1984 - 5 stars out of 10

1984 - 5 stars out of 10

My first instinct was to warn you that there is a lot of nudity in this film but after finishing "1984," I am more inclined to warn you about the incredibly disturbing torture scenes that begin with the rack and end an eternity later with the rats.  During the torture sequences, the agony on John Hurt's face is impressive but difficult to watch.  The genius of George Orwell's distopian story lies in the progression of the plot.  The first 70 minutes are predictable as the main character is torn between his individualism and society's expectations; however, the twist propels the film in an entirely different direction as Big Brother's control over a mindless society becomes the least of Winston Smith's concerns.  The film moves slowly but is worth it to experience the story.  This is only if you think that you can handle the story, as the second half of the film is so unrelenting that you may find yourself searching for a distraction.