Malcolm McDowell Can’t Stomach Watching Clockwork Orange Again

Malcolm McDowell Can’t Stomach Watching Clockwork Orange Again

Actor Malcolm McDowell states he cannot stomach rewatching A Clockwork Orange again in a recent interview discussing the film’s 50th Anniversary.

You Are Reading :[thien_display_title]

Malcolm McDowell Can’t Stomach Watching Clockwork Orange Again

In a recent interview, veteran actor Malcolm McDowell has revealed he cannot stomach rewatching his 1971 dystopian crime film, A Clockwork Orange. The film was adapted from Anthony Burgess’s 1962 novel about a disturbingly violent gang of youths in an alternate near-future Britain. McDowell played the violent delinquent Alex DeLarge in the infamous and controversial film directed by Stanley Kubrick.

A Clockwork Orange follows McDowells’ Alex, leader of his gang known as the Droogs. Following a series of drug-induced fights with another gang and various disturbing and brutal assaults, Alex is arrested and imprisoned for his crimes, before being subjected to an experimental form of therapy to make him averse to his former violence. A Clockwork Orange celebrates its 50th anniversary this year with a 4K rerelease, but originally, the film was met with bans upon its release due to the levels of violence and brutality on screen, an aspect which its star still struggles with.

When speaking to Yahoo about the film’s 5oth anniversary, McDowell revealed that he still finds it difficult to rewatch, stating that he cannot stomach sitting through the film despite the time that has passed. McDowell elaborated that despite any updates in quality the film might have received, it still holds the same violent content that made the film infamous upon its release, though he is proud of the impact it has made since. McDowell also said the last time he watched the film was during a screening at the Cannes Film Festival to celebrate its 40th Anniversary alongside Warner Bro’s executives, before saying how glad he was that he could avoid similar screenings for the latest milestone. Check out McDowell’s full response below.

See also  Which Country Pokémons Next Region Should Be Based On

“To be honest, I really couldn’t really stomach watching it again. I mean, give me a break here. It’s still the same movie. It may look a little sharper, the color [might] be a little brighter, but it’s still the same movie. But listen, I’m thrilled to be a part of it. I mean, my god, it’s cinema history. Not many actors in their careers can have such an experience.

“A lot of times it’s been at some festival and I’m stuck watching it. The last time I was stuck watching it was a the Cannes Film Festival, sitting next to one of the head honchos of Warner Bros. because we were celebrating the 40th anniversary. Thank god we don’t have to go to Cannes because I’d be stuck up there watching it again.”

Despite becoming a film of historical significance that has been referenced multiple times, such as most recently in Space Jam: A New Legacy, as well as in the long-running animated sitcom The Simpsons, A Clockwork Orange had a complex and controversial history. Upon release, the film was met by polarizing reviews for its depictions of graphic violence and sexual assault, as well as condemnation from different groups, leading to various cuts to lower the rating from an X-rating to an R-rating. The film was also cited as an influence in multiple criminal cases in the United Kingdom, leading to Kubrick and his family receiving threats before the film was withdrawn from British release at Kubrick’s request until after his death, as well as receiving similar bans across the globe.

See also  The Matrix Awakens Fortnite Easter Eggs Hint At Future Collab

McDowell’s apprehension to rewatch the film is understandable. As he stated, any aesthetical changes do not take away from what made the film infamous in the first place. Even if the film has received a critical reevaluation and praise following its initial controversy, the disturbing content still remains, and can still be a source of discomfort for many audiences that would make them wish to avoid it. Even if McDowell had a part in the film, that does not mean that he would be personally comfortable with what was depicted. It also highlights that despite being 50 years from its release, A Clockwork Orange still remains just as influential, with its content still being discussed to this day.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/clockwork-orange-malcolm-mcdowell-cannot-watch/

Movies -