Daring and provocative

Rating: 8/10 (26 February 2016)

This classic controversial film from Stanley Kubrick is a love-it-or-hate-it movie which tends to divide audiences like the rest of the director's filmography. It's certainly a unique movie, perfectly made up to Kubrick's impeccable standards and with important messages for us all. Take for example the core "corrupt oppressive society" vibe that runs from 1984 to BRAZIL and you have the basis for A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, which tells of mind control being used on thugs and irredeemably evil prisoners. As well as this, Kubrick's movie looks at violence and its effects on both the purveyors and victims and proves to be a rewarding character study of an angry young man, as played by Malcolm McDowell (CALIGULA) in what can be called one of the defining performances of his career.
Classical music has never been put to such good use as this in a film (aside from, perhaps, Kubrick's own 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY) and it fully complements the on screen action. Brutal street battles are played out in slow-motion as soothing tunes blast out on the soundtrack and the result is an effective depiction of the beauty of violence, if it can be called as such. Scenes showing Alex and his droogs going about their daily business of raping innocent women and beating innocent men are thoroughly horrific and very violent for the time, although of course the impact has been dulled by what has come since. However, the best parts of the film come during Alex's therapy, as he is forced to watch violent film after violent film in a dark cinema and gradually becomes sickened to the sight of violence and, indeed, sex. The aftermath keeps you guessing as to the eventual outcome, making for some very tense scenes when Alex finds himself in the home of a man he had previously crippled.
The acting is of a high calibre, with many strong supporting performances to complement Malcolm McDowell's own shining example. Of particular note are Warren Clarke and the others playing Alex's scarily sadistic droogs; Patrick Magee (DEMENTIA 13) who has a field day as the mentally unstable victim; Adrienne Corri as a rape victim of the gang and the actors playing the various doctors and scientists. Sharp eyes may spot future Darth Vader Dave Prowse playing Magee's strongman bodyguard. My only complaint with the movie is that it has now become inevitably dated. The use of obscure language for the most simple of terms just seems a bit pretentious and unnecessary and defeats the air of realism the movie is trying to put across. However, seen with a fresh eye, A CLOCKWORK ORANGE is daring and intelligent cinema and a well-made film to boot, not exactly entertaining but certainly though-provoking and challenging.