A Clockwork Orange is a revolutionary motion picture. It was surely a very controversial piece of work back in the seventies and I can see how it would still be just as chilling if released today. I have not read the novel, but the film is extremely powerful and stands, to this day, as one of the best motion pictures of all time. Stanley Kubrick is an amazing director and, with a capable cast and some Beethoven tunes, he effectively turns A Clockwork Orange into a timeless work of art. The film is not watered down, nor is it for everyone. For those who can appreciate it, though, A Clockwork Orange is a true masterpiece that does not disappoint.
Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell) is a young man intent on getting his way. In the undated future of England, he and his three "droogs" one of the many strange words he uses; this one referring to friends or cohorts go out at night and terrorize to get what they need. The boys are content with drinking drugged milk at the Korova Milk Bar, beating up hobos, and raping innocent women in their own homes. They lie, cheat, and steal to get what they need. And they don't feel badly about it. Unfortunately for Alex, our humble narrator and lover of classical music, he's in for a little change. After being set up by his fed up buds, he is arrested for murder, sentenced to fourteen years, and he's scheming all the while to get out of it. When he hears of an experimental treatment that guarantees to "cure" him of his violent tendencies and secure him as a free citizen, he jumps at the chance. However, things do not go exactly as planned.
Malcolm McDowell who is extremely underrated provides an extraordinary performance as Alex. He is hilarious, terrifying, and pitiful at the same time. This could not have been an easy character to portray. Alex is a delinquent: a murdering, thieving, violent rapist. However, McDowell's performance makes him extremely likable. In the end, it's so easy to root for Alex. It would have been easy to make the character detestable, but the way in which the film develops and the way he is portrayed, Alex is our hero and friend.
As disturbing as the film is said to be, it is that much more hilarious. I was not expecting to laugh out loud at such things as I found myself laughing at. This is essentially a black comedy more than a drama. A Clockwork Orange makes many points regarding society and government, but it does so in a way that is completely satirical. Most of the laughs come from Alex's narration and the utter ridiculousness of some scenes. In one scene, Alex attacks a woman with what looks like a ceramic penis. There is also a scene in which, while reading the Bible, Alex imagines himself in certain Biblical scenes. This includes the boy being fed grapes by topless girls that he refers to as his "wife's handmaidens." There are sex scenes at double speed, rape scenes set to songs such as 'Singin' in the Rain', etc. It is stylishly violent, bitingly satirical, and nothing short of entertaining throughout its entirety.
The film raises many questions regarding the infringement of rights. Is it moral to "dehumanize" a person by ridding them of violent tendencies? Is reforming criminals, cleaning up the prisons, and making the streets safer really worth tampering with a person's free choice by forcing them to change themselves and their beliefs? Is this a right that the government has? Is what's "best for society" necessarily the best thing for the individual? These are all questions which the audience may draw their own answers. Although no such "treatment" exists today, it is easy to see that the film may not be far off from the direction society is moving toward. Alex was a despicable human being, but didn't he have the freedom to be that? However you want to look at it, A Clockwork Orange examines this, implying that free choice is essentially what makes a person who they are.
A Clockwork Orange was released in 1971, over thirty-five years ago. The amazing thing is that it is not, in any way, dated. The film has a timeless feel. It looks good for being as old as it is. It has also stood the test of time, becoming a classic in the eyes of many. This is definitely a rewarding film experience. A Clockwork Orange may be a little rough and some may consider it graphic, but the themes are relevant to every culture in any time. This is a great film that will surely endure for years to come.
10/10
Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell) is a young man intent on getting his way. In the undated future of England, he and his three "droogs" one of the many strange words he uses; this one referring to friends or cohorts go out at night and terrorize to get what they need. The boys are content with drinking drugged milk at the Korova Milk Bar, beating up hobos, and raping innocent women in their own homes. They lie, cheat, and steal to get what they need. And they don't feel badly about it. Unfortunately for Alex, our humble narrator and lover of classical music, he's in for a little change. After being set up by his fed up buds, he is arrested for murder, sentenced to fourteen years, and he's scheming all the while to get out of it. When he hears of an experimental treatment that guarantees to "cure" him of his violent tendencies and secure him as a free citizen, he jumps at the chance. However, things do not go exactly as planned.
Malcolm McDowell who is extremely underrated provides an extraordinary performance as Alex. He is hilarious, terrifying, and pitiful at the same time. This could not have been an easy character to portray. Alex is a delinquent: a murdering, thieving, violent rapist. However, McDowell's performance makes him extremely likable. In the end, it's so easy to root for Alex. It would have been easy to make the character detestable, but the way in which the film develops and the way he is portrayed, Alex is our hero and friend.
As disturbing as the film is said to be, it is that much more hilarious. I was not expecting to laugh out loud at such things as I found myself laughing at. This is essentially a black comedy more than a drama. A Clockwork Orange makes many points regarding society and government, but it does so in a way that is completely satirical. Most of the laughs come from Alex's narration and the utter ridiculousness of some scenes. In one scene, Alex attacks a woman with what looks like a ceramic penis. There is also a scene in which, while reading the Bible, Alex imagines himself in certain Biblical scenes. This includes the boy being fed grapes by topless girls that he refers to as his "wife's handmaidens." There are sex scenes at double speed, rape scenes set to songs such as 'Singin' in the Rain', etc. It is stylishly violent, bitingly satirical, and nothing short of entertaining throughout its entirety.
The film raises many questions regarding the infringement of rights. Is it moral to "dehumanize" a person by ridding them of violent tendencies? Is reforming criminals, cleaning up the prisons, and making the streets safer really worth tampering with a person's free choice by forcing them to change themselves and their beliefs? Is this a right that the government has? Is what's "best for society" necessarily the best thing for the individual? These are all questions which the audience may draw their own answers. Although no such "treatment" exists today, it is easy to see that the film may not be far off from the direction society is moving toward. Alex was a despicable human being, but didn't he have the freedom to be that? However you want to look at it, A Clockwork Orange examines this, implying that free choice is essentially what makes a person who they are.
A Clockwork Orange was released in 1971, over thirty-five years ago. The amazing thing is that it is not, in any way, dated. The film has a timeless feel. It looks good for being as old as it is. It has also stood the test of time, becoming a classic in the eyes of many. This is definitely a rewarding film experience. A Clockwork Orange may be a little rough and some may consider it graphic, but the themes are relevant to every culture in any time. This is a great film that will surely endure for years to come.
10/10