Review of A Clockwork Orange (1971) by Andrew M — 05 Jan 2014

On any list of controversial films released, it's nearly guaranteed to find Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange somewhere on the list, most likely near the top. Kubrick's classic adaptation of the Anthony Burgess novel of the same name is often regarded as one of the greatest movies of all time, but also as one of the most controversial. Brutal violence and sexuality feature prominently within A Clockwork Orange, which caused the film to be withdrawn from British cinemas until Kubrick's death in 1999. Regardless of the extreme violence and sexuality, A Clockwork Orange is one of Kubrick's finest hours and is one of cinema's greatest outings.

Following the Burgess novel, A Clockwork Orange is set in a dystopian London in the near future. In this dystopia, Alex DeLarge and his group of "droogs" frequently roam the city and commit acts of "ultra-violence" after stopping by the Korova milk bar to drink intoxicated "milk plus." Just a young teenager, Alex's favorite pastimes include brutality of innocent citizens, rape and sexuality, and classical music, most notably Ludwig van Beethoven. Alex has no sympathy for any of his victims as he commits new crimes each and every night.

During one of his midnight assaults, Alex is taken into custody by the police. Sentenced to fourteen years in prison, Alex finds a way to escape back into society though the experimental Ludovico Treatment. A kind of aversion therapy, the Ludovico Treatment is successful as Alex becomes the clockwork orange of society. However, the changes brought on by the government will leave lasting changes on Alex and the new society he enters, with some interesting results.

Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of the Anthony Burgess novel is fantastic, and is one of Kubrick's more faithful adaptations. The writing executes the extremely engrossing story very well, keeping you immersed and fascinated by the characters and events going on. The film makes smooth transitions from the different acts, each of which is nothing like the other. Dialogue between characters is very well written, often with some of Kubrick's dark humor. The use of nadsat, a fictional language used by Alex and his droogs, is used frequently, but works very well without becoming overwhelming. The most important aspect of A Clockwork Orange's writing is the themes of the story itself. Ultimately, the film asks whether it is right to take away one's freedom for the good of everyone else.

The stand out of A Clockwork Orange is the amazing performance from Malcolm McDowell as Alex. As sadistic and twisted the character is, you can't help but feel sympathetic for him when his freedom is forced away from him at the hands of others, and McDowell is certainly a driving force in this characteristic. Every line McDowell delivers is memorable and amazing. McDowell completely embodies the character of Alex, something most actors never do in their roles. In fact, there's not a single actor that would have been a better fit for Alex than McDowell. It's no wonder the character of Alex is so beloved among the cult following A Clockwork Orange has.

Another superb element of A Clockwork Orange is the choice of music. Like Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, the film doesn't create an entirely original score, but rather uses classic pieces of music mixed in with synthesized pieces by composer Walter Carlos (later known as Wendy Carlos). Every song is perfectly edited in with the wonderful Kubrick visuals to create a perfect combination. Henry Purcell's Funeral of Queen Mary serves as the perfect introduction for the movie in every way. A sped up version of the William Tell Overture is used during a fast motion sex scene, and Beethoven's symphonies are used prominently. Easily the most recognizable, and infamous, piece in the movie is Singin in the Rain, which is used in a disturbingly effective way during a rape scene. It's truly impossible to think of the song any other way afterwards.

Everything about A Clockwork Orange embodies Kubrick's perfectionism and greatness. Kubrick would go on and make movies until his untimely death, but A Clockwork Orange still stands as Kubrick's finest work. The story is told with both fantastic writing and the truly unique visual style we've come to expect from Stanley Kubrick. Top it off with a Golden Globe nominated (and Oscar worthy) performance by Malcolm McDowell and perfectly chosen music tracks and you've got a classic piece of film history. There are simply no words to describe A Clockwork Orange's greatness.