One of Kubrick's best

Rating: 9/10 (5 October 2003)

This is a unique movie in many respects. The great kraftsmanship of Stanley Kubrick is shown in that film as in none of other of his works. Even though the story is narrated by the leading character, the presence of the director is strong and can be seen in every meticulous detail of the set. It is director who orchestrates our emotions all the way through-from repulsion to the protagonist at the beginning to pity in the middle of the movie, ending with something like understanding of his joy of returning to the old ways,-and yet the director is absolutely distant-he tells the story without any passion, attempt to show his sympathy or make a judgment. It happened as it happened, and it is a spectator who suppose to form his opinion. As always with Kubrick, there is a lot of keen satire, and the soundtrack is quite stunning. Violence as a form of art has never been so convincingly put on silver screen. That might be a rare case of movie being even better than a book it's based on, though the last chapter is sorely missed. We've seen violent childish youngster Alex, we've seen 'cured' Alex, we've seen recovered Alex, but we haven't seen Alex growing old and turning from violence to creation and facing adult life. But then it might haven't made such a catchy final. Otherwise, almost perfect picture. MacDowell never been so good too.