{"id":34429,"date":"2021-01-21T16:20:15","date_gmt":"2021-01-21T21:20:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/?p=34429"},"modified":"2021-01-21T16:32:42","modified_gmt":"2021-01-21T21:32:42","slug":"you-have-to-see-this-a-clockwork-orange-1971","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/2021\/01\/21\/you-have-to-see-this-a-clockwork-orange-1971\/","title":{"rendered":"You Have to See This! A Clockwork Orange (1971)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>With \u201cA Clockwork Orange,\u201d Stanley Kubrick set forth a high bar and standard upon which all future gang warfare films would be based on. It\u2019s a surprising fact considering \u201cA Clockwork Orange\u201d is not entirely about gang warfare at all. It\u2019s a science fiction, dystopic, thriller about a predator of humanity who gets a taste of his own medicine a hundred fold once he is rehabilitated into a docile animal of society. Or so that\u2019s what we\u2019re led to believe up until the very ambiguous climax where Alex reverts to his classic recurring orgy fantasy.<\/p>\n

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Alex DeLarge (almost like Scarface or Jack from \u201cFight Club\u201d) has become a considerable icon (or anti-icon) for the European neo-sixties chic society of pop culture. His trademark derby, cane, accentuated lashes, and codpiece represent everything perverse and yet, alluring about DeLarge and why he commands so much authority over the people in hios life. Stanley Kubrick\u2019s ideas and imagery have remained in the consciousness of film lovers for decades (much like \u201cThe Shining\u201d and \u201cFull Metal Jacket,\u201d et al.), and have yet to age a day, especially as he seems to capture worlds that are without the restraints of aging or anachronisms.<\/p>\n

Everything he films is stuck in place, and the same can be said for \u201cA Clockwork Orange.\u201d Adapted from the wonky novel by Anthony Burgess, Kubrick\u2019s own vision is very heavy mod, neo-fascist picture. It\u2019s a world of anarchy with a young man who has society and the elite by the balls, and is a veritable god in his own consciousness. Once he\u2019s taken in to be transformed by an experimental government program, he discovers he\u2019s become yet another victim, another sufferer, and another crying voice being ravaged by the corrupt medical system.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Said system is run wholesale by the sadistic rich and absolutely corrupt law enforcement. From the get go there\u2019s that air of menace and sheer nihilism that Kubrick paints into every film cell, warning us of the surreal carnage that will soon ensue. DeLarge lives like a king in a small world. He leads a vicious gang, has random threesomes whenever and however he likes, and lives off of his parents without a flash of a judgmental brow to bring him to his knees. As exemplified by a hazy wet dream, he\u2019s a vampire on the jugular of society.<\/p>\n

While insanely likable (thanks to Malcolm McDowell\u2019s stellar performance) he\u2019s a leech who must be dealt with. Malcolm McDowell\u2019s performance as the legendary Alex DeLarge is a pure tour De Force. He\u2019s a maelstrom of sly witticisms, devious sociopathic tendencies, and a furiously sharp delivery of \u201cNadsat\u201d: some of the most unusual and incoherent sixties colloquialisms that are hard to translate, but so damn cool to hear him mutter at every turn. Kubrick saves some of his most demented sequences to reflect Alex\u2019s world.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>There\u2019s also the iconic scene of brainwashing as Alex watches with eyes forced open, howling in agony, remains a powerful and pivotal turn in the story. Notable about Kubrick\u2019s thriller is the memorable appearance of David Prowse (the body actor for Darth Vader), who plays the barrel chested caretaker to DeLarge\u2019s equally sociopathic ward. As a twisted turn of fate, after being victimized by local tramps, DeLarge seeks refuge at a local mansion. The mansion happens to be owned by the very man (Patrick McGee, who is always great) whose life he destroyed years earlier.<\/p>\n

The final half of \u201cA Clockwork Orange\u201d is the world repaying Alex for all his crimes and pain. Every time Alex is convinced he\u2019s escaped their torment, he is always proven wrong and made a beautiful example of karma. \u201cA Clockwork Orange\u201d is a milestone that Kubrick would consistently deliver to his fans and film goers throughout his career.<\/p>\n