7. The Story Doesn't Make Any Sense
Sometimes a filmmaker isn't going to hold your hand for you and 2001 is a prime example of that. Kubrick presents to his audience a beautifully, challenging film that needs to be thought about and reflected upon to truly understand it. The story makes perfect sense and can be interpreted in many different ways, which is the mark of a true masterpiece. The very basic premise is that, through extraterrestrial interference, man has evolved and is now making our final leap into the heavens. That may be the story but the images and musical selections present many different variations on this very basic story. It really isn't that hard to figure out if you just take the time to meditate on the larger meanings and understand more abstract storytelling in film. What makes film, as an artform, so special is how it is able to convey meaning through symbols and musical cues instead of outright exposition. Kubrick was an absolute master at manipulating music in association with images and 2001 is the prime example of how a talented director at their prime can tell a story in a unique way without having to really on traditional methods.