Filmworker *** (2017, Leon Vitali, Ryan O’Neal, Danny Lloyd, Matthew Modine, R Lee Ermey) – Movie Review

Director Tony Zierra’s documentary on Leon Vitali, who gave up a promising acting career to serve for three decades as Stanley Kubrick’s right-hand man, is fascinating, a remarkable footnote to Kubrick’s story. Vitali describes himself and on his passport as a Filmworker.

While playing Lord Bullingdon for Kubrick in his Barry Lyndon (1975), he ended up impressing the difficult, over-obsessive film-maker to the extent of having his role pumped up in size and importance. He must have made a big impression on Kubrick, because the director helped him to get behind the cameras in the business, and took him on as his Man Friday. There he is in picture after picture, clip after clip, standing behind the great man.

This is quite an odd story, kind of bitter-sweet, with Vitali (now a kind of burnt-out and wrecked-looking 69) seemingly answering very question, revealing all, but leaving so much unquestioned, let alone unanswered. Of course, the main thing is, we don’t hear a word from Stanley Kubrick.

We do hear from Ryan O’Neal, Danny Lloyd (the kid in The Shining), and Matthew Modine and R Lee Ermey (the stars of Full Metal Jacket). They are open and revealing. We hear from several Warner Bros executives of the day – and that is also quite revealing. Indeed the whole film feels honest and frank. Why shouldn’t it be now that Kubrick has been dead 18 years?

Of course Vitali has his own agenda, telling his remarkable, untold story. Nobody ever tells 100% about themselves, or can afford to be 100% honest. But Vitali seems a pretty credible witness to his own life and actions. He, bit by bit, emerges as likeable, and the hero of his own story. This time, in the Vitali story, it is Kubrick who is the sidekick. But there are loads and loads of Kubrick info and movie clips to keep every fan thrilled. It really is very well assembled by Tony Zierra.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Movie Review

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