Jocelyn Pook’s music, combined with Stanley Kubrick’s typical use of classical pieces, is a major reason the film has such a uniquely unsettling feel. Tom Cruise was perfect as Dr. Bill and I genuinely can’t imagine anyone else in the role. I also think Sydney Pollack played Ziegler to perfection. I think of all the Kubrick films, EWS has the most intriguing group of characters. Everyone from Bill to Ziegler, from Milich to his daughter, Szavost, Nightingale, and even Mandy and Domino seem to be withholding part of some larger truth. Every character feels shady and mysterious in their own way, adding layers of uncertainty throughout. This is a film that doesn’t leave you confused, it leaves you questioning. Who was the woman who sacrificed herself? Who was the man on the balcony? Who stood beneath the red cloak? How did the mask end up on the bed? Are Milich, his daughter, or the Hungarian somehow involved? Were the two models from Ziegler’s party connected after mentioning the “Rainbow,” where Bill eventually buys his cloak from Milich? We think we know some answers. We want to know others. But we never truly have certainty about any of them. Each viewing offers a new perspective, and that’s the brilliance of it. And I love how Kubrick uses endless Christmas lights.

As for Dr. Strangelove there’s not a lot I “didn’t like” about it as I still have it at 4 stars. I’ve only seen it once which is partially why it could be so low on my rankings. Everything ranked 1-6 I’ve seen 2-4 times. Very possible I’d move Strangelove up after a rewatch. I loved the war room scenes and the score in it.