What a fantastic crime film from Stanley Kubrick. Not only we have memorable characters here, but also a very inventive way of storytelling and a brilliant ending. I can totally see how this influenced Quentin Tarantino on making Reservoir Dogs and notice quite a few similarities between the two. I really liked how Kubrick constantly goes back and forth in time, in order to demonstrate each character's assignment and how everything must happen with precise and flawless execution. You really feel how important and crucial they are for the heist to go according to plan.

Another great aspect of the film is that the director takes his time to show everyone's motivations behind the robbery, building a nice character development…

For some reason, I went in to The Killing assuming it was a play on words for a sure bet that pays off big - hence the racetrack setting. Boy, was I ever wrong.

The Killing has so many good things going for it that trying to list them all would be redundant considering how much is written about Kubrick. Sterling Hayden (hell, virtually all the speaking roles) put on such a good show, delivering that particularly overdramatic dialogue without having it come off as the staccato, wise guy, can'tstoptobreathwithoutfinishingthissentence style so seemingly prevalent in the bad-boy heist noirs endlessly sampled in more modern movies. Kubrick's camerawork for his first major picture turned some heads, and rightfully so, considering the…

The most remarkable thing about Kubrick's 1950's heist thriller is just how fast it moves, flying by in what seems like no time at all. Of course, clocking in at only 85 minutes it's fairly short, but it could've been 30 minutes longer and still feel every bit as brisk and exhilarating. The pacing of this film is simply impeccable and especially in this type of film that is often the most important aspect. Kubrick, who at the time was a nobody, already showcased his skill in the arts of movie-making way before reaching the cultural status he eventually did. The Killing may not be his best nor my favourite of his long and exciting career, but due to how…

The most fun aspect of watching The Killing is realizing how much Quentin Tarantino was inspired by it when he created his first masterpiece Reservoir Dogs. The rest of it wasn't as fun for me as I thought it would be, mostly because of the terrible acting and painful dialogue. I was surprised at how fast people talked, because throughout this Kubrick marathon I've been doing, most of the dialogue is slower and more deliberate. I'm used to words having weight, whereas here I wasn't sure what was important or not. It's a heist film that feels formulaic given how many more recent films have used a similar formula, but there are enough surprises here to keep me at least…

*writing this in the voice of the narrator from the Killing*

Its one A.M. sharp. Amateur film fanatic PinHeadLarry pops in Stanley Kubrick's The Killing. As the chilling noir robbery film opens up he is exposed to a world of squinty-eyed, fast talking smokers with an eye for money. All of this is narrated with the tact of an auctioneer.

It's now shortly after one. Johnny Clay, played with cool intensity by Sterling Hayden is hatching a daring scheme to clear out a horse racetrack of all its dough. Things start to fall into place. It seems perfect. Then one of the men tells his woman.

This dame also plans a heist of her own. She is going to run…

The most remarkable thing about Kubrick's 1950's heist thriller is just how fast it moves, flying by in what seems like no time at all. Of course, clocking in at only 85 minutes it's fairly short, but it could've been 30 minutes longer and still feel every bit as brisk and exhilarating. The pacing of this film is simply impeccable and especially in this type of film that is often the most important aspect. Kubrick, who at the time was a nobody, already showcased his skill in the arts of movie-making way before reaching the cultural status he eventually did. The Killing may not be his best nor my favourite of his long and exciting career, but due to how…

What a fantastic crime film from Stanley Kubrick. Not only we have memorable characters here, but also a very inventive way of storytelling and a brilliant ending. I can totally see how this influenced Quentin Tarantino on making Reservoir Dogs and notice quite a few similarities between the two. I really liked how Kubrick constantly goes back and forth in time, in order to demonstrate each character's assignment and how everything must happen with precise and flawless execution. You really feel how important and crucial they are for the heist to go according to plan.

Another great aspect of the film is that the director takes his time to show everyone's motivations behind the robbery, building a nice character development…