Directed & Written by: Stanley Kubrick
A futuristic London lost to gangs and “ultra-violence” portrayed in an artistic yet psychedelic way…what to think of this enchanting work?
A Clockwork Orange is a 1971 science-fiction drama based on a novel by Anthony Burgess. A movie well-known to the few who respect movie classics and artistic aspects and the work of one that can only be described as a perfectionist. Yes, a movie fueled with Stanley Kubrick’s characteristics and craftsmanship. Even thought it had been nominated for several awards including the Oscar and golden globe, winning only one of them to my dismay. Be that as it may it still fails to define the genius of a man with a view so psychedelic yet structured contained within his perfection-striving way of working. With that said, it is more than obvious that I can not “review” this movie without going deep into the core structures of this movie. Breaking down interesting elements that made me cultivate an everlasting interest to a sexual-polluted movie that would never make my standards. Do I love this movie? I’m still conflicted with such questions for I only Admire Stanley Kubrick s way of working and its overall execution with the assistance of Malcolm McDowell performance.
Despite the love for this man and his works in the early 70′s. I’m still conflicted with the fact that he uses unnecessary scenes and sexual relief especially the ”in-out, in-out’s”, knowing this is a 70′s movie it wouldn’t be hard to imagine those scenes fitting. However, the way we followed Alex (Malcolm McDowell), the mentally unstable youngster and his excessive love for Beethoven, while he narrates his own life from Droogs to helpless, you will be wondering – as a 21th centurian looking back at the more colorful decade- if some scenes and settings (with the exception of the architectural scenes well-known to a Kubrick piece) are appropriate or even needed. I admit that the first quarter of this movie where a delight, but the transition between introduction and character development was quit “blank” as you see the same twisted Alex lose power in his life while being reprehended by karma and “cured” trough a rehabilitation project that (in my opinion) leaves us with a deranged feeling about the rest of the movie.
Ho, ho, ho! Well, if it isn’t fat stinking billy-goat Billy Boy in poison! How art thou, thou globby bottle of cheap, stinking chip oil? Come and get one in the yarbles, if ya have any yarbles, you eunuch jelly thou!
The English ‘lingo’ is a fascinating aspect of this movie which requires general English subtitles at times (RECOMMENDED). The soundtrack exist mostly out of classical scores including Ludwig Von Beethoven no-less. The violent rhythm in the timeless symphony emphasize the “ultra-violence” which is artistically patched over the real brutal aspects blending smoothly with Alex sexual-violent urges. It is needless to say that what it lacked in character transition was almost topped by the interesting dramatics and dared scenes concerning such atrocity.
Conclusion
Stanley Kubrick; the man responsible for countless references in popular media shows us in an interesting blend of artistic violence and intriguing architecture a movie that may not be accepted by many due to its plain scenes and structure. Nevertheless it is still a movie i would recommend (for a mature audience). If you do not like the movie however, it will be totally understandable as this movie is meant for a small audience mainly because it does not fit this age in either plot structure nor mentality.
I’d Also like to add that despite my interest in this movie, I could only bring myself to write this small review (my apologies).
-Osaru-
