Crime and punishment
Back in 1971, critics of the world for a long time and persistently criticized the film for what was in vain, criticized for excessive cruelty, for a large number of scenes of violence, and for everything in the world, but in the end gave up and recognized this film as a masterpiece. This is well deserved.
The film is about teenage cruelty, although these subjects do not resemble teenagers, but still ... A certain group of people, in this case four people, dress in all white (except for the bowlers on their heads, they are black), walk with canes, drink milk in a bar with the saying name "Cow", and at night they trade in decent robbery. They beat and rob everyone they can't. But in one intricate case it turns out that the gang leader goes to prison and in a few years begins the launch of a program to suppress violence by violence. The script, by the way, is very interesting, here the world of “before” and “after” is clearly visible. What do I mean? Let me explain. Before treatment, he was a hunter, then a victim. The film shows 2 days of life before prison and two days after, and there is a clear difference. A helpless man has no place in this world, he is simply eaten. On the way Alex meets all his "echoes" of the past. An old man, a writer, and even his friends. Who would have thought how the world changed?
This whole situation reminds me of the movie Deer Hunter, which clearly shows life before the war and after, and here the contrast is obvious. Very good idea, to use in the film the narrator, or rather the main character. It's a bit of a sex scene, but it's all a trifle compared to Kubrick's social system that Alex De Lurge lives in. After the return, everything changed, everyone in the circle. Maybe he's changed so much. Nope. He simply became a hostage of his own body, while his soul longed for robbery, crime. Even the last sentence of the film, "I'm cured," says a lot. This can be understood in the most crucial moment of the film during the “quality check” on stage and the main character’s comments.
Malcolm McDowell played a great role. The look of the maniac in the first half of the film... just have to see. The supporting roles are also good, I especially liked Patrick Magee in the role of the same writer, played especially convincingly in the second half of the film, anger at the echoes of the past is simply brilliantly set by him. I can’t help but mention the game of Warren Clarke, who played one of Alex’s friends, although a short-lived role, but memorable.
Another feature of this film is its visual range. Of course, not like in “Space Odyssey”, but still the picture was interesting to look at. The design of the rooms in Alex’s apartment, people’s clothes, their hairstyles, everything is made in a unique style, inherent only in Kubrick’s films. Another important feature of this film is the soundtrack. He just brilliantly harmonizes with the entire atmosphere of the film, and by himself makes trembling, and in combination with the frenzied look of McDowell. Great.
In general, this is a film, the genre of which can be called “cruel drama”, not harsh, but cruel, this is an important distinction. I really like the movie and I’ll give it a go.
10 out of 10
Original
