Natural Born Killers : overrated and not that original

overrated and not that original

I've always thought of Oliver Stone as having an extremely forced style. This movie isn't that bad but as an amateur cinefile I just can't help but look at it as though someone saw Badlands, Wild at Heard and True Romance, then decided to try too hard to combine them all to make the formula cooler than it already is, resulting in this relatively decent movie. The acting is fine (though extremely over the top at times - which I'm sure was a stylistic decision), the writing is decent (but extremely forced at times), the dialogue's not terrible. It just feels so lackluster for some reason. I know that because this movie was banned, fans are going to want to place it on the Clockwork Orange pedestal, but this film just simply isn't a big enough accomplishment relative to the praise it gets.

I know I'm just a stupid audience member and even though I've never made a feature-length film that I have no real authority in the matter. I'm just stating an opinion

O. Stone (in my fairly ignorant opinion) is just a hacky mix of Tarantino, Terrence Malick, David Lynch, Terry Gilliam and basically every modern cult-director with more vision than himself. Through watching his film's, I have come to the conclusion that Oliver Stone (once again, in my completely ignorant opinion) is the most overrated director of all time

Re: overrated and not that original

Clearly you don't understand what this movie is truly about. Yes, the style is weird, the dialogue is strange, but that's because this movie is satire. It's satire on media and how they portray serial killers.

Re: overrated and not that original

I'm aware of that. The acting in this movie is far from mediocre and it's clear that the actors were aware of the movie's grander themes; however, in the medium of film, it's very simple for a message to fail when the filmmakers chose to glorify the style rather than substance.

Re: overrated and not that original

You assert that NBK is a ripoff of Badlands and True Romance, which I find ironic, and here's why: Quentin (and friend Roger Avary) wrote NBK and True Romance, originally, as a single script, called The Open Road, and Badlands was an influence. Note that the theme of True Romance is actually the theme to Badlands.

Re: overrated and not that original

You fail to acknowledge the fact that Stone also has a credit for screenwriting for the film. I'm aware what the themes of NBK are intended to be. It's just painfully obvious that NBK failed to a certain extent when attempting to achieve those goals. Just like True Romance, it's the love our serial killing protagonists have for each other that ends up sticking out the most. And just like Badlands, these characters are meant to be almost child-like in their endeavors.

Two things NBK doesn't have in common with those films, however, are:

- True Romance's brilliant wit and unforgettable dialogue

- Badlands'dream-like
aesthetic and undeniable overall
beauty


P.S. You say True Romance and Badlands essentially have same themes. I hate to break it to you but you're wrong about that one. In Badlands, we learn that not only does goodness reside in the virtually innocent (Spacek), but that the guilty (Sheen) possess the ability to be virtuous to some extent. True Romance is just a straightforward how-far-would-you- go-for-the-one-you-love type of movie.

Re: overrated and not that original


P.S. You say True Romance and Badlands essentially have same themes. I hate to break it to you but you're wrong about that one. In Badlands, we learn that not only does goodness reside in the virtually innocent (Spacek), but that the guilty (Sheen) possess the ability to be virtuous to some extent. True Romance is just a straightforward how-far-would-you- go-for-the-one-you-love type of movie.


I think he meant the theme music, Hans Zimmer's score for True Romance is an homage/rip off* of the music of Badlands.

no retreat baby, no surrender

Re: overrated and not that original

Ah. I don't remember the music from True Romance all that much but I can imagine it fit well.

Re: overrated and not that original

Overrated... I don't think so but I could see how some wouldn't like it.

Not that original.... No. There aren't any other movies quite like it which makes it original.

Re: overrated and not that original

Overrated: Referred to by many as one of the all time greats

Lack of originality: Woody Harrelson's character is a combination of Martin Sheen's character from Badlands and Christian Slater's character in True Romance. Recast Warren Oates with a loud, sweaty obnoxious Rodney Dangerfield, have him rape Sissy Spaceck and film all his scenes as though it's set in an obscene sitcom. Film the rest of it with the colorful style of Terry Gilliam and you end up with Natural Born Killers.

Re: overrated and not that original

When you say "the colorful style of Terry Gilliam," which Gilliam movies are you referring to? It seems to me that the only one to resemble Natural Born Killers stylistically was Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which came later.

Re: overrated and not that original


O. Stone (in my fairly ignorant opinion) is just a hacky mix of Tarantino, Terrence Malick, David Lynch, Terry Gilliam and basically every modern cult-director with more vision than himself.
On the whole I do prefer his 20th century work to that of this century, but Salvador, Platoon, Wall Street, Born on the Fourth of July, JFK and this. Not bad for a hack!🐭

Re: overrated and not that original

While I admit Stone is not talentless, I must say he's averaged directing at least one film every two years. And walking in a path similar to the one many other directors have taken (FF Coppola, Woody Allen, M. Night Shyamalan, etc.), his talents were unevenly distributed throughout a prolific, yet inconsistent career. As a result, we end up with final products that often lack the cohesiveness necessary to provoke the desired reaction from the audience.

Re: overrated and not that original

You sound like you don't like Stone's directing and you are entitled to that opinion. But quite honestly you sound like you are reaching a bit here. Fact is Stone is one of americas's great directors and has told stories thru film quite effectively. Just off the top of my head I can name some really incredibly effective films that made the viewer think more or even question what moralities we as a society stand for. There really aren't that many films that are made where the viewer comes out of the film being emotionally stirred and thinking about what they just saw on the screen. You may not like his directing but fact is Stone is one of americas great directors. Period.
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