Summary

• Christopher Nolan praised Keir Dullea's performance in 2001: A Space Odyssey as underrated, overshadowed by the film's technical achievements.
• Dullea's portrayal of Dave Bowman shows emotion and depth, carrying the weight of complex acting challenges in Kubrick's epic.
• Due to the movie's groundbreaking visuals and existential themes, Nolan believes Dullea's performance is one of the most underrated in film history.

Stanley Kubrick’s sci-fi opus 2001: A Space Odyssey is widely regarded to be one of the greatest films ever made, but Christopher Nolan has pointed out the one part of the movie that’s underrated. 2001: A Space Odyssey chronicles the entire history of the human race, from the first hominids that evolved into humans in prehistoric times to the next stage of evolution kickstarted in the orbit of Jupiter in the distant future. It’s an epic in the truest sense, with an enormous scope, mind-boggling visuals, and a thought-provoking exploration of life’s biggest questions.

Just about every filmmaker who was around after 1968 was influenced by 2001: A Space Odyssey, but Nolan has taken particular inspiration from Kubrick’s sci-fi masterpiece. From the rotating sets of Inception to the existentialist spacefaring of Interstellar, the influence of 2001: A Space Odyssey can be seen all over Nolan’s work. While plenty has been said about 2001’s poignant themes, stunning cinematography, and groundbreaking special effects, there’s one aspect of the movie that Nolan feels is criminally underappreciated.

Christopher Nolan Believes Keir Dullea In 2001 Is One Of The Most Underrated Performances In Film History

Nolan thinks Dullea's performance has been overshadowed by the film's technical achievements

After presenting a screening of 2001: A Space Odyssey at Cannes Film Festival to celebrate the movie’s 50th anniversary in 2018, Nolan was interviewed by Film Comment. Nolan said that every time he watches 2001, he discovers something new that gives him even more respect for the movie and insight into Kubrick’s vision. Nolan praised many aspects of the film, but he expressed particular affinity for Keir Dullea’s lead performance as astronaut Dave Bowman. Dullea was present at the screening, along with of the Kubrick family, which Nolan described as “overwhelming.”

Nolan told Film Comment that Dullea’s performance as Dave “has always been overshadowed by the magnitude of everything else surrounding the film” – the breathtaking visuals, the classical music, the meditation on human existence – and believes it’s “one of the most underrated performances in film history.” Nolan lauded Dullea’s ability to convey his character’s personality through what he calls “bureaucratic dialogue.” Dullea is burdened with a lot of exposition in 2001, but he manages to make Dave’s individualism shine through his dry explanations of scientific concepts.

What Makes Keir Dullea's Performance In 2001: A Space Odyssey So Great

Dullea brings some much-needed emotion to 2001

It’s understandable that the mind-blowing technical achievements have defined 2001: A Space Odyssey, but it’s a shame that it’s overshadowed one of the best performances that Kubrick ever directed. The role of Dave presented Dullea with some serious acting challenges. He had to play a tense feud with a red dot on a black screen; he had to lose his mind as he was flung through cosmic landscapes beyond human comprehension; and he had to play an older version of himself slowly dying as the younger version watched. It wasn’t an easy role to play, and Dullea nailed it.

Source: Film Comment