Naked Lunch

Year: 1991

Grade: C-

Country: Canada

Director: Cronenberg

Review

there’s a certain visual style to the picture that could be considered successful. it achieves a certain look and a certain feel, but i’ve never been one for giving very much kudos for that ability. one could make the argument that that is what film is about since, unlike classic novels, it incorporates visuals, depth, lighting, set and costume design, visual effects, etc. to me, though, film has always been about telling a story first. this film sort of tells a story of a man who is wracked with guilt because he kills his wife accidentally on purpose. it’s about his internal battles and the creative process (doing a lot of drugs) and probably some other stuff that i didn’t care to pick up. the bottom line is that the film didn’t entertain or excite me in any real way. i can certainly see how someone could dissect the film and get a lot from it – it does have meat on its bones – but i’m not going to be the one to do it unless i get paid. i’ve seen three other cronenberg films (existenz, the fly and crash) existenz and the fly were good, naked lunch is well done, but not my style at all, and seeing crash was one of the least fun film going experiences of my life.