The Killing

Stanley Kubrick’s third feature — the legendary director’s breakthrough work — is a marvellously assured hard-boiled noir thriller centring on a classic criminal caper. Sterling Hayden, in one of his most memorable turns, stars as mastermind Johnny Clay, an ex-con who assembles a team of small-time losers and dreamers in order to pull off the “perfect” robbery of a racetrack. The film brought Kubrick considerable critical attention for its extraordinary performances, claustrophobic compositions, and complex, innovative use of time; influenced by John Huston’s The Asphalt Jungle (which also starred Hayden), it would later serve as inspiration for Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs. “The real beginning of Kubrick’s career. . . It has fast, incisive cutting; a nervous, edgy style; and furtive little touches of characterization” (Pauline Kael). “Characteristically Kubrick in both its mechanical coldness and its vision of human endeavour undone by greed and deceit . . . [but] far more satisfying than most of his later work" (Geoff Andrew, Time Out). “Arguably Kubrick’s most perfectly conceived and executed film . . . Not to be missed” (Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader). B&W, 35mm. 83 mins.