Is
it a compliment to say Woody Harrelson looks
like a natural-born killer?
Is "Natural
Born Killers" an indictment of our current
society that is so completely fascinated with
crime, criminals and everything that waxes
dramatic? Or, is it simply a glossy, stylized
romp through random acts of violence?
Oliver Stone's "Natural Born Killers" takes the
life of two of society's rejects, Mickey and
Mallory, and allows them to fall in love and
embark on a nationwide killing spree that
becomes fodder for the press, an obsession for
law enforcement and, ultimately, they become
folk heroes to the common man across America.
The film, which on the surface appears to be
incredibly and over-the-top violent, is actually
far less violent than many films with a lesser
rating. While we see shootings and killings, the
vision is seldom graphic in nature. These events
are much more about attitude and atmosphere than
they are the violence itself.
The word "intoxication" is the word I think of
most when I think of the film "Natural Born
Killers." Mickey (Woody Harrelson) and Mallory (Juliette
Lewis) become intoxicated by killing and the
fame it brings...Reporter Wayne Gale (Robert
Downey, Jr.) becomes intoxicated by the story,
the ratings, the spotlight...Warden McClusky
(Tommy Lee Jones) is intoxicated by his power
and justice.
The script, by Stone and Quentin Tarantino,
vividly brings to life this intoxication in
scenes that often resemble television shows and
other times take on such a psychedelic feeling
that it almost feels like we're in the middle of
one of those lava lamps where you look through
the hole and you see different visions every
time you look in it.
"Natural Born Killers", for me, is a visionary
film because it sees the truth of our society
and where we are headed. We are living in a
world where celebrity allows you to get away
with most anything, such as in the O.J. Simpson
trial, and where even the most heinous criminal
becomes an overnight celebrity. In "Natural Born
Killers," Stone and Tarantino are, to me,
clearly say that we can't just blame the
criminals for the deterioration of our
society...it's all of us who buy into the drama,
the glamour and the excitement that allows the
cycle to perpetuate.
Stellar performances, a powerful, insightful
script, groundbreaking camerawork and the unique
vision of Oliver Stone combine to make "Natural
Born Killers" a bold, visionary film that may
shock, may offend, may alienate...but, in the
end, it is a film you will remember.
©
Written by Richard Propes
TC Candler's Comment
n/a
Jacob
Hall's Comment
n/a
