Review of Natural Born Killers (1994) by Johnny L — 26 Nov 2013

Though the film has a lot to say about the perils of mass media and its apparent control over public mindset, that message frequently gets lost amidst the frenetic pacing and dodgy camerawork that Oliver Stone has never learned to successfully implement.

That being said, the story's appeal to Stone is apparent: it gives him plenty of leeway to criticize the media's distortion of American values. Stone has made a career of making blunt, propaganda-esque films (see: Platoon, JFK, Wall Street, Wall Street 2, W.

) and this is no exception. However, uneven pacing and a muddled script often conceal the powerful narrative underneath. Stone stylizes the film in a manner made to criticize the audience. The people in the film obsess over and find entertainment in the twisted Bonnie and Clyde-esque story of Mickey and Mallory, while simultaneously the viewers of the film commit the same indecency.

This caveat in Stone's filmmaking makes it impossible for Natural Born Killers to be a "good" movie, so potentially the joke is on me for not appreciating it enough. Stone's message hits as softly as a jackhammer, but in the process he sacrifices the entertainment value of the film.

Harrelson, Lewis, Downey and Jones all give typically strong performances.