Jon Monsarrat review: painfully violent, even tho I "get it"

Rating: 5/10 (3 May 2002)

OK, let me start by saying I "get it". The film draws us to hate the protagonist so much that we as audience members actually start thinking violent thoughts and wanting to beat him up. So we become like him. There are indeed some interesting themes in the film, and it's quite intellectual.
Except it didn't work in my case -- I was just sickened. I spotted the trap and didn't end up wanting to beat up and dismember the protagonist. So much pathological violence. So much misery.
It's weird, because I'm an action movie buff. I like it when stuff blows up, but I'm talking about cartoony action like Jackie Chan or Arnold Schwarzenegger. In this film, the pain was very real and inescapable.
I think if you're a film school type with an appreciation for the acting, the cinematography, the deep themes, maybe you could ignore the violence. No, you really couldn't. I'd be a little disturbed by anyone who said that straight out. I guess everyone who likes this film must like it despite the violence? Even "Reservoir Dogs" wasn't this bad (gorey, but the characters didn't revel in the pain).
I get it, but highly recommend against it.
Who should see this film:
-- arty types with a healthy (unhealthy?) resistance to violence
and nightmares
Kubrick often set out to create controversial films. I'll give it a 3 out of 10.