Filmworker

An American documentary film. A story about Leon Vitali, an English TV and film actor turned personal assistant to mercurial filmmaker Stanley Kubrick. One can forgive the often gushing praise by contributants to the film of Kubrick's talents because it is a revealing and stirring celebration of one of cinema's unacknowledged heroes, a maestro's trusted confidant and expert on Kubrick's thought processes and genius. The film strikes upon an interesting theme about endurance for vicarious pleasure, when the person you work for you idolise and respect. The film also deals with the personal life of Vitali which is touching, showing his passion and dedication to safeguarding his boss's posterity.

If you're a film fan or a Stanley Kubrick fan this movie is a must see. Leon Vitali truly gave and is still giving his life to the work of Kubrick's legendary films. Leon does not begin to get the recognition he deserves. He was truly Kubrick's right hand man. There is so much that goes into completing a film project and Leon became the jack of all trades strictly for the art of Kubrick's films. It has taken a physical, mental, and personal toll on his life, but the man is not bitter. In the current day of digital aid Leon Vitali perfected the films without this help. This film displays literally thousands of documents and notes that Leon wrote while filming. He is truly a one man film crew. Other crew members and actors bring the story to life on how this man gave everything he had and more. Fantastic and inspiring documentary.

It's absolutely mind-boggling that most movie buffs don't know the story of Leon Vitali. I am grateful for this documentary and the context it provided me with. I now know that Leon should have been given much more credit than he received. If ever there was the perfect occasion for the lifetime achievement Academy Award, I'm hard-pressed if ANYBODY in Hollywood could find a better reason to hand it out than to the man who perfectly restored Kubrick's movie legacy for all to enjoy in its perfection.

Being a big fan of Kubrick, I have watched many documentaries about the virtuoso director, but it's only today, after seeing "Filmworker", that the mosaic is more complete. Therefore, while not a perfect piece of cinema, "Filmworker" still deserves all the praise because it told a story that absolutely needed to be told!

A fascinating insight into one of Kubrick's faithful assistants. Essentially this film is aimed at Kubrick fans and film fanatics, but it goes much deeper than that and has the power to absorb anyone who views it. Leon is a dedicated, devoted worker bee who strived tirelessly to help Stanley archive his vision. Stanley Kubrick is obviously a genius, an enigma, and Leon was emersed in this magical world, he worked his fingers to the bone for a man he obviously admired and this devotion comes across, even though the demands Kubrick put on him took it's toll. I would give my right arm, left arm, heart, lungs , body and soul to have worked for Stanley Kubrick, Leon Vitali was lucky enough to to have been the man who did!

Stanley Kubrick is perhaps the most mysterious director in history, and this documentary sheds some light on the mystery. If you're a Kubrick fan and you want to learn more about him, this is a must see. It's certainly better than the documentary Room 237, which tries too hard to read into the mind of Kubrick. Filmworker offers a lot of reliable insight into Kubrick, told by his right hand man Leon Vitali, who is perhaps just as interesting, or at least obsessive, as Kubrick himself. Thus far, I've seen five movies this week and this is my favorite. Check it out!