Natural Born Killers

Natural Born Killers

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Natural Born Killers

Woody Harrelson, Juliette Lewis, Robert Downey Jr., Tommy Lee Jones, Tom Sizemore

A frenetic, bloody look at mass murder and the mass media, director Oliver Stone's extremely controversial film divided critics and audiences with its mixture of over-the-top violence and bitter cultu... read more read more...ral satire. At the center of the film, written by Stone and Quentin Tarantino, among others, are Mickey (Woody Harrelson) and Mallory (Juliette Lewis), a young couple united by their desire for each other and their common love of violence. Together, they embark on a record-breaking, exceptionally gory killing spree that captivates the sensation-hungry tabloid media. Their fame is ensured by one newsman, Wayne Gale (Robert Downey, Jr.), who reports on Mickey and Mallory for his show, American Maniacs. Even the duo's eventual capture by the police only increases their notoriety, as Gale develops a plan for a Super Bowl Sunday interview that Mickey and Mallory twist to their own advantage. Visually overwhelming, Robert Richardson's hyperkinetic cinematography switches between documentary-style black-and-white, surveillance video, garishly colored psychedelia, and even animation in a rapid-fire fashion that mirrors the psychosis of the killers and the media-saturated culture that makes them popular heroes. The film's extreme violence -- numerous edits were required to win an R rating -- became a subject of debate, as some critics asserted that the film irresponsibly glorified its murderers and blamed the filmmakers for potentially inciting copy-cat killings. Defenders argued that the film attacks media obsession with violence and satirizes a sensationalistic, celebrity-obsessed society. Certain to provoke discussion, Natural Born Killers will thoroughly alienate many viewers with its shock tactics, chaotic approach, and disturbing subject matter, while others will value the combination of technical virtuosity and dark commentary on the modern American landscape. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

Id: 10903505

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Recent Reviews


  • July 4, 2007
    I've seen it but I've never REALLY seen it.
  • March 29, 2007
    A thrill ride of emotion and action. Just great flick with over the top acting from Harrelson.
  • April 14, 2012
    The future will be televised ... Stone's filmic commentary on America and Americans (WAKE UP!!!) is no whisper (nearly impotent with all the screaming) and definitely not for everyone (although I think it was meant for everyone), filled with ultra-violence and psychedelic imagery... read more. "Entertaining, yes, but what do you think about it," in spades, with a healthy dollop of self-loathing on the side
  • fb1664868775
    March 25, 2012
    fb1664868775
    This surreal masterpiece started out with a ultraviolent but more funny and less terrifying script written by Quentin Tarantino. But in the hands of Oliver Stone, it turned into a hallucinogenic joyride through hell. Though it would've been interesting to see how Tarantino would ... read morehave directed it, I truly love (and fear) the menacing nature in which Stone put together the pieces.
  • December 26, 2011
    Mickey: The media is like the weather, only it's man-made weather. 

    "The Media Made Them Superstars."

    Oliver Stone went way over the top to make his point with Natural Born Killers and I believe it worked. This experience is unlike any other film experience you have had. Woody ... read moreHarrelson and Juliette Lewis bring Mickey and Mallory to life in such a way where it is hard to not cheer for them, and I assume that was the point. We always make the serial killers and the mass murders celebrities. We may not think of that way, but we do. 

    Until killers are caught in America, we read about them in newspaper, magazines and we hear about them on tv. Then they are caught, but it doesn't die there. We then watch their trial, talk about their body language, listen to interviews. Then they are sent to prison, but it still isn't done with. Then we have books written about them, movies made about them; television news programs go and do specials on the killer. It never ends until the killer dies, and even then they live on, like Elvis. And why? Because it is entertaining. Never have I been more aware of that then when watching Natural Born Killers. 

    That is pretty much what Natural Born Killers is getting at. Stone shows random things like hippies talking about how great Mickey and Mallory are. He shows us magazines with Mickeys face on the front cover. Killers are sold to us and we keep buying. Then there is the television show that turns them into full fledged stars and want to make television history by exploiting their story. This has all happened and it continues to happen.

    Now I personally don't care if serial killers are getting a large amount of press. It's a natural human tendency to be entertained by violence. Throughout history, violence has always sold. It doesn't matter what time period you lived in or where you lived; violence was always talked about, written about or nowadays shown on television and in movies. That's never going to change. So as the saying goes, "If you can't beat em, join em."
  • September 29, 2011
    Oliver Stone's frenetic and frenzied Natural Born Killers has always been a film I've been quite fascinated by. The performances from everyone are stellar and over the top, the various styles of shooting and cutting are all over the place but still manage to find a singular narra... read moretive and the symbolism in the storytelling is what you'd expect from Stone's work. Somehow it all works without being perfect. The ultra violent director's cut is a much better film in comparison to the theatrical version and I prefer it much more. There are some moments in the film where it loses a bit of its focus and also becomes too symbolic to the point of almost being pretentious, but you can't deny its power or mystique.
  • September 24, 2011
    A very strange film indeed. The film is mixed with detestable violence and suggestive material that is definitely not for everyone. Though this film does standout as a landmark in the industry due to the many medias it uses, everything from 35mm and Super 8, to black and white ... read moreand animation. All the actors give stirring and over the top performances that are very amusing. Though it is a controversial and strange film, it is very unique.
  • June 30, 2011
    I really liked this movie. It was entertaining and makes a good point about society and how they crave violence. It was also original and really funny.

    Grade: B+
  • June 5, 2011
    I strangely enjoyed this movie.
    I thought it was directed beautifully so well done to Oliver Stone, as this movie is very visually stunning and i found it very interesting to see the different contrasts of colour.
    I must say Tommy Lee Jones was by far the best thing about this ... read moremovie, he really (for me anyway) stole the show. His psychotic, crazed wardon was hilarious and just acted really well.
    It is a good violent action packed movie but some people may find it to weird (visually) to be able to like this movie. Although the storyline was a bit rubbish it was very entertaining to watch.
  • fb619846742
    June 4, 2011
    fb619846742
    A nasty, nihilistic, cracked-out mess of a movie, where director Oliver Stone leaves subtlety at the door and instead elects for a "Looney Toons" version of a couple of killers (Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis) and how they are glorified by the media during their rampant killi... read moreng spree. This is just a headache of a motion picture, with ridiculous performances all-around, all with Stone wanting his audience to consider the serious message he's sending out that these people should not be covered and romanticized by any means. However, if you make a movie about, well, romanticizing two abhorrent individuals, I guess that's different, right Mr. Stone? By far one of the worst movies I've seen, and one that should make you feel like wanting to take a shower after you watch it.

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