I found this a very insightful watch - I certainly respect the man, now im aware of all the work he's done for Kubrick and it seems a real shame he wasn't better known. It made me see Kubrick's films from a different angle - seeing things how Leon saw them. I find it interesting from the technical side of film making to the personal history side of things between Leon Vitali and Stanley Kubrick. It certainly makes it clear how much Vitali respected Kurbrick and his work before he had an opportunity to be noticed by him. However, I felt there was a slightly unnecessary cheesiness present towards the end, which was a shame. Still, I would happily recommend this documentary overall.

Filmworker is a wonderful documentary about one man's dedication to a man and to art. Few have done nor would ever do what Leon Vitali has and all with a sad devotion while remaining ever so humble. One day I hope Leon is universally recognized not only for being an essential part in all of Kubrick's films since Barry Lyndon, but also as someone who none of those films would have ever been completed without.

Leon Vitale comes across as such a humble person. A brilliant actor who became something else. His is an interesting story.

A deeply touching monument of an obsessively dedicated man who became the victim of his own unresolved past. I wept like a little child.

A very interesting documentary about an assistant who spent his career working for Stanley Kubrick. There are some interesting behind-the-scenes observations but it does seem like a lot of the work he did was drudgery which, while it aided in the production of cinematic masterpieces, isn't that interesting to hear re-told.

Any Kubrick fan will already know Leon Vitali's name. He started his association as a good-looking young actor playing Ryan O'Neal's stepson in Barry Lyndon, but then became Kubrick's gofer and factotum up to and after Kubrick's death. This fascinating documentary, stuffed with clips and interviews, shows the very real cost of subsuming oneself on the altar of art or the service of 'genius'. Vitali is a shell of who he was, and the psychology of his sacrifice is what this excellent documentary is ultimately about.

Filmworker is a documentary by Tony Zierra based on the life and career of Stanley Kubrickâ(TM)s right hand man: Leon Vitali. Vitali had made a name for himself in British film and Television, with no shortage of job offers. On being selected for the role of Lord Bullingdon in Barry Lyndon, the 27 year old was star struck at meeting the maverick director. Meanwhile Kubrick saw something in Vitali and created a space for him to fill. Though this began with the role in the film, it soon expanded to become much more than that. Incredible that as much as Kubrick offered an opportunity to the young actor, Vitali felt that he should take such a leap into devoting his time to the director. The youngest of four, losing his father while still in primary school must have been enormously heartbreaking, and his desire to become Kubrickâ(TM)s protege suggests that there was a need in his life for that type of dynamic. However, it is staggering to discover the lengths he went to to be of service to Kubrick â" dogsbody; messenger; editor; bodyguard; personal attendant, on call 24/7. Herein lies the reason he would state â~Filmworkerâ(TM) as his job title. He saw himself in service not to Stanley Kubrick, but to the films of Stanley Kubrick â" an abstract concept. Vitali witnessed the genius of the director, and devoted his whole career to seeing it realised. Filmworker maintains a good balance between archival footage and talking heads, with much of the narrative coming directly from Vitali. Kubrick fans will enjoy various behind the scenes disclosures, and although there are no huge surprises, it is pleasing to hear Vitaliâ(TM)s memories of events in vivid detail. Equally, newcomers to the directorâ(TM)s work will not be put off by too much insider jargon or unnecessary spoilers. For the time since Kubrickâ(TM)s death in 1999 Vitali has existed as custodian of what remains. His passion never extinguished, although more than a few have tried to snuff it out. He has overseen 4k reproductions of the Kubrick back catalogue while some have sought to leave him out of the picture entirely (see Kubrick retrospective). The unanswerable question that hangs over the whole documentary is this: How did Kubrick view his relationship with Vitali? To play such an important part in the making of iconic films such as The Shining and Full Metal Jacket, yet be left struggling to get by after the directorâ(TM)s death certainly gives pause.

Absolutely amazing to see such pure dedication to the art of film. A story about the monk-like dedication to a master. It takes all kinds of people, but there are very few like Leon, apparently.

Good to learn more about the man behind the scenes. Insightful and touching.

Auteur theory is bunk, and one needs look no further than the oeuvre of cinema's greatest auteur to see the cadre of collaboratorsï¿ 1/2"from Leon Vitali to Jan Harlanï¿ 1/2"behind every picture. Of course, the commonplace vision of Kubrick as an obsessive, cold, calculating perfectionist, and the fact that he rarely recast the same actorsï¿ 1/2"Vitali being the odd exceptionï¿ 1/2"and made films so infrequently as to hardly be able to rehire the same crew, obscures the influence of his collaborators; but as this slight documentary evidences, there is always more than one person behind a camera, and film can only ever be a collaborative medium, the work of which extends long past the wrap party and into even color correcting reprints.

This film was solid.

Thank you Tony Zierra for telling Leon's story.

It's personal, eye-opening, and above-all engrossing. Leon Vitali's recognition goes unnoticed in this exceptional documentary.

Every filmlover should see Mr. Zirerra's exceptional portrait of one of the great creative minds of our time: Mr. Leon Vitali - a man who's towering achievements and unyielding dedication to craft have and will continue to enrich innumerable lives.

Leon Vitali is a gifted artist who consciously chose to dedicate his life to someone else's art. It is at times distressing to see how much he jeopardizes his health, his family life, his financial well-being, and - indeed - his very sanity so serve his master, director Stanley Kubrick. Side note: this documentary provides a plausible explanation why Kubrick produced so few films in his career. It also posits a theory of how Kubrick could work such lengthy shooting schedules and create such lavish-looking films on what aficionados claim are shockingly low budgets. Watching "Filmworker" will surely inspire you to rewatch the Kubrick canon. Again and again. But I guarantee you'll never sit through another Kubrick movie without the haggard-but-happy images of Leon Vitali haunting the back of your mind. Leon Vitali deserves more than just this fine documentary to honor his life's labors. Much, much more.

so much better than an actual kubrick movie.

A fascinating look at a fascinating collaboration whose existence is in many ways a mystery but that nevertheless brought about one of the most impressive film repertoires in cinematic history. Leon Vitali may not be a household name, but his contributions to the works of Stanley Kubrick and movies like "The Shining," "Full Metal Jacket," "Eyes Wide Shut" and "Barry Lyndon," as well as the preservation of such pictures as "Dr. Strangelove," "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "A Clockwork Orange." is incalculable. This riveting new documentary attempts to make up for that long-ignored contribution, showing the impact of the man behind the man and a treasure trove of celluloid classics. A release with widespread appeal but one sure to captivate film buffs and fans of Kubrick's work.

Pretty much boring, self-indulgent, and hagiographic. Sad and overlong with much repetition...

A quite fascinating look at Leon Vitali who gave up his acting career to be Kubrick's assistant. The look behind the scenes of some of these classic films is quite interesting as well is the story of Vitali.. I rather enjoyed this.

Extraordinary character and should rightly celebrate for his behind the scene work.