Review of Naked Lunch (1991) by Tristan G — 25 Mar 2009
This film was unpleasant to watch. But, after it finished, I asked myself, "was it worth it?" I felt that it was, yet I felt like there was something I was quite getting at. So I watched it again, and the second time it made much more sense.
I felt as if the film were refreshed. I think it might have something to do with the whole unpredictable tone the first time around. The second time, I already knew what was going to happen, and I was able to concentrate on the plot before.
The film is a loose adaptation of the unfilmable novel, NAKED LUNCH by William Burroughs. The film is an account of his drug addiction, his homosexuality, his "adventures to InterZone", and his assassination of his wife, who was also a drug addict.
The film is littered with nasty images, particularly a bug with a talking asshole. It's all rather nasty. But the film itself has a neat film-noir sort of tone that really works wonders to the material.
Not only that, it is a very humorous film at some parts. Still, David Cronenberg (the director) is the master of bodily deformity and pain. It definitely isn't for everybody. Just keep in mind that this isn't the kind of film that you can "enjoy".
it's the sort of film that you must watch more than once if you hope to get any sort of meaning out of it at all. It's a puzzle of a film, but I think it's worth it. Some of the design of the typewriters are pretty cool too.
This review of Naked Lunch (1991) was written by Tristan G on 25 Mar 2009.
Naked Lunch has generally received positive reviews.
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