A feverish dream.

Rating: 9/10 (10 April 2009)

An excellent movie, one of those must-see masterpieces. Can seem very dated in many ways now, but I imagine it encapsulates the feel of the time, both visually and in style. The acting is superb, most notably by McDowell, the story never stalls and travels from event to event in a good pace.
It's a movie that you have to be open to though. I can imagine not everyone can get quite used to the intelligence shown by McDowell both in his dialogue and taste (Beethoven??) combined with the stupidity of his actions. Not your average delinquent is he? Right up to the end I can never quite work out whether he is taking the system for a ride, or is happily letting the system take him for a ride, which would be quite atypical of someone of his intelligence. The final conversation between Alex and the minister therefore doesn't sit well with me, and leaves me feeling like there was a point that I haven't quite caught.
Anyway, the movie is all about its style and directing. Psychedelic, noisy and feverish, it's an attack on all the senses and a real treat to watch, like wandering around in a giant sweety-shop. Best to see when in bed with the flu... no really.