I know this is kind of late in the day for this, but I did post to the Keir Dullea Appreciation Society On Facebook as well as create a Happy Birthday Banner for Keir. So I thought I’d share some tweets form the site’s feed from wellwishers.

I just found this on that bastion of video…. And may I say it’s one of the best discussions I’ve had the pleasure to listen to on 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY. The video was from a discussion held in England back in April of this year where Keir, Gary (Frank Poole), scientist and astrophysicist Dr. Brian Cox, film historian Christopher Frayling and moderator Matthew Sweet talked about the film for the BFI (British Film Institute) film series. A fascinating talk where we get a more tunneled look into the film and Stanley Kubrick’s motivations, plus some interesting insights about Arthur C. Clarke’s view on the film. We are once again treated to Keir’s favourite parts of the film in the scientific gobbeldy gook, as Keir calls it, he had to memorize for the one scene that was cut. Then his story of coming back into the Discovery via the air lock and the circus roustabout who had the rope, plus his cute way of imitating Derek Cracknell’s version of the HAL-9000’s voice as being a pseudo Michael Caine. I loved what they all said about the longevity of the film. My only wish is they’d gotten a little bit into Keir’s reprisal of the part of Dave Bowman for the Peter Hyams film 2010: ODYSSEY TWO where the symbiosis of HAL and Dave was at the core of the film.

The title says it all. Recently the website DenofGeek compiled their list of the most under appreciated films of 1984. Included in that list were films like Repo Man, One Upon A Time In America, A Breed Apart, Brother From Another Planet and one other film from that year. Apparently they named 2010: THE YEAR WE MAKE CONTACT or ODYSSEY TWO as I call it as part of that list. They cited the fast paced directing of Peter Hyams and Roy Scheider (Dr. Heywood Floyd) as two of the main reasons the film is on that list. They also mention that the return of Keir as Dave Bowman and Douglas Rain as the voice of the HAL-9000. Read what they had to say on it.

5. 2010: The Year We Make Contact

When this sci-fi sequel was announced, many wondered aloud: does 2001: A Space Odyssey really need a sequel? Director Peter Hyams doesn’t try to ape Stanley Kubrick’s style of filmmaking, and opts instead for a faster paced approach more akin to a Cold War thriller than a sci-fi meditation on life, the universe, and everything. Roy Scheider stars as Dr. Floyd, a scientist who investigates the discovery of life on Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons.

Hyams has a specific way of lighting and framing his movies that gives them an almost oppressive air of tension; where 2001’s spaceship interiors were bathed in light, 2010’s are dimly-lit and claustrophobic. It’s of a piece with Outland, Hyams’ underrated space western starring Sean Connery; cut off from society, blue skies and clean air, life in space is akin to a spell in prison.

The visual effects in 2010 were groundbreaking at the time, though less conspicuously so than those in 2001 – even then, audiences had become numbed to the sight of ships majestically orbiting planets – and they still hold up well today. With return appearances from Keir Dullea and Douglas Rain, the latter again providing the soothing voice of HAL, 2010’s far better than its tepid reception suggested.

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I’m not sure who these two are, but I found this podcast in my diligent interwebs searches and thought you’d like to give it a listen. My minor gripes with this podcast is the host and his guest’s inability to pronounce Keir’s name, it coming out as Keer Duleea. Does no one actually bother to try? They also fail to pronounce Roy Scheider’s (Heywood Floyd) name either. They pronounce it as ‘Schneider’. The thing I did like about this reassessment of the film is how the hosts call it “hard science fiction” in terms of how to treats both the genre and the issue of it not being what director Darren Aronofsky calls “trucks in space”. Sure there is the issue of the Discovery and the Leonov, but for the most part there is no weaponry or any sort of alien present. That’s what I think makes this film largely one of those that one doesn’t forget after viewing. Another thing I liked about what these two said about the film is the relationship between Dave and HAL (the voice of Douglas Rain) and HAL and Chandra (Bob Balaban). It is rather touching in light of what happened with HAL in the first film. The only other gripe I think I have with this assessment are the hosts who say this film is better than Kubrick’s. I say no. There can be no doubt how exceptional Kubrick’s film is. It is a classic and a forerunner to many of the space operas out today. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY is without a doubt a rare film in how it portrays outer space and it’s mysteries. In the hands of a lesser filmmaker, I’d have to say quite possibly 2001 might have de-evolved into something akin to The Blob or one of the many 50s style science fiction films that seemed to not take its subject seriously. All one has to do is look at Kubrick’s artistry and realize it’s place in the history of film. I believe it is if not the best film of all time. 2010: ODYSSEY TWO directed by Peter Hyams is a great film, no question. However, it’s like comparing apples and oranges in that both filmmakers have different styles. The best thing about this film is Keir Dullea.

A wonderful Q&A with Keir and Gary at the TIFF for a retrospective on the films of Stanley Kubrick focusing in on 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY. I love the interplay between them. It’s so natural and so cute of two men who have been friends forever. Once again Keir tells us about his airlock scene, and the dialogue Stanley didn’t use in the film. I loved Keir’s comment about Alzheimer’s. Proves at 78 he’s still got his faculties all in place. I just adored this talk. Thanks to my home country of Canada and the great city of Toronto for hosting this and for inviting two of the most underrated actors alive to discuss this great film. Now if they could only do a respective of the films of Ridley Scott, I’d be real happy. The did briefly mention Keir’s reprisal of Dave Bowman in the Peter Hayams sequel 2010: ODYSSEY TWO. My only gripe would have to be the Q&A wasn’t long enough. Of course I’m a little bit selfish. I could listen to Keir speak non-top. I love his voice.