Kubrick's Fear and Desire (Welcome To The Basement)

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Thinking he has seen all the films of Stanley Kubrick, Matt stumbles across one more. It was Kubrick's first feature, a philosophical meditation on war called Fear and Desire. Lest you think it too cerebral, there are also shootouts, mental breakdowns and messy bowls of stew.
In Seen It, we discuss the oeuvre of Mr. Kubrick and Matt and Craig get into a dust-up after a round of "dueling James Masons".
All film footage is used in accordance with fair use and US copyright law. All music in the show is used with full permission of the composer.
Thanks for all the great comments. Keep em coming! If you watch one of the movies we discuss, let us know what you thought of it.
Welcome To The Basement" is a show about watching, discussing and having fun with movies. Matt choses the movie and Craig doesn't know what it is until the cameras start rolling, so none of the discussion or riffing is planned ahead of time.
Movie announced on facebook before every new episode. Get the movie and follow along. We do discuss the entire movie, including the ending, so if you want to avoid spoilers, watch the movie first.

[@mikeghengis5]

I seem to recall that I saw "Eyes Wide Shut" with Mr. Sloan in the movie theatre for the first time and at the end we were frozen in our seats with excitement and tension about the movie and someone behind us said in disgust/anger "what the hell was that?" That's when I knew we had different sensibilities of movies from the other folks living in the Green Bay. If I could define "Eyes Wide Shut" in one word, it would be "tension".

[@blamesocietyfilms]

Mike Eserkaln I remember that.

[@olivermarijuanajones5041]

Green Bay isn't exactly a MENSA meeting

[@stormcloudsabound]

With the argument about impressions at the end, I kept thinking of that bit where Aaron Yonda said, "I hope this argument ends your friendship." i don't actually please keep doing this show

[@chadamonkey5641]

I love how all Tona has to say is "stop" and thats the end of it. I think they should have her actually reviewing a movie with Matt at some point.

[@mattburkey8393]

A quote from Kubrick about war films: "One of the attractions of a war or crime story is that it provides an almost unique opportunity to contrast an individual or our contemporary society with a solid framework of accepted value, which the audience becomes fully aware of, and which can be used as a counterpoint to a human, individual, emotional situation. Further, war acts as a kind of hothouse for forced, quick breeding of attitudes and feelings. Attitudes crystallise and come out into the open. Conflict is natural, when it would in a less critical situation have to be introduced almost as a contrivance, and would thus appeared forced or, even worse, false." From Paul Duncan's book Stanley Kubrick: Visual Poet

[@VonPunk]

I went through all Kubrick's films in the 90's when I was a teenager, Eyes Wide Shut didn't exist at that point and I still haven't seen it and I didn't know about this film either. I should definitely go through his films again and add both bookends to his career to my viewing. What a joyful mission that'd be. Thanks for another great episode guys, girl & cat.

[@vostroyanfirstborn]

best episode ever in my opinion. a good amount of it due to Matt and Craig's comedy, but mostly to the god of film making. Stanley Kubrick is the greatest film director ever, not just for creating classic comedies, sci-fis, and war films, but his influence on other films with that. and i am glad that you use my comment in seen it, but Craig, why isn't eyes wide shut that good. honestly, it is my second favorite film of his. in order, it is paths of glory, full metal jacket, 2001: a space Odyssey, eyes wide shut and a clockwork orange at 1st. but still, Kubrick is a amazing director, and this is the only movie i have seen before you guys watched it on this show. thank you for watching in and adding to what i see not just about this film, but of Kubrick himself.

[@ramenmustaches]

Hey guys, This was the only Kubrick I hadn't seen, and I loved watching it with you! I just got home from "Interstellar" and was absolutely blown away by it, so I figured I'd make a recommendation. It was everything I would expect from a Nolan film, but it carried the existentialist weight of a McConahey narrative... it was incredible. Keep up the good work!

[@Kilrathi]

I once wrote an analysis of Dr. Strangelove for University. I watched it so often, I still can speak nearly all lines when I watch the movie. And after all these times I have watched the movie it is still funny. And as you said it doesn't get boring it is even more funny every time, because everytime you get another detail that you haven't noticed before.

