Natural Born Killers (Director's Cut)

Oliver Stone, with this film (along with the neo-noir "U-Turn" and others)attempts satire but ends up achieving what every artist strives to avoid: becoming that which they despise. By creating this loud, bleak, ultra violent, crude and mono-syllabic film, Stone simply ends up ultimately contributing to the prevailing apocalyptic winds currently blowing our culture into oblivion.

Beneath the ugly exterior of this unpleasent film lies an even uglier truth. Stone completely allows himself (as he does with most of his films)to be coopted by the powers of darkness which he claims to despise.

With "Natural Born Killers", Stone offers the viewer absolutely no hope. He gives us an entire film populated with drooling morons, allowing us no single empathetic character. Obviously Stone wants to draw symbollic parallels between the sex crazed, violent beasts in his narrative and we the viewers. Granted we are all complex characters containing flaws, but we also contain the capacity for human decency and beauty. By giving his characters nothing even remotely admirable, Stone is condemning all of us (and therefore himself- after all, he made the film)into a black hole of despair.

The film does indeed earn one star out of 5 for its admittedly brilliant use of cinema. Stone has always been a canny, if hyperactive, genius at manipulating the film medium. His utter fearlessness borders on the reckless as he deftly shifts film stocks, incorperates animation and gleefully jump cuts. Ironically though, his very mastery of the medium makes him the quintessential American director of the 1990's: overblown, overwrought, obnoxious and wastefull. Like mainstream American media (I laugh at those reviewers who wrongly call Stone "European" in vision as opposed to "American")Stone doesn't understand subtlety. As in all his films, Stone displays a Senecan knack for bludgeoning every point home. He knows absolutely no restraint. And what is more American than being abrupt, loud and rude?

Any viewers though who suffer from chronic migrain need to avoid Stone's canon, especially this film, as it does inspire head splitting agony.

The only reason many praise his films and demonize the all too similar hack Micheal Bay is because many like to call Oliver Stone a brave visionary.

Oliver Stone may be a visual genius, but he caters to the prevailing culture of darkness by simply stating the obvious (whereas Bay assumes his viewers are all idiots). It is not courageous in the least to be cynical and pessimistic. In fact, the opposite is true. As an artist and as a human being, it takes great courage to fight against ignorance and evil and show elements of hope. If Stone has no hope for America or mankind, as "NBK" suggests, then what is the point of making art? A true visionary steps out of Plato's cave and shows us what lays beyond our personal feeble dim visions. We already see the dark cave around us and the even darker and shallow shadows that flicker on the walls in front of us. "Natural Born Killers" as a movie is nothing more than a flashy dark shadow across our landscape.

Instead of purchasing this film, I reccomend the similar themed, but far better films: "Gun Crazy","Bonnie And Clyde", "Badlands" (a quiet, beautiful film that NBK tries to be-but can't because it has no soul)and even Jonathan Demme's great but overlooked black romantic comedy "Something Wild". Each aforementioned film allows characters to posses weaknesses and beauty at the same time while simultaneously scewering and praising American culture.

Stone has managed to successfully achieve that wobbly tightrope with the magnificent films "Nixon" and "Born On The Forth Of July", but he fails here.


I'd give it a WARNING - DO NOT BUY if that were available   January 31, 2008
Gunner (Bethlehem,Georgia)
26 out of 37 found this review helpful

Natural Born Killers DVD


Natural Born Killers is so bad that I just had to review it. I normally don't review things I don't like, but this is sooooo bad I just had to. Oliver Stone must have been smoking something to make this farce. It's sort of a Bonnie and Clyde on Acid.

NBK is a film that has a lot of twists to it when it comes to direction and overall approach. The film itself is told in a variety of styles and ways that includes hints of indie, underground, documentary, sickish cartoons, blockbuster action, and pop culture power.

In NBK, we are introduced to Mickey (Woody Harrelson) and Molly (Juliette Lewis) who are two lovers on the run who also seem to be in the habit of shot gunning down pretty much anyone that gets in their way. Their characters are superbly told through the conviction that Woody and Juliette's efforts produce. A couple who has a lot of issues, but that also seem to have just as good an understanding of modern day civilization as the next guy. Through the various stops at diners and gas stations that continue to leave bodies in the wake, they start to become famous. Through the local media outlets to nationally televised programs and Popular Magazine Syndications, their story begins to develop into that of legend, and a popular one at that.

Stone's film is not as black and white as many have said it is. It's not just about "violence", but also the media's glamorization of it. It also touches on aspects of tragic youth that can ultimately change a person's life forever. From dialogue similar to Charles Manson interviews to quick quips of Waco, Rodney King, and The Menendez brothers, the film never lets up its image intense onslaught of murder, mayhem, and madness.

