10 Best Performances In Stanley Kubrick's Films

Using only his soft, neutral voice, Douglas Rain makes HAL 9000 feel like the most human character in 2001: A Space Odyssey. As astronauts Dave Bowman and Frank Poole make their way to Jupiter on a top-secret mission, they rely on HAL's assistance. A flawless, state-of-the-art computer, HAL appears benevolent and cooperative, but his omnipresence is unsettling.

The key to HAL as a character is the question of whether he has genuine emotions. Rain’s understated inflections give off the impression of a personality while leaving you wondering if it’s not just part of HAL’s programming. But once HAL makes a mistake and the astronauts plan to deactivate him, the seemingly rational computer fights for his life.

HAL devolves from a helpful presence to a cornered animal, and Rain implements these changes into his performance while keeping his line delivery consistent. Even after HAL locks Dave out of the ship and murders the rest of the crew, Rain doesn’t raise his voice or change his tone. He inspires fear with well-placed pauses and subtle intonation.

2001 is all about the evolution of human consciousness, and nothing is more human than the fear of dying. As Dave disconnects HAL, the computer tries to reason with him, begs for his life, and confesses his fear. Rain plays all of these actions without yelling or crying and still manages to make HAL’s “death” scene the saddest moment in a deliberately unsentimental film.