Burroughs

I disagree with the last reviewer about the way this film is constructed; it's a straightforward, chronological examination of the writer's life. If you're a fan of the 'Naked Lunch' author, you'll love every minute of "Burroughs". Beyond the standard examination of Burroughs's writing techniques and the themes that informed his work, you get an intimate glimpse of the man himself. Director Howard Brookner celebrates the author's merits but is not afraid to expose his flaws, either; the footage of Burroughs and his ailing, doomed son (also a writer) attempting to carry on a conversation is agonizing. "Burroughs" is by turns frightening, funny, and sad. See it if you can find it.

Although "Burroughs" unravels as if it was thrown together, you don't have many Burroughs documentaries to choose from. I rented this from Home Film Festival, the only place I've found it available. The film goes back to Burroughs childhood, does a fair job of stating the facts, has interviews with Allen Ginsberg and Herbert Huncke, some of the finer points being when Burroughs is hanging out with his pals, and one point where he is obviously drunk singing one of his songs. Also footage of his brother and son Bill, who wrote "Speed." The Bunker footage was a treat and -- I don't know what the summary writer is talking about with the dream sequences -- it has some footage of movies he made during his career, as well as readings he gave at punk clubs and universities? toward his end. Burroughs is refreshingly candid in many segments.

I also want to point out for Burroughs fans that I recently read "My Education," a diary of dream entries over his later years that was edited together in 1997, and found it amazing. It explains a lot of what went into his later books -- "The Western Lands," "Cities of the Red Night" -- most of which were his vivid interconnected dreams.