Amazingly deep.

Rating: 9/10 (26 June 2007)

There aren't a lot of films that can generate as many feelings as 'A Clockwork Orange'. It has been stated that the amount of controversy this film has caused, amounts to more than all of the controversy of Stanley Kubrick's other films combined. I have to agree with that. The film has been accused of inspiring real life crimes, (of which some claims are undeniably true), and Stanley Kubrick and his family were hit with death threats upon it's release. The film was soon withdrawn from viewing in England, and that stayed in effect for about thirty years. This amazingly deep film has been praised, despised and in some cases been thoroughly misunderstood.
The film takes place sometime in the near future, in which society has become completely morally corrupt. The central character is a sadistic teenage gang leader called Alex who, along with his 'droogs', commits violent crimes on other citizens, purely for the fun of it. When Alex accidentally murders a woman, he is imprisoned and used as a test subject for the latest method of criminal reform therapy, which guarantees to render criminals as harmless to society. After the therapy backfires, the political party responsible attempts to cover their tracks.
'A Clockwork Orange' has excellent performances, a complex script, and many important themes that it explores. Alex is one of the most nihilistic characters ever to appear on the screen. We know how repulsive his actions are, and yet disturbingly, there is an element of likability about him. A tricky combination to perform, but Malcolm McDowell manages to do it. After an insight into Alex's evil mind, Stanley Kubrick brilliantly flips the film around and throws a strong anti-violence message at the audience. This is an important moment as it explains why the horrific scenes of vulgarity have taken place in the film so far. This scene is one of the ultimate director's traps as it confronts viewers who have enjoyed the scenes of violence by making it clear that Alex, (and by extension, anyone else who can see a reflection of themselves in him) is in a corrupted and unhealthy state.
Ultimately, 'A Clockwork Orange' is an extremely dark study of the worst traits and instincts of human nature. It is clear that Stanley Kubrick's outlook on people is very bleak as there is hardly a character with any redeeming features. Obviously, he was concerned about what the state of society would be like in years to come, and in some ways, it's turned out to be the way the film presents it.
This is a brilliant, but risky film to have made. Brilliant in the way it deals with so many themes (the film could be analysed exhaustibly) and the very important statements that it makes. The film is risky in the sense that it features heavy subject matter that too many people misinterpret. As mentioned before, on the film's release some even went to the extreme of committing crimes that were inspired by scenes in the film. The messages in the film were obviously lost on those viewers, and I would imagine that some fans today also miss the point and watch 'A Clockwork Orange' purely for its violence and other off-putting content. The amoral nature of the film serves to make some strong points, and should disturb it's viewers.
One of the most remarkable things about Stanley Kubrick's films is the way they never date and are more relevant as time goes on, and 'A Clockwork Orange' is a prime example. It's just a pity about the negative consequences that have resulted from this amazing, but sometimes misunderstood film.