We've all had that cinematic moment of epiphany when seeing a great film for the first time. But how many of us have recorded these moments on paper while they were happening? Probably not too many; few people carry a notepad and paper in with them when seeing a film, and writing in the dark is no easy task. The following poem is such a record: it was written when I first realized the artistic significance of 2001, on July 1-2, 1988 between 9:45 pm and 1 am. I don't remember the exact circumstances behind my writing of the poem. I believe I had pulled out the sofa bed and laid back to watch 2001 on the VCR, an experience which was heavily interrupted by my turning on the light to write down the poem as it came to me (then turning it off again to watch the movie). Additionally, I was listening to music (Shankar's SONG FOR EVERYONE and Art of Noise' IN-NO-SENSE) with the TV off. At times I would turn off the music and focus on the film. On occasion I would hear the landlord's son and his friends outside my window (possibly the other "interruptions" referred to in the poem). My writing of this poem was undoubtedly facilitated by my having had a half bottle of wine (el cheapo Chateau Lapelletrie 1982, probably around $4.95). I had about 2-3 glasses, then started writing either prior to or while watching 2001 (the poem here is only around half to two-thirds of what I wrote that night, the part of the poem referring to 2001). As the film progressed, I also polished off 3 7 oz. Rolling Rock beers. The whole film really struck me as brilliant, and I just couldn't handle that last sequence. The film evolves conceptually, and just gets more and more intellectually intense. Many things in the film, like the $1.70 charge after the phone conversation with his girl, struck me as being subtle strokes of genius. Seeming innocuousness paired with impact. I was so into the film that I had to turn off the film at the Stargate sequence. I just couldn't handle it anymore. After that, I put on headphones, and tried to listen to King Diamond's THEM. Couldn't take that either, so I went to sleep lullabied by a Mozart duo piano sonata. What I like about this poem is its honesty. It was written in "real- time," as the film progressed. (I have since modified it, striking out some superfluous lines and language, and modifying a few others, substituting clarity and some new points for that "real-time" honesty). For this reason, this poem lacks structure, and its posting here is not necessarily an indication of its value as poetry; rather, it is here because it is a good record of a mind in the presence of an artistic Stargate. The list of words from the film in this poem (to me, signs of Kubrick's peculiar artistic congruence) was originally separated on each line by themselves. To save space, I have placed them on separate lines (read each line horizontally, then go down to the next line). The poem begins somewhat after THE DAWN OF MAN sequence. * * * * * Charge $1.70 -- brilliant! Forced banality? Yeah, we invented this dialogue -- don't blame Kubrick! 2001 a fantastic parody -- the straws coming out of the food My, how we've advanced! And a lady walking upside down to deliver food -- must be good food! (It's amazing that a mind like Kubrick's would be given the money to make a film! Satan must be asleep) No, there ain't no end! \ \ Gratifying to some, to others . . . Yeah, this film was cut to music what of it? Now Dr. Floyd speaks and after the disappointing concurrence of the privileged white I'll now put in this meeting some terms personally however secrecy too silence aware potential shock if prematurely preparation view purpose facts prepare course when announced if private only happy silence it questions Dr? How? Cover Ha-ha! "I don't know, Bill." public "yes" formal writing knowledge well Any? silence well cooperate (of course) seems get on clap To say 2001 is a masterpiece is to give the word masterpiece more credit than it deserves 2001 flows beyond masterpiece In a new realm, baby -- Excellent beefed-up wonderful handled oblige seen thing "Oh yeah" rock evidence intense as this upper excavated "what's more" forces deliberately accent it how about? (murmurs) idea? chuckle -- bullshit years ago "I must say" Entering a new realm a realm inspired by 2001 yes SONG FOR EVERYONE was the impetus but a new realm here fragmented, sure Lord, we've really banished the possibilities the impulse to call my friends one incredible scene after another surely the whole thing was inspired by all this pent-up all the artists we can't do anymore! yet they do Look, let's listen -- ignore the mistakes We're in the realm of one who's captured pure genius and, 60's like, because the 60's have captured it all & we screwed up! the 60's! Yeah, we ignored it Blew it -- what do you want to call it yet the mystical sound, they really pull in the spirit smells sweet These wild artists And I'm struggling to keep the print clear don't put it down we've arrived Kubrick baybe you get a million dollar contract for life you really showed us how too bad we were doing everything but Now we move into the jogging the music swells well Hmmm! Oh well Puff, puff. The man fighting against reality See the film you'll know what I mean Now back to the beautiful as HAL, damn him, impinges -- HAL always comes in to screw it up -- Eating that shit known as food Listening to that shit known as music The re-definition of the beautiful is the endless process of the bullshit within Satan resides Marvelous. We have no complaints. Thanks First Why? Because Maximum Won't/Utilized What's? It's -- "no sense of time" True? Three-centigrade Concerned (a test) HAL 9000/reproduce/mimic speed/reliability "we spoke" Man, you