Natural Born Killers
Oliver Stone has a knack for great filmmaking. There is something about his work that makes it all a pleasure to watch. Unfortunately, he isn't one of the most famous directors because he hasn't created blockbuster entertainment like Spielberg has. I'm guessing that it is because Stone's films aren't suited for all audiences. His movies are sort of an acquired taste, and if you don't have that taste, you probably don't like Oliver Stone. On the other hand, if you do, you realize that Stone is a greatly underrated director who should get a lot more credit than he really gets (but his Best Director Oscars make up for some of that lack of credit).
Natural Born Killers is a highly energetic and chaotic film. Chaos can sometimes be the downfall of most motion pictures, but the chaos in NBK is perfect as it captures the mood of all the events that take place in the movie. It is this chaos that made the MPAA make Stone cut many scenes out of the film. Sure, the film is violent, but you have to expect that when the film is about mass murderers. But the film isn't really about mass murderers--it is about the glorification of murderers through media. Are murderers the real criminals, or is the media the one responsible? Whenever you turn on the TV or go into a movie theater, you can expect to find violence somewhere, no matter how small or insignificant. All of these violent acts we witness have an effect on us that has desensitized us from violent acts. After a long period of time, this desensitization can have a profound effect on humans... we become violent for no apparent reason. We have been brought up with all these violent crimes pounded into our heads through news and television, but if we do something like it, we are shunned and called criminals.
Now, of course, Natural Born Killers does not glamourize violence as many critics say it does. Instead, it tries to teach people what makes murderers commit murders. It shows the lasting effects of media, child abuse, and various other forms of trauma that can make people lose their sense between right and wrong. But then again, what is right and wrong? We can't really tell with all the glamourizing of violence through the media because it is how we have grown up. This is the central basis of NBK. It was not made to do what it advises against. NBK is a satire of media with characters such as a talkshow host (representing people like Geraldo and Donahue). This satire makes the film funny in a way, mostly because everything going on is something everyone wants to do. In one time in our life, everyone has wanted to kill somebody. It's just natural to say it, but to do it... that's NBK.
Woody Harrelson stars as Mickey Knox, a self-proclaimed Natural Born Killer. His girlfriend is Mallory, played by Juliette Lewis. Over the period of the film, Mickey and Mallory get married and go on a killing spree, starting with Mallory's parents (played by Rodney Dangerfield and Edie McClurg). The plot of the film revolves around these two "mass murderers" as they go through many changes and many killings. We don't see them all, but we get the idea that they have killed many people. However, the second plot which collides with the first one begins as soon as the media shows up. The media is represented in one main figure, and some other smaller people. The main representation is Wayne Gale (Robert Downey Jr.), a talkshow host who is obsessed with serial killers, especially Mickey and Mallory.
This talkshow host, along with other forms of media, have made Mickey and Mallory stars, and this is what NBK satires. It shows that serial killers can become as famous as movie stars and sports stars. In fact, this film is about so many things that it's hard to explain in a review. The story of Mickey and Mallory is very interesting. The film shows the couple evolve in a way, from murderers to survivors. After they accidentally kill an Indian, they realize that they have to change. Unfortunately, the media won't let them change. It would be unacceptable.
Natural Born Killers, with all the satirical plot and chaotic events, is a masterpiece of filmmaking. It's like watching a big-budget college student film. Oliver Stone uses many of the cinematic elements so that you always know that you are watching a film. However, the style he uses is almost too visual to be explained. Stone uses quick cuts and many different camera angles for his shots. To try and explain anything would be a crime in itself. The movie is quite an experience and the only way to get a feel for it would be to watch it. What I will talk about, though, is the actors who prove to be quite up to the task of portraying all these characters. Harrelson, who had only made White Men Can't Jump before this, is almost perfect for the role. However Stone had decided to choose him for this part is beyond me, but the casting was extremely smart and now Harrelson is a big star. Juliette Lewis is terrific as Mallory Knox. There is no one else who could have played this part in my opinion. Robert Downey Jr. is hysterically funny as the talkshow host. Tommy Lee Jones provides one of the best characters in the film, and his performance is truly funny and perfect for the mood of the film. Tom Sizemore is great as the psycho-cop who kills a woman for the thrill of it. And I have to mention Denis Leary and Ashley Judd's performances. They were cut out of the film, but they are shown in the Director's Cut. The performances are great and Leary provides the biggest laugh in the film.
Natural Born Killers is rated R, and the Director's Cut is rated NC-17. I have seen both, and I can't see much of a difference between the two. There are 150 shots added in the Director's Cut, but they aren't as bad as some of the stuff left in. The film has a lot of chaos, which consists of violent acts of murder and carnage, sex, nudity, and plenty of language. Many critics have praised the film, which I agree with. But many critics have snubbed it and said it just glorified violence. While they may be entitled to their opinion, I can't understand how they could have thought that Stone had just intended to make another violent film. It may be violent and gory, but so was Scream. In fact, Scream is a good example of what Natural Born Killers tells. People have become desensitized, and the result is this film.