Film review: 2001: A Space Odyssey (U, 134 mins) Re-Released

A timely re-release for Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 visionary fable, based on the book by Arthur C Clarke.

Astronauts Dave Bowman (Keir Dullea) and Frank Poole (Gary Lockwood) are sent to the further reaches of the Solar System on an exploratory mission.

Gradually, systems on their ship Discovery begin to malfunction and the astronauts realise the on-board computer HAL-9000 (voiced by Douglas Rain) is sabotaging the mission it was designed to assist, potentially threatening their lives.

On its original release 2001: A Space Odyssey was nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Director and Best Screenplay,but only won for Best Visual Effects.

The film constructs a philosophical treatise on man’s place in the universe – if we have one – from a sublime marriage of image and classical music.

Dullea and Lockwood are both impressive, floating in the midst of the picture’s stunning sets and art design.

However, it’s the plight of HAL which sticks most clearly in the mind, especially when the computer edges towards shutdown, uttering the immortal words: “I’m afraid, Dave... My mind is going... I can feel it.”

Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester, Daniel Richter, Leonard Rossiter, Margaret Tyzack, Robert Beatty, Director: Paul King.

Released: November 30 (UK & Ireland)