In a career spanning nearly half a century, a director might be expected to create one or perhaps two memorable films. However, by the time of his death in 1999, screenwriter-director Stanley Kubrick was credited with at least half a dozen groundbreaking and thought-provoking movies whose cinematic impact is timeless. Whether forging new styles of cinema, as he did with Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and A Clockwork Orange, or reinventing old genres, as he did with Paths of Glory, Barry Lyndon, and Full Metal Jacket, Kubrick brought a unique style and sensibility to his work. In an industry where so many films are made by committee, Kubrick established an unparalleled degree of independence that allowed him to bring his visions to the screen without outside interference. As a result, "Stanley Kubrick's unique contribution to film--what makes him loom larger than other directors who may make more `perfect' films--is...