Stanley Kubrick is rightfully heralded as one of the greatest filmmakers to ever live. But are you as familiar with the name Leon Vitali? Like many of the time, Leon was someone who was awestruck by the majesty of his filmmaking with works like 2001: A Space Odyssey transporting him to a place that cinema rarely reached. This aspiring young actor knew that he had to find a way to work with this legendary filmmaker, a feat which he accomplished by securing a pivotal supporting role in the period drama Barry Lyndon. While not the easiest shooting environment, Vitali found himself transfixed by Kubrick and turned his back on acting in favor of working with the director behind the scenes. While officially titled as “personal assistant to director,” Vitali was so much more and worked in so many different capacities that the only title that seems to really fit, and the one he coined for himself, is Filmworker. In Tony Zierra’s documentary of the same name, we explore the life of the unsung hero of Kubrick’s legacy.
If Vitali were to have his way, you would likely never hear anything personal about him or his work with Kubrick. This is not out of some ill-will towards the late auteur, but rather a fierce loyalty he continues to have to protect his legacy. The thought of any credit being taken away from Kubrick would likely rankle our subject, but as he eases into the process you realize the full breadth of his responsibilities over the years. By traversing through his home filled with remnants from the past, Vitali revisits key memories by excavating these items and sharing stories associated with them. Vitali was a fierce notetaker during his time with Kubrick, and you are allowed a glimpse into the perfection-driven nature of his expectations. You also learn of his work with performers from coaching young Danny Lloyd on the set of The Shining to helping R. Lee Ermy secure his iconic role in Full Metal Jacket. He was even tasked with approving all marketing around the world from cutting different trailers for each territory to rubber-stamping home video box art. This was a man that basically never slept.
This is somewhat the crux of the thoughts many have about his role with Kubrick. Men of such talent are often notoriously difficult to be around, and there were not many who stayed around like Vitali did. It is said that Kubrick took advantage of Vitali by asking him to sacrifice both his professional and personal life, but the subject would passionately object to this assertion with assurances that he always chose to stick around. To be in service of artistic perfection is a worthy endeavor in his eyes. Many interesting subjects are brought in to give their own impressions including Barry Lyndon costar Ryan O’Neal, Matthew Modine, R. Lee Ermey, Danny Lloyd, Stellan Skarsgard, and former studio employees who worked with Kubrick like Brian Jamieson and Nick Redman. Some of these figures have rarely agreed to speak about their time with Kubrick which makes the interviews that much more special. Everyone has their own insight into the relationship that helps give a fleshed out overview of what may be the truth.
With this being a profile on one of the people closest to Stanley Kubrick, this documentary simultaneously provides a window into one of the most enigmatic creative figures of modern times. Vitali is a man who could and has told stories about Kubrick all night, and through these stories you understand a bit more about the man. To understand how he communicated with those closest to him, how he worked with performers and even how he was in the privacy of his home is invaluable. You understand why Vitali has continued to hold such loyalty even years after his death. Being one of the foremost authorities on the work of Kubrick, he has been essential in making sure his legacy is honored in the manner most closely related to what the filmmaker would want if he were still alive. Filmworker is a treasure chest of information for Kubrick devotees, but even those with a passing interest in behind-the-scenes details of film production will be drawn in by these stories.
Video Quality
Filmworker comes to Blu-Ray featuring a lot of different material in varying degrees of quality. It can be said with certainty that the movie itself and everything within it looks as technically excellent as it can look in high definition. This can be attributed to the fact that Kino Classics has delivered a great encode and given the film plenty of room to breathe. This company has been so great in this respect, and it is always appreciated. The archival production footage, photos and film clips used seems to be in the best shape possible given the quality of the source material. New interview segments look incredibly sleek and clear with natural skin tones and detailed facial features. The many items of memorabilia that Vitali shows off presents with really pleasing detail. There is no evidence of compression artifacts or other digital nuisances of the sort. I do not see how this could have been improved visually. It’s a real stunner as is.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray comes with a stellar DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that captures this subject perfectly. Dialogue is the driving force of the film, and it comes through crisp and clear without being clipped by any competing sounds. The filmmakers do a really great job of capturing their subjects and making sure all this information comes through with supreme clarity. Even audio from older interviews comes through pretty clearly given the age and quality of the material. The score establishes the mood of the film well and is resolved well here as music often spreads throughout the room. Ambient sounds from some of the environmental elements are precisely placed in the rear channels. The audio track is not pushed to the limit with this content, but it nonetheless proves to be a wonderful presentation for this feature. There are optional English SDH subtitles included for those who desire them.
Special Features
- Q&A with Leon Vitali and Director Tony Zierra: An eleven-minute piece is included here in which Vitali discusses how accurately he thinks the movie portrays his relationship with Kubrick, Zierra discusses the process of getting him to agree to participating in the documentary and more fun tidbits.
- Trailers: The two-and-a-half minute trailer for Filmworker is provided here. There is also a trailer for The Kid Stays In The Picture.
Final Thoughts
Filmworker is a really lovely documentary that shows the human element behind some of the most important cinematic achievements of the 20th century. Leon Vitali may have not directed the films himself, but his contributions to the filmmaking of Stanley Kubrick and his continued support of his legacy is inspiring. Through getting to know more about him, you gain important insights into one of the most impregnable figures in cinema. Kino Classics has released a Blu-Ray that sports a standout A/V presentation and an interesting Q&A. If you are a fan of Stanley Kubrick or the process of filmmaking in general, this will prove to be a worthwhile exploration. Recommended
Filmworker is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.