[@lightlampdog]

Great show as always guys! I love how you left the arguing in, kind of Howard Stern-esque in a way. You two should fight more often! Just kidding, but if you do, please leave it in, i love seeing two good friends argue.

[@cinemafanatic2010]

I think the desire in this film is seen predominantly in Mac. Because at some point in the film he says I’ve never done anything important with my life and after the war I probably won’t do anything important again. The desire is in his case at least importants

[@SteveWFitch]

I really love the "artsy" argument at the end! LOL

[@mikecronis]

Hey, Matt. I know your amazingly successful Chad Vader series is mostly finished, but you did a mighty fine Yoda voice there at 1:55. Might be something to explore if revisited. Also, been just lovin' all your work since the beginning. You really kept everything together on the last Beer & Board Games, something I'm sure is frustrating at times keeping from falling completely apart! Great job, as always!

[@nikiv116893]

Don't. Know how this got to my home page, but I'm glad it did. There are not enough videos about Fear and Desire

[@blueeyesaf]

Fury also recently explored the effect of war on the mind and sanity to a lesser extent. Nobody in it went actually insane, they didn't flay anybody and wear their skin or anything but they were all kind of broken, the rest of the tank crew is already broken when Logan Lerman's character arrives but he's just a normal kid and over the course of the movie (which only takes place over a couple of days) he too starts to crack around the edges. They kind of became psychopaths, unaffected by violence and willing to kill without hesitation even when their own lives weren't on the line (particularly the SS, whom they killed even when they surrendered). It was a good movie, and I personally had never seen a movie that focused on tanks so the action was unique which you can't say about many WWII movies.

[@garetmckenna8674]

Good to know that I'm not the only one who thoroughly enjoyed "Fear and Desire".

[@VolcanicZero]

I've watched your entire show since it began, but I can't recall there being an episode featuring a courtroom scene. With this in mind, have either of you seen A Place in the Sun? It's a sort of tragic counterpart to a movie you guys previously watched, Sunrise. The courtroom scene at the end is one of my favorite movie courtroom scenes. Also, fun fact, the prosecutor, played by Raymond Burr, went on to play everyone's favorite lawyer Perry Mason.

[@jhagen22]

A delight to watch as always!

[@corbelius6]

Thank you, Tona!

[@AlexandreWarners]

10/10 Great Episode!!!!

[@Mr.CantThinkOfAName]

My favorite fart joke is from a Billy Connelly stand up in the 80s, when the man next to him on a plane curls up into a ball, falls asleep, and lets out an extremely long fart that includes a whole array of sounds you would not expect an ass to make

[@TheRoyalSh0t]

Raw Power by Iggy Pop and the Stooges duuude that's my favorite album of all time, i love how you always put an album in the background and how its always something i fucking love.

[@mergus]

The funniest fart joke in movie history was in the movie Traxx. I won't spoil the context, but it was when the villain, taunting Shadoe Stevens' character, farts in his car. It's the best because it's the only fart joke I remember and it caught me off guard.

[@nibbleknowledge]

"Mack! Why my washing machine playing music" LOL

[@adamjg4]

The B&W photography looks very crisp.

[@mergus]

I could watch the Impersonation Sketch all day.

[@SirDoctorKok]

I love to see the mix of MST3K style banter and really intelligent analysis.

[@Violentjoke]

"Fart jokes." Immediately thumbs upped.

[@lukeellis6094]

I watched this, found it on KZbin and thought it was really interesting, not necessarily a good movie but one that was cool to compare to later works to see just how much Kubrick developed as a director.

[@weirdproq]

I hope The Day the Clown Cried gets released eventually just so I could maybe see you guys review it.

[@adamarens3520]

I just saw it this morning, it’s as described by Kubrick.

[@stefanheins9084]

You guys should definitely do your own version of The Trip

[@eustacequinlank7418]

Raw Power! Have to disagree with your opinions on on the second half of Full Metal Jacket. You see these people and their uneasy, distant interactions dealing with each other with how they've been dehumanised and taught to kill. It becomes a latent part of their minds that you know they will probably never shake off or escape when the war is over. The blatant opening shot of them having their heads shaved and sent off to camp says it all really. That moment... Spoiler: When Joker is forced to execute the girl sniper was so jarring when I saw it. Kubrick knew what what he was doing when he split the film in two like that.

