A surreal journey into a nightmarish future

Rating: 10/10 (30 September 1998)

Undoubtedly one of the best films of the 70's. Set in the closer-than-you-think future "Clockwork" tells the brooding and sometimes brutal story of Alex (a tour- de-force by Malcolm McDowell) the ring leader of a group of thugs who think nothing of wreaking havoc for the sheer heck of it. The story takes a drastic turn when Alex is set up by his cohorts to take the rap for what would have been their biggest haul. Once incarcerated, he submits to an experimental form of rehabilitation that changes his behavior to that of a model citizen--or does it? Transcending conventional sci-fi, "ACO" comes off more as a commentary on the slow decay of "civilized" society (the moral subtexts are too numerous to mention), with many unforgettable images. To fully appreciate the film's message, you should watch it more than once, if only to comprehend the futuristic lingo of Alex and hs "droogs." Add a wonderful score featuring the likes of Beethoven and and you get a classic film in more ways than one.