Synopsis

In a not-so-distant future Britain, Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell), and his “droogs” go out for a night of “ultra-violence”. They beat up an old drunkard, fight a rival gang, and break into a couple’s home to rape and pillage. However, Alex’s droogs start expressing doubts about the small scores and want to go after something bigger than petty crime. Alex shows his dominance by beating up his droogs, who agree to go break into a cat lady’s home. In the process, Alex accidentally murders the cat lady and his abandoned by his droogs before the police arrive. He’s sentenced to 14 years, but Alex soon learns of an experimental treatment that might get him released early. Known as the “Ludovico Treatment”, it essentially forces someone to do good by being repulsed from doing evil. Alex is released from prison, only to suffer the consequences for his past.

Review

Though certainly debatable, A Clockwork Orange might just be Stanley Kubrick’s best film, if not one of his best. As usual, Kubrick’s direction is phenomenal, creating some of the most iconic imagery of his career using color and shadow. The editing also helps accentuate certain scenes, whether it’s the fast motion threesome scene or the slow-motion fight scenes. They also make great use of the real on-set locations, most notably the dilapidated apartment building and the city streets. These locations give the environments a gritty, grimy, and lived-in quality you don’t see in many films today. It’s interesting seeing the contradiction between these and the more sterile look of the couple’s home and Alex’s apartment. While there are plenty of static shots and more slow-moving scenes, the pacing never drags or grinds to a halt. Every scene, no matter what, has something to grab your attention.

At the heart of it all is the lead performance from Malcolm McDowell as the sinister yet charming Alex. With his boyish charm, quick wit, and sharp dialogue, you honestly start rooting for him despite his actions. He’s always having fun committing such horrific acts, like performing “Singin’ in the Rain” during a rape scene. After he goes through the treatment and suffers the consequences of his actions, you actually start sympathizing with him. In anyone else’s hands, this would’ve failed, but with Kubrick’s directing and McDowell’s acting, it works incredibly well. Of course, that’s not to say the rest of the acting is bad, but it gets overshadowed by McDowell’s performance. Some of the other noteworthy actors include Patrick Magee, Philip Stone, Steven Berkoff, Miriam Karlin, and even David Prowse. These and the rest of the cast all have their moments to shine, even if eclipsed by McDowell.

Compared to the book, the film version of A Clockwork Orange does stay faithful to the source material. However, there are scenes from the book not in the movie, particularly the last chapter of the book is omitted. Even still, this film touches on themes of free will, right and wrong, and how people can be manipulated. Alex manipulates his droogs to do his bidding, the government manipulates Alex into being a mindless drone, and so on. It’s a very challenging film, which can put off many viewers who may not understand or accept the message. Though tame by today’s standards, A Clockwork Orange was accused of inciting masses of young people to commit crimes. While that issue goes much deeper than that, it shows how powerful of a film this was and still is. Overall, A Clockwork Orange is an entertainingly shocking film that’s a must-watch for cinephiles.

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