The problem with A Clockwork Orange, and I have read that Kubrick himself felt some sense of failure, is that Alec is the most charismatic character in that world, which is otherwise drab or grotesque. Hence his character engenders an identification differently from the book, and the beautifully choreographed violence, rather than making the intended anti-violence message, becomes seductive to a mass audience. The film was one of those pioneering explicit violence (along with Bonnie & Clyde, The Wild Bunch) under the mantle of "controversial" pop art, but at the time it abetted the escalation of graphic violence in the movies. On the other hand, the violence, drug use and sexual abuse in The Bad Lieutenant is completely repulsive, which may be why so many viewers are repelled by the film itself. Keitel gets his minimal redemption, but he is not forgiven his sins. It's an ugly portrait of a bad man on a deservedly bad luck streak, and while the film does have faults (ie. the casting of the nun) it is harder for an audience to get their rocks off on the violence. Mark Netter [log in to unmask] ---- To signoff SCREEN-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF SCREEN-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]