Julian Sandshad a lustrous career as an actor, from his early work in notable roles in big films likeThe Killing Fields, embracing gothic charm playing Percy Shelley inGothic, frightening audiences as theWarlock, and sweeping Helena Bonham Carter off her feet inA Room with a View.The actor was famous in both the mainstream and as a cult icon, which made hisuntimely passing in early 2023a tragedy felt by many movie aficionados.
Looking back at the actor’s diverse career, it can be hard to pick one stand-out role. But for us, Julian Sands' best performance will always beNaked Lunch.Here is why.
An Important Part of Film History
To understand the significance ofNaked Lunch, one has to go back to the controversial work that inspired the film. William S. Burroughs’Naked Lunchwas published in 1959 and instantly sparked controversy worldwide for its depiction of sex and violence. Burroughs, who was already a darling of the literary world among outsiders like the beat poets, would find his work facing obscenity charges in the Boston courts.
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The resultsaw the book bannedin 1962 for obscenity, but in 1966 the Massachusetts Supreme Court reversed the decision with the help of testimony from literary alumni Norman Mailer and Allen Ginsberg. To beat the obscenity claims, the courts determined that the books handling of themes of addiction constituted enough merit that it was not seen as “irredeemable” from a literary perspective.
The content ofNaked Lunchis challenging to approach, and the claims of obscenity seem grounded when considering some of the illicit descriptions within the book that would prove difficult for even the most hardened reader. Regardless, the trial, which included passages from the book being shared with the public, gave the book infamy and popularity rarely seen for a work of experimental fiction. Moreover, the nameNaked Lunch,for many, stayed synonyms with deplorable graphic content in the eyes of many.
Adapting the work to film seemed almost impossible, and not just due to the abstract storytelling of the novel, but it seemed like everyone involved in the project would be evoking the past ghost of censorship and scrutiny. Julian Sands, however, had proven to excel working with controversial filmmakers and content that pushed boundaries. The role of Yves Cloquet seemed tailor-made for him, and the actor embraced it with all the confidence and bravado he was known for.
Working with David Cronenberg
David Cronenberg’s love of British cinema and actors is apparent, and one can look no further thanThe Brood,which saw him working with the rebellious and iconic actor Oliver Reed. Given Sands, who embraced challenging roles and thrived when working with unique filmmakers (Ken Russell onGothic), the two working together seemed inevitable.
At this point, Cronenberg was a cult favorite for his mastery in thebody horror genre, andNaked Lunchcame off the back of two of his most famous filmsThe Flyand the gynecological nightmare that wasDead Ringers. While to say that the Canadian director was a star maker is a stretch, but his ability to draw out the best in actors to give performances that would ultimately define their career is undeniable (Jeff Goldblum and James Woods are the best examples of this).
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While Sands' Yves Cloquet character is minor compared to lead Peter Weller as Bill Lee, there is still that undeniable spark and self-assuredness that Cronenberg can often draw out of actors. Sands is at his most suave, which says a lot for the tall, handsome actor, and this comes with the mystique that is being involved in the work of Cronenberg, who, at the time, was at the height of his career and at the forefront of many horror/cult film fans listof favorite directors.
For many,Naked Lunchwas the first introduction to Julian Sands, and the role will always resonate with audiences whose first memory of the charismatic actor was Yves Cloquet.
Why Julian Sands' Best Performance Will Always Be Naked Lunch
Julian Sands was an immense talent who maintained a cult-like status while still breaking through the mainstream. His career is varied, and there are no ‘bad’Julian Sands performances. What makesNaked Lunchstand out evolves a lot behind the aura around the film and its source material and Cronenberg’s ability to draw a unique performance out of every actor he works with.
Other elements that go into making this a definitive role are the film’s challenging of conventional norms around sexuality and its surreal portrayal of addiction. These elements, though by modern standards could be deemed problematic, at the time of the release were boundary-pushing in a way that Sands openly embraced.
Certainly, there are many roles which Sands will be fondly remembered for, butNaked Lunchis such a unique beast that the British actor’s role in the film makes it his best performance.
