MovieChat Forums > The Neon Demon (2016) Discussion > Anyone else get a Kubrick vibe?

Anyone else get a Kubrick vibe?

posted 8 years ago by matt_raetzel
18 replies | jump to latest

This film felt very Kubrick-ian to me. The cinematography, the pacing, the art direction, the still and dragged out wide shots, the slow monotone dialogue, the surrealism and symbolic nature of storytelling, the music placement, the lack of sound in select scenes, the lighting all felt spot on in the vein of Kubrick. I'm assuming it's one of the reasons this film seems to be getting such mixed reviews, as Kubrick received a lot of criticism during his time. This is one of those gems that gets better with every viewing, picking up on subtle details each time. And I'd like to think that this film will eventually become a timeless classic as many of his films did, despite their initial negative responses. Thoughts?

[–] CipollaM926 8 years ago

I got a Kubrick vibe with the tone and meticulate imagery, but I also got a Park Chan-wook vibe. The agency of the female characters, the beauty of it all, the harsh violence when it does occur, and the *beep* up ending. This movie is also similar to the other two's works in that it becomes increasingly rewarding with each viewing and with more thought. I don't know if I could say that The Neon Demon will attain acclaim similar to their works in the future since the themes are admittedly not as fresh as what Kubrick and Park explored?Refn just happened to explore these themes in a completely original and striking manner. (Don't get me wrong; The Neon Demon is my favorite movie of 2016.) But I could very well be totally wrong, given that hindsight is 20/20.

[–] please-notthenuts 8 years ago

Yup , totally wrong, this movie was complete garbage, liked and loved previous work but this deserves to be forgotten .

[–] FourViolets 8 years ago

This is his best film yet, and it'll be remembered. Much to your dislike.

[–] FourViolets 8 years ago

I agree! One specific scene REALLY strikes me as Kubrick-esque. It's subtle, but- In the club scene when Jesse notices the man that later turns out to be the photographer staring at her, the camera focuses on him for a minute and then it focuses on his perspective of her. When it focuses on her from across the room, the wide shot is zooming in ever so slightly and slowly. It really adds a mood that I can't quite put my finger on.

About the nature of the criticism in mirror to Kubrick's I've actually agreed to this. Especially after seeing this film the second and third time. I felt like I was witnessing something that will be held in high regard in the future. I'm very careful about using Kubrick or Lynch as a comparison because people these days are very quick to defend the greats, especially when compared to something that they don't really care for at the time. They hold them in such high regard that they kinda get mad when something they don't like is seen by other's as similar. Of course this is all just a matter of opinions- But my opinion is they same as yours and I'm glad you shared it.

[–] IHateJakeGyllenhaal 8 years ago

I didn't get a Kubrick vibe specifically. Lots of arthouse movies are like that. I also think a Kubrick vibe would be a lot less flashly and stylized. Not that Kubrick couldn't be flashly or stylized, but never to this level in my opinion.

*Duke

[–] skribb_Mk2 8 years ago

Not at all.

This is Refn. I've seen his last three movies and they're all like this.

__________
.and then the bong hits him on the head and he falls RIGHT over the realitY

[–] FourViolets 8 years ago

You're right too. I absolutely love his distinct style. I never cease to become engrossed in his films. Sight, sound and story collide in such a unique way every single time.

[–] skribb_Mk2 8 years ago

And don't forget purple 😃

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.and then the bong hits him on the head and he falls RIGHT over the realitY

[–] FourViolets 8 years ago

Haha, yes, purple. Can't get enough of that. Which Refn film is your favorite?

[–] skribb_Mk2 8 years ago

I've seen Drive, God and Neon, once each.

I'm far from sure, but off the top of my head it's either Drive or God.

__________
.and then the bong hits him on the head and he falls RIGHT over the realitY

[–] Three Gun Fish 8 years ago

Most Kubrick films I've seen deal with the same theme focusing on the line that divides society from chaos, so yeah THE NEON DEMON would be a off-kilter color version of that.

ONLY GOD FORGIVES and EYES WIDE SHUT share the same camera operator, I believe. Or cinematographer. Maybe that's the same thing in this case. I dunno.

But it's not hard to recreate the Kubrick look and vibe. It's hard to pull it off for an entire film but here and there it's easy to balance a composition and inject unnerving music and/or camera moves.

REMEMBER: Sofia Vergara =/= Vera Farmiga

[–] mitzibishi 8 years ago

Yes I did, but only Ernie Kubrik his younger brother.

[–] Line-of-Flight 8 years ago

Yes I did get a Kubrick vibe, but more of a 'Kubrick Light' (which is ok). And Refn seems to be going for that himself, considering he pretty explicitly refers to Kubrick in The Neon Demon.

And like The Neon Demon, most of Kubrick's movies are satires (or even comedies) played straight/ deadpan.

[–] lucasmartins 8 years ago

I got a Lynch vibe, see Mulholland Drive

[–] Dapperdanman13 8 years ago

I got a strong "Kubrick vibe" when I saw "Bronson". I´m pretty sure Refn has seen "A Clockwork Orange" more than once...:-)