As shocking as it ever was

Rating: 10/10 (6 July 2006)

Kubrick's great comedy is as dark and as shocking as it ever was and as we march further into the 21st Century it's view of Britain is no less chilling than it was in 1971, (even more so, if anything). In fact, it's prescient view of a dystopsian state makes you realise how ahead of its time it really is and how, if made today, would seem an unsubtle and outright condemnation of Blair's Britain.
It's sci-fi leanings notwithstanding, the film gives us an uncannily accurate portrait of an cancerous society ruled by young thugs and policed by sadistic, corrupt politicians and law-makers. It's as if Kubrick and the original author, Anthony Burgess, had second sight. As Alex, leader of a gang of 'droogs', out only 'for a bit of the old ultra-violence and in-out in out', Malcom McDowell is magnificent. He was fresh from Lindsay Anderson's "If" and his cocky arrogance was never captured as well again as in these two films and like the devil he has all the best tunes, raping and killing to the strains of 'Singin in the Rain'. He's a monster who wins you over.
Naturally, it would be hard to warm to this movie but Kubrick's chilly gaze is alleviated by shafts of dark humour and Alex will always be a more approachable anti-hero than Barry Lyndon even if you wouldn't want to meet him on a dark night, or any other night for that matter.