February 4, 1992 Other Arts & Review the Other Press It's a Horror, But It's Untorgettable The movie Naked Lunch can be many : alookat the bizarre world which is the writer’s mind; an alternative history of how the William S. Burroughs novel of the same name was written; a surreal taleofspies and espionage; ormaybe its just a glimpse into the sordid de- for caying life of a drug addict. The movie, which is a free adaptation of Burroughs’ novel and is directed by Canadian director David Cronenberg, takes place in New York in 1953. It is the story of Will Lee (played by Peter Weller), a reformed junkie whonow works as a bug exterminator. Eventually he discovers that his wife Joan (Judy Davis) is addicted tothe poison pow- der. Naked Lunch directed by David Cronenberg Cineplex-Odeon reviewed by Sean Veley Twonarcotics detectives take himin to their Headquarters forques- tioning, where Will meets a giant, talking beetle, claiming to be his con- trollerin somebizarrespy operation. The beetle also warns Will about his wife, saying that she is in fact an agent from Interzone Inc. Will consults Doctor Benway (Roy Scheider), who ibes what he claims to be an antidote to Joan’s addiction tothebug powder, butisin factanevens narcotic known as Black Meat, which is made from theflesh of giantBraziliancenti R ing home with tidote’, Will his wife making love to his best friend on the couch. When Will and Joan play their “William Tell” routine, Lee kills her and goes on the run. Ina dockside bar, Will meets another spy from Interzone, a slow- Sicewtn Spee known as a ives Will a ticket 3 to Interzone “Wi trades in his gun ae sa ata pawn shop and or Interzone. There he starts writing his ‘reports’ about what has recently been happening in his life. Interzone is a strange place, full of drugs, homosexual encoun- ters, betrayal and intrigue, with spies seemingly around every dark cor- ner, each onea writer (all reports are typed: written reports are consid- ered unprofessional). Even Will’s typewriter is involved, occasionally transforming itself into a mechanical insect, insisting that it is Will’s con- troller and that he is a spy. Will meets several expatriots whilein Interzone. Among them are Hans (Robert Silverman), a pur- veyor of Black Meat, Yves Cloquet (Julian Sands), who tries to befriend Will Lee, and Tom and Joan Frost (Ian Holm and Judy Davis), two American writers who are also in- volved in the spy business. Lee becomes a haunted man: he is an agent, unaware of who is playing for what side, or even who - or what - his own superiors are; he is a junkie, addicted to the substance Black Meat. He is also writing what will become one of the most influen- tial novels of the century, a series of reports eventually to be called Naked Lunch. Anyone familiar with the life ofWilliamS. eed see certain parallels between his and the story of Will Lee. For exam- ple, the “William Tell” routine refers to an incident between Burroughs and his wife (also named Joan). In 1951 Burroughs was ar- rested for shooting his wife in the forehead while attempting toshoota glass of champagne from her head witha pistol. Shortly after this inci- dent he left for a place known as Interzone (short for International Zone, a place in Tangiers inhabited by artists looking for a tax-free, har- assment-free = ere. although the Bill Lee (Peter Weller) looks at a funny little cassette tape beside a big sand dune at night with lights shining Psychedelic Metalhead Are Cool Icrawled out of my deathbed and down to the Pump on Tuesday tosee the Screaming Trees and their guests Babes in Toyland. I was well rewarded for my suffering. The Screaming Trees Town Pump January 28, 1992 by Marianne Berkey The Screaming Trees are a panacea for the common plague. Think-the Doors meet Metallica with a psychedelic twist. Vocalist Mark Lanegan soothed my sinus pain with his grav- elly and the Conner broth- ers whipped the crowd into an orgiastic frenzy with their funky gui- tar and bass. They played six magnificent selections oun eir latest LP, Uncle Anesthesia,a1991 Epic/Sonyrelease, including my favourite, Beyond This Red Hot Chili Peppers Are Coming To Town! It’s going tobe Chili in Febru- ary and having said that I’m going to giveitaway giveitaway giveitaway now. The Red Hot Chili Peppersare prowling on a promotional tour to peddle theirnew album, Blood Sugar Sex Magic.. The good time boys that rock with a sock will funk you over when Red Hot Chili Peppers P.N.E. Forum February 3 & 4, 1992 previewed by Neil Art they come to Vancouver. To taste the pain you must havea drop of moth- er’s milk. Magic Johnson would be proud of the Flea circus. ‘Nuff said. * ThetPresainade room for peo- ple to either sit peacefully on the stage, or dive from it. It’s safe to say that a fine time was had by all. Here I should mention Babes in Toyland from Minneapolis, who warmed up the crowd and ham- mered out some assaultive music withanequallyaggressive vocal style. Although their sound was a trifle repetitious, there was a real nugget ofinspirationinstorefor those of us who arrived early enough to hear her. Thedeeprich voiceofdrum- mer, Lori Barbero graced several songs and added a third dimension to an otherwise forgettable perform- ance. Toend ona goodnote,I’dlike toadd that my head feltmuch clearer by the end of the night. For this I thank the Sreaming Trees. film’s Interzone is imaginary. It was in Tangiers where Burroughs wrote the novel Naked Lunch (the title was suggested by American author Jack Kerouac), which, along with the writings of his friends Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac, launched what is now known as the Beat movement. The women in Will Lee’s life (both his wife and Joan Frost) also have certain els to real life inci- dents. In the movie Will Lee’s wifeis addicted to his exterminator der, while in real life Burroughs’ spouse was addicted to a substance knownas Benzedrine. According to Kerouac’sclose friend Neal Cassady, Joan would consumeatleast 8 whole tubes of Benzedrine a day. This movie is not for every- Bill Lee (Peter Weller) talks to his typewriter/bug named Interzone, from the movie Naked Lunch CINEPLEX-ODEON PHOTO movie as simply being a homophobic/misogynist, drug- glamorizing film. Perhaps on some small level this is correct, but to stop thereistodenycertaindeeper themes that are prevalent in the film. there i is sex, but there is no love, no passion. Sex, like everything else in this movie, is just another form of power, a way of dominating and c other people. When Willis asked about his sexual prefer- ence while visiting a bar, he replies - that he is sexually ambivalent. There are several instances of narcotically-induced hallucinations and scenarios, but, without glamor- izing the use of drugs, they providea means totappingintounusual,some- times disturbing creative forces that are within us all. Anyone familiar with the life of William S. Burroughs will see certain parallels between his life and the life of Will Lee. one. If you are someone whose idea of Bio acta picture entertain- ment is The Last Boy Scout then this movie is definitely not for you. Some people will find this movie intriguing; others will find it offensive; still others will not under- stand what the hell is going on. ‘ Some people will see this Because this film is directed by Cronenberg, it is safe to expect some scenes of visual horror. How- ever, if you think youcan sit through two hours of alternative reality, then, by all means, play ball with this con- spiracy. It will be two hours you will not soon forget. The Other Press is looking for a distribution person to deliver papers. Easy hours. Good pay. Good life. Call 525-3542. PS. You must have a Car.