NATURAL BORN KILLERS
A film review by Chad Polenz
Copyright 1997 Chad Polenz
**1/2 (out of 4 = OK) 1994, R, 117 minutes [1 hour, 47 minutes] [drama/satire] starring: Woody Harrelson (Mickey Knox), Juliette Lewis (Mallory Knox), Robert Downey Jr. (Wayne Gale), Tom Sizemore (Jack Scagnetti), Tommy Lee Jones (Warden Dwight Muclusky), written by Quentin Tarantino, David Veloz, Richard Rutowski, Oliver Stone, produced by Jane Hamsher, Don Murphy, Clayton Townsend, directed by Oliver Stone.
I should have expected more (or maybe less in this case) from Oliver Stone. "Natural Born Killers" tries to combat the evils of society by portraying them in a very bizarre manner. It is an orgy of hyper editing and surrealism, like a music video acted out. Unfortunately, it tries a little too hard to be too many things at the same time.
Like many other films, this is an attempt to go inside the mind of a maniac and try to understand how it works. In this case the mindset is shared by Mickey and Mallory Knox (Harrelson, Lewis), who are two crazed mass murderers, but because of the unusual reality the story takes place in, they don't seem much different from everyone else, which the film's essential theme.
The story of these two psychotic lovebirds is a strange one. Most of the viciousness and insanity are implied. We can't comprehend why Mickey and Mallory love each other or why they do what they do, it's all just mood. The problem is the surrealism becomes a hindrance after a while, almost causing for a state of vertigo.
Perhaps it is Mickey and Mallory's attitude that is so disturbing. They aren't insane, they can tell right from wrong, but the fact they blatantly choose to do evil deeds is shocking. People say we have become desensitized to violence and obscenity, yet there has to be at least one thing in this film that will disturb every viewer in some way.
At one point the two are in need of help and are taken in by an Indian family. Unfortunately, Mickey ends up destroying his only chance for salvation. This is the only time the two feel any remorse, but the scene is so short and shallow it doesn't nearly have the impact it intends to have.
The "normal" people of this reality are represented by Wayne Gale (Downey), a tabloid journalist who is obsessed with the two, and like to exploit them. He chronicles their actions and makes his living by sensationalizing them. He does it so well, the media and the entire country fall in love with their nihilism. Kids wave banners that say, "Kill me next Mickey!" and other strange things. Eventually, Scagnetti (Sizemore), a tough cop who seems just as corrupt and wicked as the murderers, corners them and sends them to jail. Here is where the real exploitation begins and where the film takes a turn for the worse.
Gale gets an exclusive interview with Mickey in jail, live, and right after the Superbowl. Up until this point the film had been original in its surrealistic storytelling style and bizarre reality. By the end it becomes a standard action movie as the two escape and hold Gale hostage. The ending itself is a little too allegorical and not exactly true to the nature of the film.
Some of the last scenes show some clips of the Menedez brothers and O.J. Simpson trials. I felt this was completely unnecessary and pretty much killed the entire point of the film. Most films are about drawing your own conclusions, but this swoops down with an actual "answer."
Still, for all its strangeness, "Natural Born Killers" is an interesting film to watch. The direction and editing are second to none, but the actual script itself needed improvement.
Please visit Chad'z Movie page @ http://members.aol.com/ChadPolenz
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