guys are about to give HAL "enormous responsibility" Did it ever occur to you to be aware that you screwed up? "Enjoyable" "Ship" "Occupied" "Fullest" "All" "To Do" Kubrick, baby, you parodied the nail on the head! This tragedy makes me guffaw! But the music impinges. Here's HAL Yeah, Kubrick is savage -- what else SHOULD he be? Look, these times demand the most savage response all those potential beautiful beings destroyed by the systems . . . The Happy Birthday echoed by HAL Oh, so sad. But Kubrick saw it all. This artist, given money by the bankers Some curious justice is operating, and it only takes one -- One Kubrick, & we see it all & the providers of the movie so evil commits suicide what else is new? The perfection of this movie, diamond-like, is something to see who could evaluate it? All the choices are right. Like a chess-player, Kubrick sees the strategy all the tactics flow into place master-artist teach us the way to see, you're 90 miles ahead, and I'm puffing to catch up, way ahead everything fits GENIUS! all shots flow all writing flows It's an entity With one who sees, as the phrase goes, all falls in to place In '68, all were behind. You-know-who's emissary decided to chatter a bit. The rest is on film. It's amazing that the elemental has so much power -- we're not even close but when the plastic encloses the elemental and yes, I suppose it was inevitable, but when you suppress these tendencies, artificially, for so long, they absolutely explode in a world that doesn't even begin to approach this one The physical -- take a break man, you're out of it New Realm! This is what was always there! Of course, we ignored it, but isn't that part of the plan? Well, if this writing can't be deciphered, so what? New realm, baby, not fair to ascribe it to "high" feel like calling Scott, but in this state maybe too far along not an insult to Scott but a compliment to The Universe! The sounds of this film! Breathing. Sssssssss! Noises. Sounds like some thing's up. But you know he's in deep. Look, he went went out too far in the water, & the undertow pulled too hard Maybe next time he won't be in 2001 Kubrick'll do that to you. Utter, utter, utter, utter, utter, utter, utter. while the breathing stays fixing the space station fixing the image it's all comprehensible trust me as the tone changes this should give you a fix well, what will they find now? Man, you screwed up! Face it! Go back to the drawing board, & try again. Let's go over the problems: 1) HAL 2) Animals 3) Puzzling 4) Before 5) Recommend 6) Fail 7) Cause 8) Afford 9) Replace 10) Silence 11) Chatter 12) Concur 13) Fault 14) Error 15) Fault 16) Incredible \ \ bullshit!! The twin knows what the twin knows -- but the subtlety's lost on them. "Concern," etc. "Think" "Only" "Human Error" "Cropped up" If only you knew the meaning of human error . . . So confident . . . "Oh, Frank . . ." Sure, buddy. HAL, you/and/or/your buddies are in for a treat! A lightshow! -- & all because you screwed up! Quite a "fringe" benefit. HAL outsmarted them. This is really sad. Can't they do anything right? 'Course, they designed the computer, so they should know who should screw up & who shouldn't. "Cut his higher brain functions without . . ." \ \ the object of all Mandevillians Lips being read. A new century is in order. Evil realized it was too evil, & wanted to give its brothers a break But, evil, go to hell. We don't need your charity! Silence. Completely and totally high, 2001 reveals its mysteries Every chance is a cliff -- & now, back to the show! Boy, it's amazing what a style can eke out after a certain amount of time has been put into the execution And no, not THAT and you know and I don't need to finish it! Gosh? Where were we? Exclamation points become question marks, and you know the old story Epics is as Epics are Poof! Not again! ("Explosive Bolts") This part is sad. The little pod going after the little man yet pure expression brooks no periods twirling men in empty space twirl for pure expresion pods move silently bleep & bloop for the same purpose Ain't my fault I didn't design it I only (try to) do the repairs. Twirling in space. Well, what do you expect from a space monkey (a/k/a humanoid). Frank's puzzled. He's more of a computer than HAL. Fill it up! Fill it up! Ooops -- HAL just killed all the astronauts . . . Well, he'll get his -- "Daisy-daisy" is just around the corner -- Look -- in machine vs. man, machine loses Remember that 2001 is so ultra-brilliant that we mere mortals are doomed to misunderstand it. Kubrick, you're still alive! Keep turning 'em out! (But didn't need the "I saw the lips move" comment) . . . the ever-present tension between the real and the what-we've-created & we're bound to lose, because our mechanical (i.e. "rational") constructs rule us -- Every shot of 2001 -- every drifting of every astronaut away . . . every pod turning . . . reveals a metaphysical truth about today's world -- & only the 60's could have given this film to us How fitting that Oops . . . This "now" has been elongated in time. Without interruptions, and with two good friends, think we can see it through? Sure! Kubrick's views of silence really show us but how did he know? How did he escape? Must have been the 60's Yeah, the 60's. What a life, a time. Too bad it only comes around every century! "Bloop-bloop-bloop", etc. Dave's about to go through the tube . . . here he goes! Uh-oh . . . Yeah, we know you're sorry. "Just what do you think you're doing, Dave?" Famous first/last words. Sure, I feel sorry for HAL But did he feel sorry for us? HAL, welcome to oblivion. Leave us alone. Please. He's "afraid." Aren't we all. Within (and without) HAL we can see Paradise! Bye, HAL. Adios, amigo!