Runtime:
136 minutes
Directed
by: Stanley Kubrick
Starring:
Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Michael Bates, Anthony Sharp, Aubrey
Morris
From:
Warner Bros.
I
am sure everyone can comprehend how I hadn't reviewed this movie here
because I hadn't seen it in many years; its quality is not in
question... rather, it's the content and how even almost half a century
later it's a powerful and at times hard to watch motion picture which
covers many topics, most of which I won't spoil here. However, I will
remark that such topics as psychiatry, violence in youth and how to
properly treat and rehabilitate such troubled young adults and teenagers
are discussed here. As I sometimes like to bring up, the themes
discussed in a movie are still relevant today and that is most certainly
the case here.
Even those that haven't seen A Clockwork Orange are probably familiar with the plot: Alex (Malcolm McDowell in a tremendous, charismatic performance) and his “droogies” commit ultraviolence and other heinous acts in a dystopian near-future England. He gets arrested and jailed; after the real horrorshow that is “aversion therapy” he is released, and things go awry as plenty of people do not have short memories. Who the true villains are in the film is an important talking point, for sure.
I won't spend much time discussing how well the plot was realized, the quality performances from the entire cast or how masterfully it was directed by a true legend. Instead I'll mention a few things which helped make me give this a full five stars. This version of futuristic life is based on the now-garish aesthetic of the late 60's and early 70's, where you have interiors of houses that are loud (blues and reds all over, for example) and kitschy furniture that became dated rather quickly. It's an aesthetic that amuses me to no end. Then there is the dialogue; the droogs speak in what is known as Nadsat, where Slavic and Cockney words are sprinkled in. It is exciting dialogue to listen to and how it is used, you are never confused as to what the characters are referring to.
Then, there is music. Both the compositions of Wendy Carlos on the Moog and the classical music pieces chosen create quite the dichotomy where pleasant, beautiful music is contrasted by being shown during horrific moments of debauchery and where people are being debased. It also is used to illuminate the type of person that Alex is, as even among all his awful behavior, he loves Beethoven; what a cruel trick then that this is used as a weapon against him. Also, for millions of people they have never looked at Singin' in the Rain or the song by Gene Kelly the same ever again.
If someone feels like retching or recoiling in disgust after they see the film due to its bold content or the horrific moments that sometimes occur, I do get it. I still believe this is one of those obvious motion pictures that all film fans should see at least once.
Even those that haven't seen A Clockwork Orange are probably familiar with the plot: Alex (Malcolm McDowell in a tremendous, charismatic performance) and his “droogies” commit ultraviolence and other heinous acts in a dystopian near-future England. He gets arrested and jailed; after the real horrorshow that is “aversion therapy” he is released, and things go awry as plenty of people do not have short memories. Who the true villains are in the film is an important talking point, for sure.
I won't spend much time discussing how well the plot was realized, the quality performances from the entire cast or how masterfully it was directed by a true legend. Instead I'll mention a few things which helped make me give this a full five stars. This version of futuristic life is based on the now-garish aesthetic of the late 60's and early 70's, where you have interiors of houses that are loud (blues and reds all over, for example) and kitschy furniture that became dated rather quickly. It's an aesthetic that amuses me to no end. Then there is the dialogue; the droogs speak in what is known as Nadsat, where Slavic and Cockney words are sprinkled in. It is exciting dialogue to listen to and how it is used, you are never confused as to what the characters are referring to.
Then, there is music. Both the compositions of Wendy Carlos on the Moog and the classical music pieces chosen create quite the dichotomy where pleasant, beautiful music is contrasted by being shown during horrific moments of debauchery and where people are being debased. It also is used to illuminate the type of person that Alex is, as even among all his awful behavior, he loves Beethoven; what a cruel trick then that this is used as a weapon against him. Also, for millions of people they have never looked at Singin' in the Rain or the song by Gene Kelly the same ever again.
If someone feels like retching or recoiling in disgust after they see the film due to its bold content or the horrific moments that sometimes occur, I do get it. I still believe this is one of those obvious motion pictures that all film fans should see at least once.
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