Most films today rely on dialogue to further the narrative, allowing characters to explain what is happening at all times. In Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, dialogue is purposely minimal. In fact, the opening and closing sections of the film have absolutely NO dialogue whatsoever, amounting to nearly one hour of no spoken word. This kind of "deafening quiet" had not been known in movies since the silent film era, however this does not mean the story remains stagnant. Like in the silent film days, Kubrick relied on alternate measures to further the narrative, including stark visuals, classical music composition, and sometimes even the silence itself.
Before we completely forget the dialogue though, it should be noted that the words that are spoken are quite notable. Not because of their importance, but for their unimportance. The conversations in the film are awkward and almost machine like. Examples of this include the maladroit conversation between Floyd and the Russian......
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