The Killing (1956) Review

“You have not yet learned that in this life you have to be like everyone else - the perfect mediocrity; no better, no worse. Individuality's a monster and it must be strangled in its cradle to make our friends feel confident. You know, I've often thought that the gangster and the artist are the same in the eyes of the masses. They are admired and hero-worshipped, but there is always present underlying wish to see them destroyed at the peak of their glory.”
  The Killing is Stanley Kubrick’s third film and in a way it was his first serious film. Kubrick’s first two pictures were basically preparations to help him perfect his directing skills.  The Killing helped establish him as one of the best directors in Hollywood, which later helped pave the way for his future films like 2001. It’s sad because “The Killing” seems to be overlooked in Kubrick’s amazing filmography, but the film has influenced the film industry. This film gave Quentin Tarantino inspiration for his film Reservoir Dogs. 
   The film is essentially about a meticulously planned heist at the racetrack. Johnny thought of nothing else in prison, but conceiving this heist. The plan is flawless… if only he picked better people to help him with this heist. Soon things become getting chaotic, although not all at once but in small increments that add up dangerously. The little things range from miscommunications to miscalculations in the timing. It all leads to an outstanding climatic scene at an airport.  “The Killing” is much like a chess match with the characters as the pieces.  Some of them pawns that leave the game quickly while others last a while like the king and queen. 
    A lot of the noirs from the 50’s can be very slow at times, but “The Killing” is far from that. The acting was great, although I would have liked to see some of the characters have more screen time. I love how the film builds the anticipation to the heist. In a way it was like the anticipation I felt during the opening bank robbery scene in the Dark Knight. The directing was great naturally. 
  “The Killing” is another great film directed by Stanley Kubrick. I’ve never once been disappointed with his films. He is one of my favorite directors, probably right behind Hitchcock. 

4.8 out of 5