aesthetic perfection and unremitting ghastly

Rating: Null/10 (18 June 2001)

Alex is one of the worst delinquents you've ever seen, but his treatment is even more deterrent. The worst punishment by the authorities of a delinquent I could think of was something like solitary confinement or lobotomy. Until I saw this movie. Anthony Burgess' ultra-violence (and the old 'in and out') isn't very controversial anymore if you consider the success of Fight Club and many others since Clockwork. But the message (social problem) is still very important. It comes in the form of moral terror and science fiction (although you might not even think it's SF after having seen it) but is the best character study I have ever seen. The question is whose character is studied here: the authorities' or Alex'?
This is definitely Malcolm McDowell's best achievement by far. He kind of made this into his own movie. I don't think I could ever take a look at McDowell again without seeing his incorrigible character from this film. Could anybody?
I couldn't help but drop my jaw due to astonishment and admiration when I saw this film a few years ago, although I had seen it ten years before and probably never fully comprehended but remembered every detail. It's so beautiful (neither idyllic nor romantic!) in any way. It doesn't need gore and blood n' guts to leave a strong taste. That is the achievement of cinematographer John Alcott (Shining, Barry Lyndon, No way out) and Kubrick's perfection. Almost everything in this film is unforgettable: the decor of the film, the slang Alex and his collaborators use (without subtitles probably even incomprehensible), the new interpretation of famous music and the outstanding performances of the rest of the cast.
Kubrick seemed to have touched a wound when he made Burgess' novel into cinema. While I'm writing this I realise that there is a US mockumentary named Punishment Park (1971!) that has a comparable frightening message. First, Punishment Park is also banned from television (not by it's director but by US government I hear) because of its extremely disturbing imagery. Secondly it is also a denunciation of the punishment of (supposed) delinquents. Third it is from the same era and in the not so obvious form of SF. Well, see for yourself if it's comparable, but don't expect the brilliance of Clockwork.
I think I have to conclude that this is one of three best films (2001: A Space Odyssey, Dr. Strangelove) by one of my favorite directors. This film is one of the reasons cinema is my favorite form of art.

Why o why can't we vote 11 :(