to work with, he was a perfectionist and worked for months, if not years, on a project to get what he wanted. As his personal assistant, Vitali was responsible for overseeing dialogue coaching, casting, shipping, television, sales, video transfer, checking prints, trailer translation and much more. Vitali accepted that this was a stressful and exhausting job, but he was devoted to assisting the man he considered a genius. By 1996, Kubrick was becoming older and somewhat weaker, but Vitali was there to help him with his perfectionism during the making of his final film, Eyes Wide Shut. Kubrick even cast him in the role of Red Cloak, the masked master of ceremonies at the sexual ritual (masked orgy sex party). Kubrick died in 1999, aged 70, months before the release of Eyes Wide Shut, and before the shooting of A.I. Artificial Intelligence, for which he had been developing since the 1980s with Steven Spielberg. Vitali was naturally devastated, but he was left a cherished handwritten note ("Thank you for your great talent, energy and kindness"). Some time later, a posthumous exhibition dedicated to Kubrick's work was opened in Los Angeles, Vitali was cruelly denied an invite to the opening, but the self-described "filmworker" acted as a free tour guide anyway. This film offers a fresh angle on the late great Stanley Kubrick, with rich and varied elements including previously unseen photos, videos, letters, notebooks, and memos from Vitali's private collection. With contributions from those who knew and worked alongside Kubrick and Vitali, including Ryan O'Neal (played "Barry Lyndon"), Brian Capron (Vitali's friend), Danny Lloyd (aged 45), Matthew Modine ("Private Joker" in Full Metal Jacket), R. Lee Ermey ("Gunnery Sergeant Hartman" in Full Metal Jacket, posthumous interview), Stellan Skarsgård (worked with Vitali in film and on television), Marie Richardson ("Marion" in Eyes Wide Shut), Tim Vitali (Leon's brother), Chris Vitali (Leon's brother), Max Vitali (Leon's son), Vera Vitali (Leon's daughter), and Masha Vitali (Leon's daughter). I myself am a big fan of the works of Stanley Kubrick, in 2019 I visited the exhibition at The Design Museum in London dedicated to his work to commemorate the 25th anniversary of his death. This is an insightful film, it does make you realise how dedicated Kubrick was to his craft, and his PA with his croaky testimony is also an interesting character, a most worthwhile documentary. Good!
The question not asked...
ronin113822 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
An exceptional and touching documentary. I was surprised the question was not put to Leon if he never wanted to make a film of his own. He learned from an absolute master and came from a theatre and film background. Quite a life he had.
Quarter century of drudgery
drjude51817 February 2020
I really liked this doc but I am sure that behind all the things left unsaid was a man who was abused by the Great Auteur. What kind of salary could Leon Vitali have been paid for his services to the Great One? Surely a percentage of gross would have been in order.
I may never have gone to see 2001 in the theater; a movie I thought was the greatest film ever until the Next Greatest Film. I really can't abide the possibility that Kubrick was so insecure and parsimonious that he kept Vitali as his personal Gofer so he could exclude the rest of the world from being exposed to the inner workings of his insecure mind. Could it be that Kubrick simply kept this mild mannered man as a shield against criticism? Detestable thought surely.
I will never view Dr. Strangelove and 2001 again in the same way that I did in my 20s. Another Hollywood secret never to be revealed.
Great
arshambehrouz11 August 2019
Have these people made a film before?
waitingforgodot10 September 2018
Was really looking forward to this film as a Kubrick superfan, but the documentary is so derailed by the terrible craftsmanship of the filmmakers. It looks like they've never shot an interview before, or never considered editing pace. It's highly ironic that a film about Kubrick would be so shabbily crafted. Could barely get through it.
Great for Fans of Kubrick! And Short!
mohnomachado4 September 2023
Great watch for Kubrick fans. Doesn't feel long, and pays respect to one of the greatest film directors of all time. It was quite fascinating to see the devotion he was able to acquire from people despite being very meticulous in his approach to filmmaking. Also awesome that the star of the doc is the film worker, Leon, who tells great anecdotes about working with Kubrick. Go watch this if you are interested in anything film related.
Here is the part where I reach the word count for a review and just write about how "Filmworker" is a documentary worth your time if you enjoy learning more about movies (something said previously :)
Here is the part where I reach the word count for a review and just write about how "Filmworker" is a documentary worth your time if you enjoy learning more about movies (something said previously :)
hopelessly devoted to kubrick
cdcrb25 May 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Leon vitali was Stanley kubrick's "assistant" for thirty years. starting with barry lyndon. watching this documentary seems more like watching an obsessed fan and you get very uncomfortable with that. he worked tirelessly and possibly without pay to do Kubrick's dirty work. vitali doesn't actually say that, but i'm pretty sure that was a big part of his duties.
Dull
d_m_s21 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Crikey this was boring. I got 20 minutes in and had to give up. Who cares about this Leon fella? So he ran around being Kubrick's aide, what's interesting about that? There were some very minor points of interest around the film-making process but the majority of this is just interviews with people praising the wonderful Leon, over & over again. It was so gushing I thought Leon might have made the film himself as a complete ego trip but it appears not. Borrrrrrrrrring!
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