Genius and isolation

His films consistently portray isolated visionary protagonists struggling against systems that cannot comprehend their intelligence, from Dr. Strangelove to Barry Lyndon.

His meditative works explore the profound loneliness of intellectuals and artists whose genius separates them from ordinary human connection and social conformity.

His films dissect brilliant but psychologically fractured protagonists whose exceptional minds isolate them morally and socially, as seen in Se7en and The Social Network.