Set in the future, a brutal gang leader is imprisoned and decides to opt for an experimental treatment to cure him of his violent behaviour, but it doesn't go to plan...
A Clockwork Orange is as known for events around the making of it, as the film itself. Based on a novel by Anthony Burgess, it was director Stanley Kubrick's first solo screenplay. It was a film that disgusted Gene Kelly, the legendary actor, for using the classic song Singin' In The Rain from his film, during a rape and assault on a couple, that he walked away from star Malcolm McDowell when they met. It was also a film that was pulled from UK cinemas by the director himself, due to receiving death threats and because of the film being blamed by some for being responsible for some copycat crimes that followed in its wake and would not be released back into cinemas until after Kubrick's death in 1999.
I first saw the film during the release it received after the director's death. It was during that release I really paid attention to the controversy surrounding the film. However, when I saw the film, I didn't think much of it. I'd seen more violent, brutal films and A Clockwork didn't seem, film-wise anyway, anything special. I admired the film-making involved, but the film left me a little cold.
But that was then. Now, after seeing it again after another twenty years have gone by, has my opinion changed on the film?
In some ways the film (I can't speak to the book as I've not read it) has certainly influenced some of the films that were to follow. It you look at the film structure, thanks to a fantastic, charismatic performance from Malcolm McDowell as Alex, the leader of the Droogs, his gang, despite the violence and sexual violence in the rape scene, along with his narration, you do find yourself if not being fully on his side, at least charmed by him to a degree. And the first half of the film, despite the sex and violence, could, to a degree, be considered fun. But then, after he is locked up, the film's tone does become a bit more serious, as Alex goes through the treatment and what happens to him after. If you look at a film like Trainspotting, or even the more recent Lords Of Chaos, they follow a similar route.
Not having seen the film for a long time, what was interesting watching it again, is actually how much of the second half of the film I'd forgotten. It's perhaps because, I imagine, all the controversy regarding the violence happens in the first half of the film. But in some ways, what happens to Alex in the second half of the film is just as disturbing, as the Government tries to cure Alex of his violent tendencies. How they do that, is not easy to watch, just as the violence earlier in the film wasn't. There's also society's reaction to Alex. Those he abused and assaulted before, getting revenge, to a degree, while even those that were his gang members before now hold more power (two of them are policemen).
Because of how good Malcolm McDowell is in the film, he overshadows others in the cast. That said, there are good supporting roles from Patrick Magee, as a writer who becomes on of Alex's victims and Michael Bates as the Chief Prison Guard. The female characters are relegated to mainly victim status here, although Adrienne Corri and Miriam Karlin, as the wife of the writer and a cat lady do make their characters memorable with very limited screen time. There's a small role too for David Prowse (best known for being the man under Darth Vader's suit in the original Star Wars trilogy).
The music is a mix of classical and music written for the film, which I liked a great deal. The design of the film is good and it is well shot. As for Kubrick himself, he directs the film very well indeed, finding that delicate balance between the humour and the violence, not letting it (or the sexual aspects of the story) get too gratuitous.
Seeing a film again after a long period can, perhaps, change your opinion of it. A Clockwork Orange is a definite example of that. As I said, back when I first saw it, I admired it but thought it a cold film. Now though? I certainly liked it more second time, but was surprised how relevant its themes of violence and societies attempts to deal with it are.
At the end of the film, Alex refers to being cured, though the film is ambiguous on that point. What isn't ambiguous, is that A Clockwork Orange is still a relevant film, one that shows a great director at his best.
It's not my favourite Kubrick film, that will always be 2001: A Space Odyssey, but A Clockwork Orange is definitely up there with his best work.
Rating: 4/5
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