Not recommended for anyone. Normally when you buy a DVD you want to watch it more than once. I can't imagine anyone wanting to do that.

Gunner January, 2008



Degradation of American Culture on Display!   February 12, 2000
Bruce Lee Pullen (Butler, IN USA)
18 out of 27 found this review helpful

Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers is one of the most unique artistic visions in the last ten years. Some call it short-sighted, narrow, sensory overload, a bomabstic explosion of useless gas, or a pathetic exuse of a movie. Those who describe Natural Born Killers as such are missing the point or are perfect examples of it. The film is the most accurate film account of the 90's American culture. Mickey ( Woody Harrelson ) and Malory's ( Julliete Lewis ) dis-allusionment with the media, conservatism, morality, and life and death are all a primal revolution from the material enslavement of society. Watch the opening sequence with the dramatic and purposesly hallow transitions between color and black -and-white and violence and romance to see Stone's observations on 90's culture and the 80's influence upon it. The Rodney Dangerfield Sitcom section ( Roseanne anyone! ), sexually graphic animation, sexual abuse of children, Rodney King style beatings, Mickey and Mallory's sexual revolution, and the media's romanticism of crime (Heraldo, Montel, Jerry Springer)are all magnificentally satrized on this film. The 90's as a decade was in a nutshell short-sighted, narrow, sensory overloaded , a bomabstic explosion of useless gas, and a pathetic decade. The great films reflect the decades from which they were made and Natural Born Killers is no exception. In the fantastically edited last 30 minutes of NBK, this film will either totally repulse you or change your opinion of modern society. That is the power of this hyper-kinetic minagerie of the 90's. Oliver Stone's director's cut adds only about three minutes of extra footage which includes Tommy Lee Jone's decapitated head and some other disturbing material. This addition just adds more ferocity to Stone's vision. Also available on the DVD version are about 45 minutes of deleted scenes that Stone beleived would have hampered or slowed down NBK's narrative. The footage is also very provocative in its own right. A must-see.


Lost in a World of Ghosts...   January 26, 2004
Michael Crane (Orland Park, IL USA)
18 out of 25 found this review helpful

"Natural Born Killers" is Oliver Stone's "take-no-prisoners" assault on the media that is cinematic eye-candy to the teeth. It's an uneasy satire to watch, but it is an extremely effective film that is both thrilling and funny. Many people loath this movie, as it is not an easy one to take. I feel there's a lot of ugly truths hidden within, and those truths aren't very easy to accept for most. For those who are aware of how manipulative and hypocritical the media world can be are in for one crazy and unforgiving ride that has no limits.

Mickey and Mallory Knox may appear to be your ordinary couple, but they aren't. In fact, the two are notorious serial killers who love to get their adrenaline pumping by destroying the lives of others. The media has pretty much made the villainous duo heroes to the public, as they can't get enough of them. They headline every single news program with absolute pride. As the two continue their bloody rampage through the states, the public is watching every step of the way with bloodshot eyes.

The structure of the film is usually what turns people off from it, but I thought it was all executed perfectly. It doesn't follow your basic plot structure in the same way most films do. We're presented with the characters, the conflict, resolution, etc.--but it's pieced together in random spots as if you were surfing through different channels on the TV. This is extremely effective for what Stone is trying to convey. It's a disturbing film because it actually sheds light on something most people don't want to fess up to, and that is the glorification of criminals and violence. I found it to be a breath-taking satire, as well as an outstanding film all together.

One of the many strong points that this film has is the amazing acting from the superb cast. Woody Harrelson is savagely entertaining as the notorious "Mickey," while Juliette Lewis is beautiful and deadly. Robert Downey Jr. is a complete joy to watch as he partakes in the role of the obsessive talk-show host who is only concerned with ratings (now, who does he remind you of?). It also must be said that Tommy Lee Jones gives one of his funniest performances ever--the expressions on his face are absolutely priceless.

This particular DVD version of the movie contains a bunch of goodies for DVD fanatics. One of the main features is that this is the "Director's Cut." While it's not much longer than the original theatrical version, certain extended shots and angles deemed "controversial" have been restored in this version. The picture and sound quality is really great and does the film the justice that it deserves. Extras that can be found on the DVD include the director's commentary, deleted scenes, an alternative ending, and cast and crew interviews. Not a bad package, if you ask me.

"Natural Born Killers" is an absolute cinematic treat to film buffs. While it's most likely not to be welcomed with open-arms by most, it certainly is entertaining to those who love it. It's not your ordinary movie, that much is for sure. If you're looking for a risk-taking satire that defies all of the rules and boundaries, this might be the choice for you. It's a unique experience that never loses its appeal or originality. -Michael Crane