A Clockwork Orange (1971) Review

 

A Clockwork Orange (1971)

Once upon a time, I attempted to read the book and that didn’t go over well. The film on the other hand, gives a voice and image to things I couldn’t yet grasp, being a sign of times to come and a warning to later generations.

A Clockwork Orange follows Alex, the leader of a gang, who after beating, torturing, raping, and destroying his way through Britain, gets a heavy dose of karma after his immoral transformation into normality.

Directed by the masterful Stanley Kubric, this film shines a light on the future of youth with their slang, violence, and abject dissent towards authority. It’s prophetic in a way.

Every shot is a work of art, with Kubrick using his trademark style that essentially throws out camera blocking and centers action in a way that grabs your attention and doesn’t let go. He makes everything seem like a Renaissance painting, with one scene in particular reaally standing out. He doesn’t shy away from making you uncomfortable and uses sex as a catalyst for violence throughout the movie.
Along with the artistic shot choices, we also hear a litany of classical music. Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and Singing in the Rain being the most prominent. This is an interesting contrast to the adult, often violent and animalistic themes that are ever present throughout the film.

What caught my attention was the self serving motives of those around Alex. Everyone is out to please themselves, through the guise of helping him out along his journey. It all comes back to bite him in the form of karma too, after his transformation. He may be incapable of violence or sexual desire now, but that doesn’t absolve him of his crimes towards those he wronged.

The always terrific Malcom McDowell turns in one of the most spectacular performances I have ever seen, jumping from goofy and silly, to primal and sadistic. He conveys so many emotions and makes you, the viewer, conflicted on whether to love or hate him. Supported by great performances from Michael Bates and pre-Darth Vader David Prowse, and you have yourself a ridiculous movie that will make you laugh against your will.

Lastly, the best ending I’ve ever witnessed put to film.

10/10