16/50
In 1950s Mexico City, an American immigrant in his early 40s lives a lonely life in the middle of a small American community. But the arrival of a young student inspires the man to finally make a meaningful connection with someone. Daniel Craig was ultimately the one who convinced Luca Guadagnino to cast Drew Starkey after watching Guadagnino’s audition tapes and telling him "That's the guy" after watching Starkey… William Lee: Sit on Your Ass! Or What’s Left of It After Four Years in the Navy.. Starring in The Graham Norton Show: Daniel Craig/Nicola Coughlan/Jesse Eisenberg/Kieran Culkin/Flo (2024). I’ve Never Seen 'Naked Lunch' (1991), but I thought about it often during the screening of โQueerโ at the 2024 London Film Festival: probably to be expected, given that the source material for both films was provided by William S Burroughs. In 1950s Mexico, William Lee, an American writer on the wrong side of the…forties? fifties? He spends his days getting drunk, shooting and having casual sex with other men. One day, a muscular, smart young hunk named Eugene walks into a bar and Lee is impressed. But what does Eugene himself want? Plus, thereโs that telepathic drug of thought…Iโm not sure what director Luca Guadagnino is trying to achieve stylistically with this film. The sets are decorated almost entirely in blocky colorsโboring reds and olive greens, for exampleโand have that vaguely unrealistic, clean, technical look that made me think the intention was to pay homage to the films of the era in which the film is set. But if thatโs the case, why is the decidedly 1950s rock and techno soundtrack (is it my imagination, or is he starting to sound like Sid James?) crippled by the lead roleโs constant recitation of nonsensical speeches? with an accent thatโs clearly not his. Drew Starkey is able to give a more nuanced performance as the manipulative Eugene, and he definitely looks preppy. Lesley Manville is unrecognizable as a doctor living in the South American jungleโwell done to the makeup team. This is the kind of film that strikes me as more about the art style than the substance of the narrative. It was okay to see once, but I wonโt be watching it again.