Daniel Craig is ‘transfixing and brilliant in sensational’ same-sex romance Queer as critics praise the explicit ‘masterpiece’ – but others slam it as ‘pretentious and unengaging’
As a film enthusiast with a soft spot for thought-provoking dramas and exceptional acting performances, I must say that the reviews for “Bones and All” paint a captivating picture of this movie. Daniel Craig’s transformation from the suave James Bond to a fragile, tormented character in Luca Guadagnino’s latest film is nothing short of remarkable.
Critics have hailed Daniel Craig as both “mesmerizing” and “outstanding” in the highly anticipated, sensational new same-sex romance titled ‘Queer.’ Early, rave reviews are rolling in for this eagerly awaited film.
The story is centered around Craig’s portrayal of William Burroughs, an American expatriate and former war veteran named William Lee, as depicted in Burroughs’ semi-autobiographical novella. Here, William Lee is engaged in a romantic relationship with Eugene Allerton, a drug-addicted ex-Navy serviceman played by Drew Starkey, who is younger than him.
This year, it is the second film that acclaimed director Luca Guadagnino has helmed. He previously gave us the tennis-themed movie “Challengers” in April.
Many critics are already praising the film for meeting expectations following its debut at the Venice Film Festival on Tuesday, describing it as both captivating and intense due to Craig’s ability to blend vivid flair with a palpable hunger.
In the meantime, Alberto Barbera, head of the Venice Film Festival, expressed his belief that Daniel Craig delivered an exceptional performance in Queer. He went on to suggest that it wouldn’t be a shock if Craig receives an Academy Award nomination next year, which would represent Craig’s first ever Oscar recognition.
Nevertheless, the response from other critics has been diverse, with the movie allegedly eliciting a combination of applause and jeers following its press viewing in Venice. Additionally, The Times criticized it as lacking a cohesive storyline structure altogether.
As a devoted admirer, I’d like to share my excitement about a movie review by Robbie Collin from The Telegraph. He bestowed a stunning five-star rating on the film, praising Daniel Craig as simply ‘superb’. Moreover, he emphasized that this role serves to definitively retire his James Bond character, making this ‘gorgeous’ new flick truly remarkable.
1. Besides commending director Luca Guadagnino for producing some of his purest and poignant work to date, he disclosed that the film includes three intimate scenes which depict a level of explicitness typical of contemporary male actors in films.
The critic wrote: ‘Craig is sensational in a role swimming in psychological complexity, which he marshals with rare intuition and grace.
Queer delivers both stimulation and satisfaction in abundance, yet it is more than that. It’s a stunning portrayal of male solitude, demonstrating how quickly a lonely existence can transform into an unchangeable fate.
In the meantime, The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw awarded the film four out of five stars, praising Daniel Craig as ‘remarkably impressive’ in his role. He described the character as being ‘demanding, lustful, and volatile, much like Benoit Blanc from Knives Out, but amplified by steroids’.
In his wrinkled white suit, hat, glasses, and oddly visible holster, Craig consistently steals the spotlight in his role as an honorary consul. This character is a humorous, candid, and gracious portrayal of an erotic cowboy who is more lover than fighter.
However, he noted that the only disadvantage is that Craig ‘upstages Starkey just a little,’ writing that his ‘mesmeric screen presence will draw our attention back to Lee, away from Gene and his ambiguous intentions and emotions.
Adding: ‘Craig is so dominant that sometimes it seems that Gene is almost not worthy of him.’
The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney, described the film as ‘mesmerizing,’ and wrote:
As Craig skillfully portrays the talkative aspect of the character, making it quite amusing, he also excels at depicting Lee’s unusual baring of emotions, his growing longing for companionship intensifying his vulnerability as his dependence on Eugene turns into a persistent addiction.
‘Obtaining enlightening self-understanding can lead to debilitating vulnerability, a sentiment that Craig skillfully portrays in a bold delivery spanning a wide range of psychological and emotional depths.’
In the meantime, BBC Culture critic Nicholas Barber bestowed three stars on the movie, aligning with the widespread acclaim for Craig. He emphasized that Craig’s performance in this film serves as a powerful reminder of his extraordinary acting skills.
Craig delicately reveals a tender vulnerability in his portrayal of the weary, disillusioned bar patron, who acknowledges he’s no longer the man he used to be but holds onto flickers of his past charm. Removing the self-assured facade that both James Bond and Benoit Blanc typically exhibit.
Craig’s acting skills are remarkably outstanding, as demonstrated by his emotionally poignant portrayal. This powerful performance effectively maintains the melancholic tone of the bittersweet tale about two former expatriates.
In simpler terms, Ryan Lattanzio from IndieWire stated that the movie was both deep and vibrant, suggesting it’s the director’s most visually bold achievement so far.
Craig delivers a remarkable portrayal of a man who outwardly displays deep loneliness and inner turmoil, stemming from a heartbreaking situation of unreturned, overwhelming affection. His performance is both humorous and tragic as he struggles helplessly with this predicament.
The critic also complimented Starkey, further stating: ‘Charming Starkey, making his notable film debut following TV’s ‘Outer Banks,’ captivates the screen as an unattainable Adonis, mysteriously enigmatic and personifying the type of familiar romantic figure that might reside solely within one’s imagination.’
Simultaneously, film critic Tori Brazier feels that Daniel Craig’s Oscar discussion is “justified,” as he takes on a significant portion of the movie’s work. In simpler terms, she thinks his performance is worthy of an Oscar and contributes substantially to the film.
She contended that Craig is entirely dedicated to exposing himself in this part, and the discussions about an Oscar are not unwarranted, plus it’s almost certain that he’ll receive award recognition because of how Hollywood is drawn to audacious transformations.
‘However, it can be argued that Craig is doing a lot of heavy lifting when it comes to Queer because, without him, the murkiness of its storyline – which becomes harder to penetrate’
In a less favorable view, The Times critic Kevin Maher stated that the Bond actor manages to shed his old hyper-masculine image, yet the William S. Burroughs adaptation appears overly eager to be trendy.
In a review awarding only two stars, he wrote: ‘While Guadagnino’s work is undeniably visually captivating, the film lacks significant dramatic depth. It’s challenging to express just how minimal the action or plot development actually is.’
“Kuritzkes adaptation closely adheres to the original novel, excluding a questionable scene in which Lee experiences pleasure from a group of adolescent boys aged between 12 and 14.”
Yet, he couldn’t resist praising Craig, noting that he gave arguably his finest acting on screen.
According to Jo-Ann Titmarsh, critic for The Evening Standard, she concurred with this assessment and awarded the film just two out of five stars.
He quipped: ‘The whorehouses, the filth and the cock fights that Burroughs writes about do not translate convincingly onto the screen. This film needs to be dirtier.
The carefully planned dream scenes and drug use elements seemed overly sophisticated, bordering on being too self-important (even though Lee’s initial heroin relapse was exceptionally well-executed).
As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase the statement as follows: ‘Despite Craig delivering an outstanding performance and his fellow actors providing strong support, the movie fails to captivate the audience. This could be due to Burroughs’ writing or the difficulty in portraying addiction and hallucinations on screen.’
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2024-09-04 12:58