Product: A Clockwork Orange [VHS] (1972)
Rating: 3.0
test of time?
ACO is the only Kubrick film I can think of that has not withstood the test of time. The great danger about designing the future in films is the risk that they will become dated soon after. The look of ACO has become dated in a sort of seventies kistch, while admittedly cool and poppy looking, dates it in a manner seperate from SK's other works. A bigger problem with the film is the pacing. The first act has an energy that is lost once Alex is imprisoned. In fact this mirrors Eyes Wide Shut, which has a great tension up until Cruise leaves the apartment of the dead father. Both films, for me anyway, suffer as they retrace the steps of the protaganists (or in ACO's case the antagonist/protagonist). Now don't get me wrong, ACO is a film well worth seeing and MM's performance is one of the most realized in a Kubrick film. I'm not discounting the Art of the film, just it's ability to aspire to the ageless quality of Kubricks other works. BTW , Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago put on a production of ACO in I believe 94' Didn't see it but I'm sure it was interesting.