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A lurid crime story with intolerable editing. Oliver Stone’s crime thriller Natural Born Killers (1994) is a fascinating road trip of pointless murder and pretentious ideas. It desperately wants to be a serious character study of how mass murderers think and why they become the monsters they do. Stone contemplates how audiences react to violence in pop culture, on t.v., and on film with a series of mini sequences parodying famous scenarios. But, the movie undermines its message with poor and ridiculous editing. For example, the incessant cuts to random imagery tries too hard to make visual connections to the actions on screen. The colors are garrish, ranging from pastel or saturated vibrant choices to sudden black and white sequences. Natural Born Killers gives you a headache when you just want to think about what you are seeing. Stone went way overboard with his editing choices. It’s a shame because much of the direction shows Stone’s potential for a great movie in there somewhere, hidden by nonsensical jump cuts. The acting in Natural Born Killers is wonderfully over the top in a fun way. Woody Harrelson makes for a fearsome killer named Mickey on the run. His quiet moments of reflection in his final interview portion are genuinely chilling and almost profound. He gives a wild shoot first ask questions never performance that is captivating. His unnerving display devolves into a madman by the end and it’s riveting to watch Harrelson gives Oliver Stone some of his finest acting. Likewise, Juliette Lewis is a haze of violence, rage, hysterics, and romance as Mallory. Her shrieking cries are as scary as they are depressing. Her backstory, parodying I Love Lucy is haunting. Rodney Dangerfield gives an unruly, unhinged, and unforgettable performance as Mallory’s sleazy pedophilic father. Lewis plays up her sorrow and uncertainty for her life choices with an erratic existence and sudden bursts of violent displays. Similarly, Tom Sizemore’s corrupt killer cop is gross and sleazy like Dangerfield’s figure, but his actions are reprehensible in another way by his abusing the power dynamic police have over the public. His abuse of power is comparable to Dangerfield’s father character using his authority as Mallory’s dad to abuse her horribly. It’s all gross and depravity with Natural Born Killers. This abuse of authority is actually akin to Tommy Lee Jones’ prison warden, who delights in the agony of his inmates. He does not want to reform or contain his prisoners, but rather control and extinguish his wards. Jones eats up the scenery every second he is on screen with a powerhouse performance of great magnitude and charm. Oliver Stone goes to great lengths to make everyone unlikable in their own way. Lastly, I must mention the clearly coked out of his mind Robert Downey Jr. as the self serving media man Wayne Gale. His manipulation of the justice system in order to interview serial killers is grotesque just like his callous character, but Downey Jr. is such a charismatic actor that you love him while he works. His feigned interest, mercy pleading, and cowering is all fun to watch. He creates this devious portrayal of journalists our for theirs and theirs alone. In short, most audiences should like Natural Born Killers for its nihilistically cold killing and crazy character acting, but Oliver Stone bogged down his film with absurd editing that passes the line into the annoying.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
DVD was in great condition, zero complaints.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Very entertaining plot and a gyrations cast
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Excellent Movie that is non-stop killing, From start to finish. Not for the weak hearted.Well done with out alot of special affects.The family story line is very heavy AND not for young children. Which even made me think. Overall A 5 Star rating and should be seen after the kids go to bed. Flowman-stuff
This movie rox!! it is kinda sick and twisted but you will not be able to turn away.one of a kind!! awesome cinematography(if thats spelled right) get it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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