[@Ichiboy900]

I always enjoyed the first half of FMJ better, as almost everyone does, but after having to right an analysis on the film and watching it over and over, I at least understand the why the 2nd half of the film is there. It takes it from a short story of a few soldiers in boot camp to a profound statement on war itself. Not as captivating to watch as the first half, but necessary in order for it to be a true Kubrick film.

[@Avery1125]

Dat tumbnail, though. Damn, Craig

[@musclesmarinara88]

You guys probably won't respond to this, or feature it on the show, but have you seen any of these three films: Howl's Moving Castle, Mirrormask, or Perks of Being a Wallflower. They're in my top ten favorite movies. In my opinion they're all beautiful in storytelling and visually stunning.

[@musclesmarinara88]

TheUltraDude The visual style is just so beautiful. And yes I have, I love My Neighbor Totoro, it's the only family movie that I really like. The animation doesn't look dated at all, the story is just so heartwarming and relatable and adorable. You have to have a heart of ice to not love that movie. And Spirited Away's animation is just exquisite, the detail is breathtaking.

[@musclesmarinara88]

I haven't gotten the chance yet. I heard it was good though. Was it directed by Miyazaki?

[@musclesmarinara88]

TheUltraDude I knew we was retiring. I just wish he would make one last film. He a genius. Much better than Walt Disney.

[@whokilledzekeiddon]

Gabriel Hoxha Mirrormask is a hugely underrated (and underwatched) film. Loved it.

[@undead2live]

I love A.i., you should watch it. It is one of the most underrated movies I've seen.

[@CriticalEatsJapan]

As always ---great episode! Too bad the scene where they stormed the cabin and ate the stew didn't turn into a fart sequence... ;)

[@tomflorio3639]

The woman in this film, Virginia Leith, would go on to play the decapitated head ("Jan in the pan") from "The Brain That Wouldn't Die"

[@jonthejoker13]

You guys need to look at Six String Samurai, the perfect concoction "Lone Wolf and Cub" with a loving look back at the life and death of classic bebop rock and roll.

[@mjpanicali]

I would like to see the Basement review A Boy and His Dog...seems to fit the type of movie for this channel.

[@LarryPokeTrainer]

Also Eyes Wide Shut is a masterpiece.

[@LarryPokeTrainer]

Also I think I need to check out Lolita again. I really liked it until the third act which I think kinda tarnished the rest. Also, both of you do a great James Mason! No need to fight!

[@thegreatgabsby7617]

Matt, is there a movie that you've seen already, but that you wish you had seen for 'Welcome to the Basement?'. Great show as usual.

[@vankook]

This episode devolved into an episode of Beer and Board games at the end until Tona put a stop to it.

[@Aramis419]

Aw man, Greg almost brought out the ol' Sloan Rage!

[@Hawkman220]

Have you seen "Sherlock Holmes Smarter Brother" a great film with Gene Wilder and Marty Feldman!

[@stevef4010]

great movie!

[@skabossJ]

I don't know if you've seen it already but I would like to suggest "Boy" directed by Taika Waititi. New Zealand isn't really known for cinema, except for Lord of the Rings, and I think that's a shame because there are some great films that come from there.

[@LaughingOwlKiller]

The Fart scene is Blazing Saddles came about because Mel Brooks thought about it this way, Cowboys would mostly eat beans and drink black coffee while on the trail.

[@0001Sika]

Hi guys. Just wanted to know if you watched "PersePolis" A french animated movie, from 2007, about an Iranian woman (Marjane Satrapi) who made an auto biography/ graphic novel of herself depicting the events she had to go through during the time Iraque forces invaded her country and her perspective on European lifestyle "versus" Iranian lifestyle. It is a movie that had a great inpact on me and I recommend it to anyone who is a little bit curious about history/middle estearn history. If you haven't watched it, I highly suggest you to do so! PLEASE! I BEG O YOU!!!

[@lukeellis6094]

Have you guys seen Escape from Alcatraz? Really fun escape movie that I saw the other night :)

[@djfailsafe]

Hoping you guys will give Red Cliff a watch! It's a beautiful movie, make sure you watch the two part extended version. The version on Netflix loses a lot.

