If you haven’t taken the opportunity to see a Turner Classic Movie in the theater you should. Taking my daughter to see The Shining on the big screen was a cool moment. She’s been my movie buddy for a while, but as she gets older our choices of films gets more grown up. When the credits rolled and she said, “I loved it,” I was assured I’ve raised her right. I give The Shining the Must See rating.
The Shining is a Halloween film year after year!
Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) moves his wife, Wendy (Shelley Duvall), and son, Danny (Danny Llyod), into the Overlook hotel as its caretaker during the winter months. As isolation sets in an evil and spiritual presence influences him into violence. Danny has demonstrated some psychic abilities is seeing horrific forebodings from the past and of the future.
Jack Nicholson is amazing in this film. He is horrifying and just an asshole. I saw this film when I was much younger and this time I noticed his coldness towards his family. That is, until it’s just him and Danny in the bedroom. It is understandable to think Jack would go insane given his inability to write and the isolation. He’s ultimately trapped in the hotel and seems to be feeling the pressure of his shortcomings. He plays the character so perfectly and it’s easily a memorable performance.
The fun with the Shining comes with the potential analysis. There are so many theories about the hidden meanings of the film. I plan on watching Room 237, which is a documentary all about the possible theories of the film. Even without delving into all of the theories the film is rich with interesting visuals and camera work. Stanley Kubrick is an acclaimed filmmaker, but is also controversial. It makes it all the more intriguing to wonder what he may have meant with the various visuals.
I really love this movie. It’s creepy but the tone isn’t that of a traditional horror film. To me, it’s more about the story and the demise of a person’s sanity. Then again, there are theories to imply Jack was never sane in the first place. His sudden murderous intentions were a manifestation of paranoia of a previous crime being discovered.
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