Dazzling and provocative; Kubrick at his creative peak.

Rating: 10/10 (21 January 2009)

If there ever was a film that was shocking and twisted, yet so important and unique in cinema, that would be A Clockwork Orange. Stanley Kubrick, having just come off the success of 2001: A Space Odyssey, continued the most creative vein of his career with this adaptation of Anthony Burgess' controversial novel about gangs of young boys wrecking havoc amongst the streets of futuristic Britain.
This film is so much more than just a look at the future of youth. Kubrick also is able to insert his brilliant visual style which works so well here with the subject material. For the first half hour, we are stunned, amazed at the vicious and cruel acts of Alex and his droogs. As the story moves on, under any other director the story would have become less titillating, but thanks to Kubrick's vision and a tour de force performance by Malcolm McDowell, this movie only gets better. We follow Alex through all aspects of his journey, and this is the key. By the final third, we find ourselves somewhat sympathetic for Alex despite his previous wrongdoings. Beyond this, there is also exploring the fact of whether state control is good or how much it takes until someone is devoid of their basic choice as a human being.
Still, all these nuances aside, this is one movie not easily forgotten. With terrific performances, magnificent backing music, and flawless directing from one of the greatest of all time, A Clockwork Orange is a film to experience and think about for years to come.