Mezzotint91 Reviews

A Clockwork Orange (1971)

Possible Spoiler. Good can be as Pure as Evil

[9 April 2002]

Good is Evil

A Clockwork Orange represents good and evil differently than other films by connecting elements of evil and innocence in one character.

I could not help but respect the purity Kubrick gave the protagonist Alex DeLarge. His color use, camera movements, and editing create a unique atmosphere where the audience hates the characters' actions, but respects his pure motivation.

Kubrick does this by using elements such as sound and color. The background music throughout the film implies innocence making this Alex's `rite of passage' story. Visually, Alex is presented as pure. He is introduced in all white, drinking milk in a white milk bar, surrounded by maternity statues. Kubrick incorporates a tracking shot slowly revealing Alex and his surroundings.

Ironically, milk blinds Alex during a night of `ultra-violence', allowing him to be captured. This starts his transformation into adulthood. He enters jail in a suit, appearing to be an adult. Using unusual methods, Alex is `reformed' into a man who gets sick when he hears Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, sees violence, and feels sexual urges. These things representing his innocence. Coincidentally, Alex always ended his gallivanting by listening to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

This song eventually drives Alex to attempt suicide. I viewed this event as Alex's rebirth into another physical and psychological transition. We symbolically see him completely abandon his childhood.

At last, Kubrick brings the audience into the hospital for the final scene. Alex emerges from his coma bandaged, once again in white, representing his restored innocence. During the scene, he rejects his real mother and symbolically takes on a new one. This mother ironically is Frederick, the same person who developed the treatment that reformed him. Frederick is telling Alex he will take care of his needs, while feeding him. Frederick feeding Alex parallels a mother breast feeding her child. The film ends in Alex's fantasy; two naked girls wrestling and Alex proclaiming,` I was cured'.

The beautiful thing about this movie is Alex's strange connection to the average adolescent male. He feels many of the same emotions such as sexual urges. However, he is depicted to be the opposite of the average male. Kubricks choice in linking the aspect just verify's that good can be as pure as evil.

Gosford Park (2001)

A review of a great film

[28 February 2002]

Violence, mystery, sex, and murder, Gosford Park has it all. Director Robert Altman once again takes the Hollywood formula and gives a unique twist. The story begins when aristocrats during 1932 gather at Sir William McCordle's (Michael Gambon) estate for a shooting party. The guests are wealthy people with their trusty servants. People arrive at the McCordle estate two by two and the traditions begin. The servants set up dinner for their masters and the aristocrats begin their personal routines.

The story moves on as the characters begin to establish their names and the audience learns their varying social status. The intertwining stories among the guests begin to surface and the audience begins to realize there is much more in this house than what meets the eye.

During the night one member of the elite group is killed. None of the guests seemed to be fazed by this event and are only upset by the inconvenience it sets up for their lives.

The only one troubled is Constance, Countess of Trentham's maid, Mary (Kelly McDonald). The story begins to focus on Mary, who discovers secrets among the visitors and leads the audience to solve the mystery.

The great aspect about this film is Robert Altman's abilities to bring the past to life. He pays excellent attention to detail and is able to recreate the feelings and morals during the time period. He emerges the audience into a film world filled with history and story. Throughout the film Altman visually shows the audience the contrast between social classes through his various shots, lighting techniques, and camera filters. His fluid camera movements visually portray foreshadowing and relationship among characters. These elements give the audience a complete understanding of the mood and atmosphere in the film.

I recommend this movie to anybody who has the patience to sit and focus on this excellent film. Although the beginning is appropriately slow moving and the characters names are difficult to remember, the payoff is worth the efforts. This movie is made for active film viewers and all Robert Altman fans.