Natural Born Killers – Director’s Cut (1994/Warner Blu-ray)
Picture:
B+ Sound: B Extras: B Film: B+
Controversy
is nothing new to director Oliver Stone, but when he created his ‘art house’
vision with Natural Born Killers (1994),
the world exploded in a storm of repulsion, debate and in some cases
praise. It seems to be a 50/50 shot
whether or not a viewer or critic will like the film, but for over a decade the
film has elicited crazed speculations about its value as a film and its impact
on society. Natural Born Killers has been accused of inspiring homicides and
school shootings; these unwarranted whispers of hate only furthering people’s
desire to view and pick apart the now classic film. In this reviewer’s opinion the film is a
brilliant experience that can open your mind with its blended use of unbridled
terror and intellectual vividness. The
film is unlike any I have ever seen and if nothing else will get the viewer to
reflect on where we stand as a media obsessed society.
The story
of Natural Born Killers follows
serial killers Mickey (Woody Harrelson) and Mallory (Juliette Lewis) as they
embark on psychotic killing spree after psychotic killing spree; leaving a lone
survivor at each massacre to tell the tale of their brutality and terror; it
seeming as if their tale living on is their biggest goal. The film starts off as ordinary as anything;
with the Mickey and Mallory hanging out at a diner, when it suddenly erupts
into a chaotic murderous mess; in the end leaving all but one dead and the
couple drives off to fireworks in the background. The ill fated and media obsessed lovers
seemingly have a mysterious endgame; but in the mean time have managed to avoid
a sly (and psychotic) detective named Jack Scagnetti (Tom Sizemore) and capture
the attention of a self obsessed TV journalist (Robert Downey Jr.). In doing their multitude of disgusting and
satanic deeds, Mickey and Mallory have become celebrities in their own right;
capturing a sick, immoral and lost publics’ attention along the way. A gloves-off battle ensues within prison that
takes the audience on a journey that ranges from sickeningly confusing too
intellectually stimulating.
With each
viewing I question if I actually like the film for the vision the Oliver Stone
(originally written by Quentin Tarantino before heavy revisions by Stone, whose
wife claimed it was her whole divorce on screen!) intended, with a heavy
criticism on a blood thirsty and media obsessed public clamoring for the next
big story of sick debauchery; or is that I like the same gore, hate and
darkness that Stone himself is criticizing?
The 1994 crime satire is an interesting one that will stimulate and
captivate even the most hesitant viewer.
Fact of the matter is that Natural
Born Killers is a brutal, brutal film with an artsy backdrop that can make
for a confusing atmosphere. Stone seems
to use a fine balance of controlled chaos with his utilization of multiple
filming techniques, a choppily edited storyline and an odd color palette. The film manages to capture your attention in
that it is unique is so many ways. At
times I couldn’t tell if I was on drugs or it was the film that was driving me
to have odd and questionable perceptions; but nevertheless it was thrilling.
It is odd
that for a film that focuses so highly on a couple of mass murderers that the
viewer begins to question the presence of law and media in the world; as if you
almost forget who the “bad guys” are.
The media and law presence is most definitely in the film, however, it
is there in a disturbing manner; never quite there, never quite right and
always unsettling. Harrelson’s, Downey
Jr.’s, Lewis’s, Rodney Dangerfield’s and Tommy Lee Jones' performances are
astoundingly well done and delivered with a sense of realism that not many films
can deliver. Overall the film is an
emotionally explosive as it elicits feelings of confusion and disgust, but the
brilliance that Stone delivers with Natural
Born Killers far outweighs any criticism anyone should be able to spew
out. Robert Downey Jr.’s depraved
portrayal of the “the media” frames the film amazingly well as the rest of the
gooey, gory, hate that is Mickey and Mallory festers within; making the film
complex and entertaining throughout.
The
technical features on this “double dip” Blu-ray is an upgrade from the prior
2008 release and in all ways is the better version of the film. The picture is presented in a 1080p VC-1
image that is very nicely done with solid blacks, a crisp image, smooth contrast
and an overall improved quality since the previous release. There are still moments of digital
artifacting throughout with some noise, but far and few in between. It is hard to distinguish “quality issues”
from Stones “art house vision,” but in the end it is a clear picture quality
upgrade from all prior DVD and VHS releases.
The last release of Natural Born
Killers on Blu-ray seemed to distort the variety of camera styles and
intended grain that Stone inserted into the film and whereas this release is
not perfect the image is not nearly as obnoxiously distorted as the last
release. The image has more depth and
the vivid colors and inky blacks make the image POP as never before. The sound in its Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround
sound is slightly improved over the 2008 release, but seems to be comparably
similar if not the same as it is a vast improvement over the DVD releases and
gets rid of all the annoying inconsistencies that were previously present. The gunfire, screams and everything in
between are insanely explosive and embody the film to an extreme extent. At times I feel the sound is distant or
muffled (style choice??) and inhibits the experience, but not enough to ruin
the overall presentation. In the end the
picture and sound a greatly improved and worth the double dip.
The
extras include the following:
Audio
Commentary from Stone, 6 deleted scenes, an alternate ending, “Chaos Rising”
featurette and finally a Charlie Rose Interview with Stone. The extras are well done and worth viewing,
but since they are all the same as those on previous releases there is not much
to excite fans.
This film
is worth the “double dip,” but I would have recommended not buying the first
Blu-ray release in the first place. This
is the Director’s Cut and the
superior of the two versions as the violence was never meant to be inhibited
and the Theatrical Cut only ever existed to get the “R” rating. Natural
Born Killers is one of this reviewer’s favorite films and with a director
like Stone along with an all-star cast line up this film is a must see.
- Michael P. Dougherty II
