Stagnant bar scenes, impromptu expeditions and cinematic desire, all of which you can expect from Italian director Luca Guadagnino’s newest A24 release “Queer.” The film premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival this past September and was released in select theaters on Nov. 27.
Set in 1950s Mexico City, American William Lee (Daniel Craig) lives in a small American community, spending most of his time in an opioid induced trip and perusing cocktail hours looking for younger men to sweep off their feet. These interactions for Lee don’t seem to last until sunrise — as with the nameless Chimu Bar Guy, or actor and musician Omar Apollo — however, Lee is looking for more.
Enter Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey), a young American student who’s arrival catches Lee’s attention amidst a literal cock fight, a symbol for their subtle yet potent dominance battle throughout the film. The pair dance around each other, sharing glances and drinks. Their relationship starts slow with Lee scared a sudden move will scare Allerton away due to Allerton’s clear reservation about what they do behind closed doors.
After an embarrassing drunken second chapter show from Lee where he expresses his desire for Allerton and his want to communicate with him in a way that isn’t verbal, Lee, in a desperate attempt to latch onto Allerton in any way he can, invites him on an ambiguous trip to South America.
We later find out that, not only does Lee mean he wants to communicate physically with Allerton, he also means telepathically. From here, chapter three takes a turn you wouldn’t necessarily expect after sitting through an hour and a half of Lee pining for Allerton in a yellow-toned Mexico City bar.
The film is broken up into three chapters and an epilogue, an homage to the inspiring media, William S. Burroughs’ novella of the same name. The novella is partially a sequel to Burroughs earlier novella “Junkie.” So, from the beginning, viewers are jumping into the world of “Queer” at an odd middle period in Lee’s life.
“Queer” features stunning performances from Craig and Starkey, and I am beyond excited to see Starkey off the set of “Outer Banks” and exploring new ventures.
The film is yet another masterpiece from Guadagnino however it falls short when compared to his earlier films like “Call Me By Your Name” and “Challengers.” Guadagnino is known for his on-screen love stories, however I felt that the relationship between Allerton and Lee was less about love and more about desire and the never ending cycle of finding yourself.
Not to say this movie wasn’t beautifully done, but it lacked a cohesiveness and solidity that Guadagnino’s previous films had. For this film, Guadagnino worked with screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes and esteemed film composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, all of whom he has worked with in the past, specifically on “Challengers.” I fear that the excitement of a new project might’ve gotten the better of them.
Specifically, this film has a tendency to take you out of the action with its song choice and silly computer-generated imagery (CGI). By the end of the film, we jump forward significantly in Lee’s timeline, so more modern music might not seem so unexpected when reflecting on the themes of the film in retrospect, but it’s a little jarring to be watching a scene set in the ‘50s with Nirvana’s “Marigold” playing.
Additionally, there is quite a bit of CGI used in this film, and for the most part it’s gorgeous — specifically a scene in chapter three that depicts Lee and Allerton’s desire to be one. However, there is some CGI in this film that is unnecessary and obviously fake like an unattended lit cigarette burning in an ashtray. These are little details but their outlandishness takes the viewer out of the scenes before them.
“Queer” will be released everywhere on Dec. 13, so plan to head to the theater for a wild ride. At its core, “Queer” is about longing for euphoria and human connection, and the cycles we find ourselves in because of our desires. It is a beautiful feat of cinema with a lot to unpack with a plethora of underlying metaphors.
4/5 stars
jhammer@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of @drewstarkey, Instagram
