MovieChat Forums > Birth (2004) Discussion > List of Kubrick Homages

List of Kubrick Homages

posted 14 years ago by rabbitmoon
9 replies | jump to latest

People often talk of this film being Kubrickian, so I thought I'd start a list for people to add to.

- Opening running scene - 2001 David Bowman running in the orbiter.
- Joseph staring out the window shot, slow zoom in - same as Jack Torrance slow zoom window shot in the Shining
- Various steadicam panning shots - e.g. Joseph walking away from Bathroom, like Paths of Glory Trench/FullMetalJacket
- Interior Apartment shots like Eyes Wide Shut (obviously, presence of Nicole Kidman as well)
- Symmetry corridor shots like Clockwork Orange, Shining, Full Metal Jacket (e.g. when Sean is walking through corridor at school, and corrior at hospital during sisters birth scene, both corridors have symmetrical doors with Exit sign above)
- The worker at the Apartment block (forget his name) bouncing a ball just like Jack Torrance in The Shining
- Slow dolly up to the back of Seans dad in the appartment was like the slow dolly up to the back of Jack Torrance whilst typing in The Shining.

[–] hughlilly 14 years ago

-Steadicam, everywhere, all the time.
-Sean bouncing a ball on the ground in the foyer (I think the very first time we see him? about 15 mins in?)
-The carpet was kinda similar, am I right?

[–] oceena 11 years ago

They showed a glimpse of Anna's apartment number, which was 2001.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] rabbitmoon 10 years ago

Um, I'm really not sure that's actually an homage to Kubrick in Birth though, is it?

If you're posting that because you think that this is a thread criticising Glazer, then you're mistaken. I'm well aware of his influences, and am pleased he's influenced by Kubrick. The point was just to gather a list of specific Kubrickian moments in the film. I honestly think he's one of the most underrated director's going, and am sad that he hasn't directed more films.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] MoviemanCin 9 years ago

Excellent points. Glazer is obviously heavily influenced by Kubrick, and he couldn't pick a better director as an influence on his work.

Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar, or doesn't.

[–] Kimrubymoon 7 years ago

I knew there was something about this movie's look that grabbed me and I think you're right. There is an overall creepy starkness to it much like one of my all time favorite movies --- The Shining. I can see Kubrick in this definitely now that you mention it. I wouldn't have been able to list specifics in plot as you did...I just noticed the feeling I got from it. Slow and psychological and haunting.

[–] rabbitmoon 7 years ago



Thanks for your reply!

Have you read the various analyses of The Shining? I thought I'd read them all (there are lots! Some more interesting than others) but then found another yesterday that became addictive reading. The use of numbers in the film, specifically 12, 21 and 42 - the writer even goes as far as to mention that specific lengths of shots in exact seconds all into this pattern. Also the use of mirrors, and the film itself being a mirror of itself with the halfway point being the scene in room 237. The shot of Jack in the mirror falls exactly 1/4 in, and the shot of redrum in the mirror falls exactly at 3/4 in.

Here's the link - http://jonnys53.blogspot.nl/2007/06/what-you-may-or-may-not-have-seen.html

Its always a question of "is this going TOO far?" but some of the evidence is so compelling and coincidental, its difficult to know what was really intended from what was accidental.

[–] Kimrubymoon 7 years ago

Yes I've read some of the theories, analysis etc... on The Shining be it on here or YouTube. I'll check out your link, thanks! And yes some of these people I think must have WAY too much time on their hands haha! Or some of them can be frightening thinking how their minds work 😳 . But I do find it interesting:-)