The dry wit of writer William S. Burroughs transfers surprisingly well to the screen. This partially biographical celluloid interpretation of his book shows Burroughs's daring and delirium as one of the experimental beat writers (with Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg) who emerged in the late 1950s. In the lead role, Peter Weller does a dead-on Burroughs impression, and the film follows a bizarre logic and has a dark, rich look that makes it one of director David Cronenberg's more satisfying works. Bill Lee (Weller) is a pest-control man who would rather be a writer, and he is seeking escape from his troubled existence. After killing his wife, he flees to Interzone, a hallucinatory version of Tangiers (the location where Burroughs penned the book). There he finds that reality and fantasy have merged in a strange, surreal landscape inhabited by half-alien, half-insect creatures and odd humans. And finally, in this altered state, Lee can become a writer. Like other Cronenberg films, NAKED LUNCH is a bit squishy; it is full of pervasive biological dread. And this film is not exactly faithful to the novel. Instead, Cronenberg provides it with a neat framework that begins and ends with Lee shooting his wife Joan (Judy Davis) during a botched William Tell routine, just as Burroughs did in real life.
DVD Features
Region 1 Keep Case Special Edition Widescreen - 1.85 Audio: Stereo - English Additional Release Material: Featurette B-Roll Montage Audio Commentary: David Cronenberg - Director, Peter Weller - Star Trailers: 1. TV Spots 2. Theatrical Trailer Text/Photo Galleries: Excerpts From the Novel Read By William S. Burroughs Production Stills Gallery Special Effects Stills Gallery
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I have not had the chance to read William S. Burroughs' book called "Naked Lunch" or anything else he has written. The legend behind it, however, seems to be everlasting in its effect. Many people... Read the whole review at MatchFlick
Posted on April 11, 2008
Reviewed by: BillyBob
Burp!....I mean, BUR-R-R-R-R-P!!!....(Ah! That's better)....What a relief! I am truly sorry about that bit of belching there, movie-fans, but it seems that after watching NAKED LUNCH I've somehow got... Read the whole review at MatchFlick
Posted on November 23, 2008
Posted on April 11, 2008