[@seanhenry2921]

What a gift to find another Kubrick film! In a similar way, I hope to find another Powell and Pressburger film, because I fear I've now seen them all.

[@captainnutella67]

I don't think Nanook would appreciate that quote you made Matt.

[@blamesocietyfilms]

captainnutella67 Don't blame me, blame R. Lee Ermey

[@saulocunha4374]

Raw Power

[@cristerowarrior1450]

One time I saw Blazing Saddles on TV and they silenced the farts, it was very weird, Just guys getting up and putting their butts in the camera. very weird

[@Firestar4041]

Did mom have to come in a break you two up?

[@SamHeyn]

Slightly tense exchange of glances at the end of the show... You know what could bring you back together? SOYLENT GREEN.

[@willsi]

"RAW POW-UH! CAN YOU FEEEEEL IT?"

[@Metro2033fan21]

Have you seen the film Paris, Texas?

[@jackalakkin]

Have you seen Man Bites Dog? It's a film about a film crew following a serial killer.

[@jessicalovesglitter3662]

Honestly I would love to see like an all corny romance theme :D like in February for terrible Valentine's day

[@samaraisnt]

yesssss

[@GrahamBartle]

Whow, shit got real.

[@annaheff7332]

Have you guys seen the 1966 sci fi drama Seconds? Something tells me you would like it... or at least have some things to say about it. :)

[@orf32]

i dont know how this fits into your show because its t.v. but born from movie. Have you seen the new Fargo series? I barey remember the movie so Im going to have to hunt it down and watch it again. The new series complety shocked me, if asked before watching if i thought i was going to like it I would of said maybe. depends how Billy Bob pulls off his part. I think he crushed it. Im starting to wonder if this is going to be the "Next" thing tv is going to start doing? What Movies would you both like to see made into a series? I think its dangerious because to could easly backfire and believe thats why they did Fargo, if it flopped no one would be upset like if it was something iconic.

[@blamesocietyfilms]

John Orf I've seen it and I loved it.

[@RJreviews]

Fletch kinda looks loke Martin Sheen in his Apocalypse Now days.

[@TitaniumSeraph]

Craig put lemon juice in that squirt gun. It would be last resort. Someone up in your face you can squirt it in their eyes! haha Every group has a Fletch doesn't it. ;p Matt and Craig you both get awards for your J.Mason impersonation. lolololol

[@Officialhelpkenet]

It's funny that they sell this movie at the Army Museum of Stockholm.

[@wbmc1]

I watched full metal jacket the other day. Obviously the first half is by far the best, but the second half had its merits. I think the biggest problem with the second half was that there were lots of good ideas (the idea of children in war, the brutality, and more than anything the dehumanisation (eg the 'thousand yard stare')), but the concepts lacked cohesiveness, so it didn't do the first half justice... which is sad, I suppose.

[@asafisher7407]

3:07 I laughed so much

[@UberNeuman]

It's time for a Mason-off!

[@victoriasimon263]

I loved this film. I agree with James Agee. It lets you use your imagination and what psychological scars it can have on your psyche

[@johnroth]

Wow, Matt has lost a ton of weight and he looks awesome.

[@qualcom01]

What ever happens to Stu?

[@GrahamBartle]

When's "A Boy and His Dog" ?

[@deadpan80]

Actually I believe the first fart joke may be in Chaplin's Modern Times - there's a scene where he's sitting drinking tea and eating biscuits with some lady and begins to make gastral noise and the whole scene is played amusingly awkward and uncomfortable. May not be a full on ass-rip but its damn near close enough and I am pretty sure that is what is being implied.

[@swinnburn]

DELIVERENCE ?! 6:48?

[@OneUponADime]

I've only seen 3 or 4 Kubrick movies, but from what I've seen, I just don't see what was so great about him.

[@screenplaya4562]

Speaking of pedophiles....have you gentlemen seen the remake of Lolita, starring Jeremy Irons? Or perhaps The Woodsman, starring Kevin Bacon. I think both are quite good, despite and also in some ways because of the very uncomfortable pedo themes. In the Woodsman, for example, there are moments (on the park bench, for example) where I felt more dread than in almost any other movie I have seen.

