By Melissa Antoinette Garza
Shame on Malcolm McDowell for making Alex so deliciously yummy! Alex is evil. He’s wrong. He’s so bad. He’s a criminal deviant…….but God is he sexy!
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE opens as Alex narrates the violent escapades of him and his friends Georgie (James Marcus), Pete (Michael Tam) and Dim (Warren Clarke). One night the gang attacks a homeless guy and then comes across a rival gang nearly raping a woman.
They fight the gang off, not because they’re against rape. They’re not. It’s honestly just more of a boys-will-be-boys to the extreme. It’s a fun thing for them to do so they do it.
The break into a house with one couple. They lie to get inside and when the Mrs let them in, they immediately attack her. They beat the husband to a pulp and while performing Singing in the Rain assaults the woman. It’s probably one of the most disturbing scenes ever filmed, but it is magnificent. Kubrick’s brilliance is all of this and McDowell’s performance makes it shine all the brighter.
Afterward, Alex is taken with a woman singing classical music. He’s a fan of finer things. You can’t fault him for that. Sure, you can fault him on the rape -but on the classical musical, he gets a pass.
Alex’s probation officer Deltoid (Aubrey Morris) stops by to remind Alex that rape and assault are illegal and if he keeps it up he’ll get arrested again. He also gropes Alex. Deltoid is a bad guy!
Needless to say, Alex doesn’t heed the advice and is on the prowl again only nights later murdering a woman with a statute of a phallic symbol. He is caught after his friends screw him over.
After spending some time in jail, Alex gets an opportunity to partake in an experimental program. Conspiracy theory minded friends think MK-ULTRA. The administrators strap him to a chair, pump him filled with serums and flash images of hardcore sex and horrible violence in front of his eyes. He is unable to turn away as his eyelids are pried open.
The therapy seemingly works and he suddenly has an aversion to sex and violence. Things may have gone smoothly if not for the unforgiving world. His old friends and former victims each come across him and make him pay for hist past sins.
When his music is used against him, he finally breaks. The therapy is no longer effective and the audience is left knowing the real Alex is about to raise a whole bunch of hell.
I love this movie. Malcolm McDowell is just gorgeous in it. The way he dresses, walks and carries himself is divine. If not for the whole rape thing, Alex would be perfect!
When he’s just having fun with two ladies and they’re into it, I love it. The romps done in fast forward that show his appetite in full-force are done amazingly well. The women putting their clothing back on only to be playfully stripped by him again does show a different tamer side to him.
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE is one of the most important films that came out in one of the most important decades of film-making. It spits in the face of pretentiousness and calls bullshit on hypocrites who decry violence yet turn on a dime. It’s complete attitude and hardcore rebellion with a charismatic sinner at its helm.
If you haven’t seen this already, seek it out and watch it. It’s a necessity of life. For those who have, give it another go if its been awhile. It’s raw, it’s rough and its daring. The combo pays off and A CLOCKWORK ORANGE stands the test of time as classic cinematic art. If you don’t own it, enjoy it now while it’s on AMAZON PRIME!
Scared Stiff Rating: 9/10
