Monday, November 29, 2004

Clockwork Orange

'There was me, that is Alex, and my three droogs, that is Pete, Georgie, and Dim, Dim being really dim, and we sat in a Korova Milkbar making up our rassoodocks what to do with the evening.'

When Anthony Burgess wrote the Clockwork Orange his vision of the future wasn't too far misplaced. Kubrick's film based on the book was a masterpiece with it's portrayal of a grim future inhabited by the bowler hatted anti hero Alex de Large played so fiendishly by Malcolm McDowell.

As the promotional posters quoted back in the 70's

'Being the adventures of a young man whose principal interests are rape, ultra-violence and Beethoven'.

Back in 1971 when it was released it attracted millions and was a long runner at the cinema but soon after a spate of copycat crimes from the film Kubrick withdrew it and the film went underground, of course this further added to it's cult status.

For me the movie has such a dark, brooding and subverse atmosphere - people identify with Alex, they love the chaotic streak he has, he's not all thug though - he delights in classical music!

I can't really compare the film to crime today, some may do but then again how many other films influence things? In fact some may say the film is tame by today's standards but for most it still has that shock value, it really is a total audio / visual package.

I think the point I want to make is the way the film portrays society and politics, that's the real message in the film that many overlook, the fact that Alex is a pawn and victim of society.

Is our society heading that way?

The first link is a really good fansite and the second is facts and cast listing from the film.

http://www.clockworkorange.com/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066921/

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