Directed by:
Oliver StoneCinematography:
Robert RichardsonComposer:
Brent LewisCast:
Woody Harrelson, Juliette Lewis, Tom Sizemore, Richard Lineback, Rodney Dangerfield, Lanny Flaherty, Robert Downey Jr., O-Lan Jones, Sean Stone (more)VOD (4)
Plots(1)
Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis star as Mickey Knox and Mallory Wilson, two young, attractive mass murderers in love in Oliver Stone's wild-eyed satire on the American fascination with criminals. After killing Mallory's loathsome parents, the pair perform a ritual "marriage" and take off on a "honeymoon" killing spree that wipes out 52 people. Bloodthirsty tabloid reporter Wayne Gale (Robert Downey Jr.) reports their every move to an adoring public while warden Dwight McClusky (Tommy Lee Jones) is only too eager to welcome such celebrities to his prison. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (7)
As an avowed idealist, I still feel that crime should be followed by punishment, which is why the questionable ending with Mallory and Mickey didn't sit well with me at all. Sure, it's a satire, but if a psychopath sees it, he or she might interpret the overall tone of the film differently (which apparently actually happened a few times). The film is formally brilliant, though, starting with the opening sitcom and ending with the animated inserts, and I won't go below 4* for this directorial and cinematographic treat.
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Television and the media became something so hideous and filthy, but at the same time politically correct and sleek, that it began to grotesquely reflect that which we call life. Stone takes this situation to such extremes in Killers that even the dumbest dolt in Texas will know it's definitely not okay. The human mind is sick, and the purest thing hidden in a person is…
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When it comes to style, there are really a lot of positives here because it's an incredible ride. Whether it's due to the dynamic camera work, which is jittery and intensifies the feelings of frenzy, or the alternating between color and black-and-white shots, not to mention the various filters that further enhance the madness. The story isn't worth delving into; it's not so much about that as it is about showcasing that in today's society, anything can be adored, including unrestrained violence. In this respect, Oliver Stone wins by a landslide with his film.
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Well, it's directed with bravura – Oliver Stone was an excellent choice. The very opening scene is already impressive, using very distinctive and brilliantly assembled elements. It continues at a similar pace throughout the first half, then comes a satirical section from the prison setting that criticizes and exposes the imbecility of the media and the American mentality in general. Natural Born Killers is a bold, brash, thought-provoking film, and I guess my biggest regret with it is that it didn't end up being another pure Tarantino film, because some of the characters in this film are Tarantino-esque, speak in hints of Tarantino, and if Tarantino had still been allowed to lead them, it might have turned out very differently. Maybe not so serious and gritty, but much more absurd, with a heavy dose of hyperbole and the most outrageous humor. 90%
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You can think about this film what you want, but you can’t refute the simple fact that it’s damn well and stylishly made. A story by the great QT (there could have been a million adaptations, but the original idea came from him), the all-powerful Oliver Stone behind the camera, Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis as popular mass murderers, and Tommy Lee Jones as a crazed prison warden? Well, don't buy it, especially when the story as a whole is such an indescribable directorial exhibition and a mixture of so many great and imaginative scenes that the lack of logic or limits of tolerance is the last thing that can interest the ordinary viewer. It's true that the film could be perfectly inspiring, but anyone with half a brain will realise that it's just a very bold satire and won’t look for anything bad behind it. I can't give it a full score because by the end it becomes insane, but otherwise I can't really say a negative word. That said, the ending was so entertaining that even now the memory of a dishevelled Jones and a mad Downey brings a smile to my face. 85%
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