Natural Born Killers

Natural Born Killers
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Name	Natural Born Killers
Director	Oliver Stone
Producer	Jane Hamsher, Don Murphy, Clayton Townsend
Writer	Quentin Tarantino, David Veloz, Richard Rutowski
Starring	Woody Harrelson, Juliette Lewis, Tom Sizemore, Rodney Dangerfield, Everett Quinton, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Jared Harris
Music	Brent Lewis
Cinematography	Robert Richardson
Editing	Hank Corwin, Brian Berdan
Studio	Regency Enterprises, Alcor Films
Released	August 26, 1994
Runtime	118 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$34 million
Gross	$50.3 million

Natural Born Killers. Directed by Oliver Stone and written by Quentin Tarantino, David Veloz, and Richard Rutowski, the film is a crime drama that explores the themes of violence, media, and the American Dream. The movie features a talented cast, including Woody Harrelson, Juliette Lewis, Tom Sizemore, and Rodney Dangerfield, and is known for its graphic content and stylized violence, reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange and Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas. The film's narrative is also influenced by the works of Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut, and its exploration of the United States' fascination with violence is comparable to the themes presented in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman and Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire.

Plot

The film tells the story of Mickey Knox and Mallory Knox, a young couple who go on a violent killing spree across the United States, leaving a trail of dead bodies and destruction in their wake, similar to the infamous crimes of Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate. Along the way, they are pursued by a determined Tommy Lee Jones-style detective, Jack Scagnetti, who is obsessed with capturing the couple and bringing them to justice, much like the FBI's pursuit of John Dillinger during the Great Depression. The film's narrative is presented in a non-linear fashion, with scenes and events presented out of chronological order, similar to the storytelling style of Christopher Nolan's Memento and Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. The film also explores the themes of love, violence, and the media's obsession with crime, as seen in the works of Andy Warhol and Truman Capote.

Production

The film was produced by Jane Hamsher, Don Murphy, and Clayton Townsend, and was shot on location in New Mexico, Arizona, and California, with a budget of $34 million, comparable to the production costs of Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather and Steven Spielberg's Jaws. The film's cinematography was handled by Robert Richardson, who used a combination of 35mm film and 16mm film to create a unique and stylized visual aesthetic, similar to the cinematography of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey and Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life. The film's score was composed by Brent Lewis, and features a mix of rock music, country music, and electronic music, with contributions from Leonard Cohen, Patti Smith, and Peter Gabriel, among others.

Release

The film was released on August 26, 1994, and was distributed by Warner Bros. and Regency Enterprises, with a wide release in United States theaters, including New York City's Radio City Music Hall and Los Angeles' Grauman's Chinese Theatre. The film received a mixed response from critics, with some praising its originality and style, while others criticized its graphic content and violence, similar to the reactions to Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ and Oliver Stone's JFK. The film was also screened at several film festivals, including the Cannes Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival, where it was praised by critics such as Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel.

Reception

The film received a mixed response from critics, with some praising its originality and style, while others criticized its graphic content and violence, similar to the reactions to David Lynch's Blue Velvet and Terry Gilliam's Brazil. The film holds a Rotten Tomatoes score of 47%, based on reviews from critics such as Peter Travers and Owen Gleiberman, with many praising the performances of Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis, as well as the film's cinematography and score, which were influenced by the works of Akira Kurosawa and Sergei Eisenstein. The film was also a commercial success, grossing over $50 million at the box office, making it a moderate success for Warner Bros. and Regency Enterprises, similar to the commercial success of Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands and Joel Coen's Fargo.

Themes

The film explores several themes, including the American Dream, violence, and the media's obsession with crime, as seen in the works of Norman Mailer and Gore Vidal. The film also explores the theme of love and relationships, as embodied by the characters of Mickey Knox and Mallory Knox, who are inspired by the characters of Bonnie and Clyde and Thelma and Louise. The film's use of violence and graphic content is also a commentary on the United States' fascination with violence, as seen in the works of Sam Peckinpah and Arthur Penn. The film's exploration of the media's role in shaping public opinion is also comparable to the themes presented in Orson Welles' Citizen Kane and Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard.

Controversy

The film was the subject of controversy upon its release, with some critics accusing it of glorifying violence and promoting a pro-violence agenda, similar to the controversy surrounding Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange and Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ. The film was also criticized for its graphic content and violence, with some calling for it to be banned or restricted, similar to the reactions to David Cronenberg's Videodrome and John Waters' Pink Flamingos. However, the film's director, Oliver Stone, defended the film, stating that it was a commentary on the United States' obsession with violence and the media's role in shaping public opinion, similar to the statements made by Francis Ford Coppola about The Godfather and Steven Spielberg about Schindler's List. The film's controversy is also comparable to the controversy surrounding Roman Polanski's Rosemary's Baby and William Friedkin's The Exorcist.

Category:American films