Brilliant and disturbing; suprisingly relevant

Rating: Null/10 (15 August 1999)

A Clockwork Orange has got to be one of the most disturbing films ever produced. The story is simple enough, but it's presentation is clever. We are manipulated to understand Alex's (Malcom McDowall, in the year's best performance) point of view (and indeed Kubrick's). It is stylized to a very high degree, with the William Tell overture to the sex scene a very nice touch. The violence is harsh, but it is also stylized, like a choreographed dance. The "Singin in the Rain" rape scene was one of the most memorable images in film history. The juxtaposition of joy and brutality remains absolutely unforgettable.
I don't think this is Kubrick's best, and it ranks fourth for me, but it is an amazing movie of surprising depth.