[@snikkt]

Have you guys seen a Hundred Ways To Die In The West? I'm a fan of westerns and thought the movie would be right up my alley, but it was really disappointing, mostly because of the immature humour. Interested to hear your opinion(s).

[@jordanromaker]

I stayed up way too late last night and watched Fear And Desire just to be ready for this episode. A part of me really disliked this movie. The lateness of the hour was probably a factor, but I kept nodding off from boredom. I think the main reason why I couldn't get into it was the acting; I couldn't accept the performances as remotely believable, so I couldn't get invested in their fate. And Sidney was just plain obnoxious. Maybe the budget was partially to blame, but at only an hour long, the film didn't give itself nearly enough time to build up to Sidney's breakdown. To me anyway, his insanity seemed to come completely out of nowhere, which again made it hard to accept and I initially just wrote it off as bad writing. In retrospect, as existentialist and almost absurdist as the film was, I feel it really would have worked better as a stage play, particularly with the introspective moments of the characters and the overly theatrical delivery of most of the dialogue. I will say though that I appreciated a lot of the positive aspects you guys mentioned; the photography was quite beautiful, and the story itself was provocative. All in all, it's not a terrible film, especially for a first-time effort, but I can understand how the guy who would go on to make 2001 wouldn't want anyone to see it.

[@lokishepherd6341]

I watched Eyes Wide Shut when I was 13. Not gonna lie, I just wanted to see the nudity. That was the first Kubrick movie I ever saw....with the volume super low at 3 in the morning so my parents wouldn't catch me. I remember being disappointed. I should really go back and watch that again.

[@DTcorn77]

still hoping one of these days you'll watch Dungeons And Dragons (2000) its so bad, but wonderfully so. if nothing else, to watch Jeremy Irons chew on the scenery the entire time.

[@frederickluebker1240]

I had a weird dream last night that Craig offered me cocaine. Wtf?

[@tapanipaul]

The second half is amazing. Everyone that disagrees is wrong… I’ve never understood the criticism other than, yeah, the first half has a lot more energy. That doesn’t make it better necessarily. There are two distinct chapters to that film and, sure, they have different pacing and tone. But to say the second half is shitty??? Get outta here!

[@MLangenbroome]

I didn't realize how many of Kubrick's movies I disliked, so that's a revelation. Eyes wide shut is by far my least favourite though.

[@xiaoxiao01]

i have to say, i can only remember that i kinda of liked A.I. ... i dont remember anything from the movie... but i feel like that doesnt speak for the movie

[@Zylork0122]

Rosen! Where you'll save a fistful of dollars!

[@t3l3phasicworksh0p]

Mason and Mason Show

[@floraposteschild4184]

It's better than a student film, but not much. Like something from a technically proficient Ed Wood. Gambit...rewritten with fart jokes. Pretty much why I don't bother with mainstream movies any more.

[@SuperRat420]

Hey, will you guys be my friends? You seem neat and I am lame.

[@scottjacoby2594]

7:55...what kind of porn are you watching, Craig?

[@robr8123]

Not sure if it's been brought up before (and it's more of a "Why we won't see it" rather than a seen it), but how about A Serbian Film? It's sort of the political equivilent of a long Aristocrats joke, in a depressing way.

[@thegreatgabsby7617]

Craig is right, fart jokes usually backfire.

[@blueeyesaf]

Yeah I generally hate fart jokes but if it's really well done and not super obvious like 99% of them they can be plenty funny. It's really hard though, I can't think of one that I like but I can distinctly remember laughing at one with my dad, who also hates fart jokes. They're almost always juvenile and pathetic.

[@OneUponADime]

I LOVE FARTS

[@kakashi76767]

Ode to a fart: FARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRT! then... poop!.... then... silence.

[@endorbr]

Matt there's a reason why you can't remember anything much about watching A.I. It's because its a terribly long boring movie that ultimately just doesn't do a whole lot of anything.

[@CaptChrispy]

Not 'Squirt slaughter', 'Squirder'! 'Dial Squ for Suirder' 'Squirder most Foul!' He'll be a squirderer! I liked 'The Trip to the Basement'. (but I do a better Mason. :/ )

[@samrowan6096]

So fart jokes aren't very good. Would you say they... stink? (I'm sorry)

[@Josh-r3q]

Ah. Kubrick. One of the most overrated people to ever live.