The Killing (1956)

Stanley Kubrick demonstrated time and again that he was a director far ahead of his time.  In 1956 he directed The Killing, a crime drama about a group of men with a plan to steal $2 million at a L.A. horse racing track.  It comes off feeling a bit like Ocean's Eleven, only with real character development and little comedy.

The Killing was like no other film before it, and few since have done its techniques as well.  Sure, there were plenty of crime dramas, and plenty of gangster films, but this one is a breath of fresh air in what was already becoming a stale genre.  Kubrick accomplished this in two specific ways.

First, the story is told in several parallel lines.  One of the conspirators will be shown doing his part of the heist plan, and then another will do his part, beginning prior in time to what was already seen.  It's not nearly as confusing as it sounds, and a narrator is a huge help as he continuously gives what times certain events happen.  Of course, even though this technique works well for the film it does come across a bit overdone.  I mean, there is only so many times you want to hear that the horses are getting ready for the 7th race before it feels old.  Other films have copied this technique Kubrick used in The Killing, but here it feels fresh, original, and very pivotal to a proper understanding of all that happens.

The second truly standout feature of The Killing is the character development.  Each of the conspirators has a different motivation for being involved in the plot, and these motives are all quite believable and natural.  They are thieves, sure, but not because they only greedy or evil.  These seem like real people, with real problems who approach this heist as a real solution.  As a result, you find yourself rooting in a way for these criminals.  They are smart and cunning, yet human and failing.  The audience can relate to them, since they are not simply denounced as wicked "black hat" bandits from some simplistic western.

I loved The Killing.  I liked the understated and largely unpretentious acting.  I thought the plot moved along with a fresh and lively pace that kept me engaged.  And I loved how the end seemed to reference the Humphrey Bogart masterpiece from 1948 The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.

This one is a hidden gem, a film I'd not heard much about prior to seeing it.  But it really is a great and unforgettable film that deserves a place among the movie greats.

Entertainment: 8/10
Artistic Value: 7/10
Technical Merit: 8/10

Overall: 8/10