<![CDATA[ilianFilm - Natural Born Killers]]>

"Natural born killers" is MTV on LSD. In a barrage of images juxtaposed in jump cut style editing that last no longer than a few seconds, we become passengers on a hallucinatory and murderous trip.

Oliver Stone's film shows the creation of the celebrity culture through television and its negative impact on our understanding of entertainment. Mickey and Mallory Knox start as murderers but they are escalated into stardom by reality TV host Wayne Gale (Robert Downey Jr.) and his hunger for higher ratings.

Throughout the film we see fiction and reality manifested side by side in Stone's contrasting style. When Mickey and Mallory are traveling in their car we are in an obvious studio setting with ever changing and unrealistic lighting. This aesthetic choice contributes to the imaginary and quixotic journey the characters take, which is reminiscent of TV shows. This element is further supported by the farcical "I love Lucy" segment representing Mallory's home life.

These images are also juxtaposed with the realistic style of the diner, bridge and the prison sequences (among others).
This parallel editing technique comments directly on the hallucinatory aspirations of TV to present an authentic portrayal of reality and its phony desire to start a conversation about real life.

How do we escape this vicious experience - Red Hot Chili Peppers say it all:

Renegades with fancy gauges
Slay the plague for it's contagious
Pull the plug and take the stages
Throw away your television now

This is what Woody Harrelson's and Juliette Lewis' character do as well. They "kill the TV," by killing its most flashy advocate, Gale, in a brutal and avenging, execution style killing. After that Mickey and Mallory seem to be happier and content. They don't continue the asphyxiating life on-the-run, but instead bought a caravan and decide to raise a family.

The murder-hungry-blood-thirsty outlaws have become a domesticated couple after they have made the clean decision to throw away their television.

In that aspect TV reminds me of communism. They are both "killing" the dreamers and creating a monstrous existence.

4 / 5

Director: Oliver Stone
Staring: Woody Harrelson, Juliette Lewis, Tom Sizemore, Tommy Lee Jones, Robert Downey Jr.