David Cronenberg’s Naked Lunch
Posted by Qais Fulton
Back in the early 90’s David Cronenberg adapted Naked Lunch to film, a release that had a profound effect on my development, introducing me not only to the works of Cronenberg but also Burroughs and then further into the strange labyrinth of cinema and beat poetry. Naturally, the film was received with a mixed reaction; an unsurprising turn of events considering the combination of both Cronenberg and Burroughs was likely to stir the hornets nest of fanboyism for the latter. Personally, I found my first (and subsequent) viewing of it similar to the abject horror followed by near post-coital bliss of the insipid Reese’s commercials from the 80’s; two great tastes that did indeed taste great together.
While I could prattle on about my love for Cronenberg, Burroughs, and the combination of the two artist’s work for hours on end I’m also able to admit it’s not going to be to everyone’s tastes. Regardless, if you’re enough of a thick-skulled bint not to wholly appreciate the film in its entirety (it’s ok, we still love you, but you only get half an Octobee for Christmas this year), simply mute your TV; because this movie is pure eye-candy ladies and gents. Hit the jump for more stills from Naked Lunch.
Naked Lunch [Monster Brains]
Categories: Rail, David Cronenberg, Unjustified Intellectual Superiority Complexes, Naked Lunch, Eye Candy, Nightmares, drugs!, Insects, Film, Boys Boys Boys, Movies, Insanity, Books
Posted at 4:04 pm on March 17, 2008
8 Comments -
i love this movie. i love this book, i have read it 4 or 5 times.
Comment by DUBWISE — March 17, 2008 @ 4:48 pm
The first time I saw this was in a theater late at night in the fevered throes of walking pneumonia. I had to see it again, just to make sure what I saw really was in the movie.
I watch this at couple of times a year, if only to reboot the writer partition in my brain - this is my favorite example of the creative process, when folks want to know what it’s like to be a writer. It’s like being haunted by Mugwumps and talking typewriters….
Comment by James Shearhart — March 17, 2008 @ 4:55 pm
wow
Comment by ITHIDET — March 17, 2008 @ 9:27 pm
My adoration for this film is only secondary to my adoration for the novel. I read it at least twice a year and find topical uses for large passages at least once a month.
Cronenberg’s vision of the film, while deviating from the novel, complements it in an entirely inexplicable way that I adore.
Comment by Bryn — March 17, 2008 @ 9:28 pm
“Don’t fuck with me, Lee. WHERE’S MY TYPEWRITER?”
On the subject of Burroughs any fan of his who hasn’t seen the Ah Pook is Here animated short needs to.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2C5XuylNFLo
Written and narrated/read by Burroughs.
Comment by Ben Morris — March 17, 2008 @ 11:24 pm
I’ve got this on VHS. I get the oddest looks when I tell people I think the scene between Peter Weller and Judi Davis having the threeway with the scarab-like typewriter is one of the hottest sex scenes in cinema history, second only to the werewolf threeway in The Howling. Evidently, threeways involving at least one non-human are what turns my crank.
Of WSB’s books (that I’ve read), I think my favorite is The Ticket That Exploded. There’s an obvious bloodline between that and much of Grant Morrison’s metafictional tropes.
Comment by License Farm — March 18, 2008 @ 12:40 am
dammit - where’s that book… no, that’s Nietzsche… no, Niven… Calculus? WTF?
AH, *there* you are… mmmmm, goody… ::goes to the comfy chair::
Comment by zanbowser — March 18, 2008 @ 7:16 am
i have a stolen-from-now-defunct-video-store vhs copy of this movie which i have seen 7 times - yet never without being under the influence of some variety of hallucinogenic substance.
i feel sick
Comment by Melissa — March 20, 2008 @ 12:58 am