tfrizzell Review of A Clockwork Orange

A Clockwork Orange (1971)

Sick and Disturbing, But Ultimately Brilliant

[31 July 2000]

Stanley Kubrick directed and co-wrote this wild and crazy film which deals with a murdering, stealing, and raping Malcolm McDowell and his small gang of thugs in a not-too-distant future. They are in London and by night they terrorize anyone and everyone who they want. When McDowell is betrayed by his fellow mates, he is put into prison and is subjected to an experimental therapy which works wonders for the youth. Now the thought or sight of violence is sickening to him. He also grows sick of Beethoven's music, which he once loved, because of its use in the experiment. When he is freed, he runs into all those who he crossed in his past and they all have revenge in mind for McDowell. McDowell ultimately tries suicide to escape his life, he fails, and is then given a formal apology from the state and is reverted back to the way he was in the beginning. "A Clockwork Orange" is ultimately sick and disturbing, but conveys some real strong messages in unconventional ways. Kubrick shows that there are some solutions to various problems, but many times those solutions cause new problems that are just as nasty, if not more so, than the first set. McDowell shines in his role. His character is basically the only three-dimensional person in the movie and it is meant to be that way. The other characters are meant to be somewhat flat and under-developed to show just how alone McDowell is in his twisted world. Overall a great film and easily one of Kubrick's best. 5 stars out of 5.