S Is for Stanley

It's not a film about film making but a personal account of a 30 year friendship that developed between Kubrick and his chauffeur. Emilio's role went from driver to personal assistant during the span of their relationship. It gives insight into the person that was Stanley Kubrick, not the filmmaker. It was years before Emilio saw any of Kubrick's films. His favorite? Spartacus, the least "Kubrick" film of all. 😂. Still their friendship and long association is heart warming. I value this most because I like knowing what Kubrick was like as a man as well as an artist.

The movie is quite bland. You have this driver who talks about his experience with Stanley, but he's a driver so it mainly focuses on the chores he had to do for that day and not really who Stanley and what it was like on set with him. You mainly learn about the drivers life and personal affairs that are not interested because the movie doesn't give me a good reason to care about this guy.

The mark of a good documentary IMO, is one that offers new insights on the subject, and tells a complete story.

This one does both, deftly balancing a biography Kubrick through the eyes of the man who would serve as his trusted aide and confidant Emilio D'Alessandro.

This is a must watch for any fan of Kubrick or fils in general.

S is for Stanley is another entry point to the enigma that was Kubrick. Included w/other docs as Boxes & even Room 237, we get another sideways glimpse into the uncontrollable mind of probably the best filmmaker ever. That he comes off as a mere human is a testament to the efforts of his driver & loyal aide Emilio who put up w/what probably any other person would deem unacceptable in this day & age.

This movie is a treat not just for all Stanley Kubrick's fans, who will be granted an insight into the personality and everyday life of one of the greatest movie directors of all times, but also a fantastic and moving tale of commitment and friendship that lasted thirty years, between Kubrick and his personal assistant, Emilio D'Alessandro. The documentary is following the success of a book made by Filippo Olivieri, who managed to convince the shy and private Emilio to tell him his extraordinary story. The documentary is very well made, without distracting excerpt from Kubrick's movies, focussing instead on the human relationship between the two characters, following Emilio story and his gradual involvement in taking care of Kubrick's everyday more demanding needs. I would strongly recommend this film to everyone: it is an interesting, sincere, touching and moving story of friendship that will leave its mark. A real gem!