As I have previously mentioned in my blog on movieholics, it is a fact that every movie buff has their favourite director and movies. But no matter who their favourite is, it is for sure that they would mention Stanley Kubrick or David Lynch when talking about cinema. Both towering figures redefined the art of filmmaking and left their indelible mark on every film they made. So today I will be telling you about two films of these two great directors which made them legendary though they both have a prolific filmography to their credit.
Movies always have the capacity to perplex us. But have you ever heard of a movie that was pulled from theatres by its own director because it inspired real-life crimes? How about a movie with a lead character whose “principal interests are rape, ultra-violence, and Beethoven”? The answer to these questions is Kubrick's ‘A Clockwork Orange', a modern classic on free will and institutionalization in a neurotic society. Through Alex's character, Kubrick takes us on a rollercoaster ride of grotesque violence, nightmarish dystopia, and enthralling music that will numb the senses.
‘A Clockwork Orange’ was soon banned in many countries due to its explicit scenes and depiction of graphic violence following its release. Even after five decades since its release, the film still continues to own its fair share of notoriety and controversies. However, the movie is a favourite among cinephiles along with Kubrick's ‘2001: A Space Odyssey and ‘The Shining’. It is one among the only four movies that were nominated for the Oscars despite being X-rated. ‘A Clockwork Orange’ will definitely disturb us with the revelations that the ‘age-old ultra violence’ always lies deep within us and being good or bad is a choice one has to make.
Along with entertaining and amusing us, films can also leave us baffled. Have you ever found it hard to explain a movie you watched to your friends or family? Well if you watch David Lynch's ‘Mulholland Drive’, you would not even try to explain it to yourself. All you can say is that you saw the weirdest movie and the more you try to understand the movie, the deeper you feel that it is inexplicable.
Hailed as the ‘Greatest Film of the 21st Century’, ‘Mulholland Drive’ is a twisted neo-noir masterpiece and a perfect invitation to the bizarre world of Lynchian cinema. The number of search results for ‘Mulholland Drive explained’ in Google is enough to know why this film is a labyrinth that changes our perception with each watching experience. Even renowned film critics and fans of the movie haven't completely deciphered the dream-like eeriness of the characters and setting of the film. You can also try your hand and that's the beauty of ‘Mulholland Drive’, a movie which will test your brain each time you watch it.
Both films will surely dominate our thought process for days. Maybe you will try to find and watch other films of Kubrick and Lynch, as you will be bewitched by their craft. Hope to bring more from master filmmakers through this series. See you with another blog.
