Queer review: Hats off to Daniel Craig, BRIAN VINER reviews the same sex romance as James Bond shrugs off the image of Ian Fleming’s ultra-heterosexual alpha-male super-spy

It appears that you are asking for an opinion from someone who is an obsessed fan of the movie “Queer.” Here’s my interpretation based on your provided information:

Queer: Steamy period drama 

Translation: Daniel Craig is giving it his all, as he strives to move away from the stereotype of Ian Fleming’s strictly heterosexual, hyper-masculine secret agent image, after portraying five James Bond roles over a span of 15 years.

1. In the beloved movies series called “Knives Out,” the character Craig, who was previously a secretive gay detective named Benoit Blanc, has now abandoned discretion completely in the steamy film titled “Queer.” This movie had its global debut last night at the prestigious Venice Film Festival.

Titled after William S. Burroughs’ autobiographical novel, “Queer” is primarily set in Mexico City during the early 1950s. In this setting, our protagonist, a reckless writer named William Lee (Craig), passes his days consumed by tequila and pursuing young men.

One of them is Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey), with whom Lee quickly becomes infatuated. 

As an avid admirer, I find myself questioning whether Gene is willing to reveal his unique tendencies, and sometimes hesitate before taking action, as director Luca Guadagnino skillfully employs camera manipulation and editing-suite wizardry to demonstrate how Lee’s desires are tugging at him, yet he can’t quite fulfill them on his own.

As time goes by, the relationship between the characters becomes more than just a friendship. Soon, they are deeply in love, and the narrative takes a turn for the intimate. The scenes that follow can get quite steamy and graphic, which might surprise those who still envision Craig as James Bond – the quintessential and unstoppable ladies’ man from fiction. However, it should be noted that this character’s romantic escapades were strictly of the female variety.

Keep in mind that the portrayal of James Bond in this movie differs significantly from Lee’s appearance. He appears to be perpetually unshaved, has a hairstyle reminiscent of the mid-20th century, and seems to be nearly always intoxicated.

a seemingly sober, hard-drinking, chain-smoking, drug-addicted, pistol-toting, promiscuously ‘unnoticeable’ character in an atmosphere where none of these traits truly distinguish him from the crowd.

This collection features another character, an American expatriate portrayed with flamboyant panache by Jason Schwartzman, who frequently finds himself being outsmarted and robbed by local Mexican youths during his interactions with them.

1. Lee appears to be particularly joyful, despite having spent time with Gene. The younger gentleman exhibits an appealing charm, drawing interest from both women and men alike.

Desperate, Lee proposes a deal to Gene. Can Gene accompany him to South America, and will he be pleasant to me twice weekly if I cover the expenses?

It isn’t entirely evident how Lee earns his living, as he often appears excessively intoxicated while writing, and if the movie has a weakness, it lies in providing insufficient background information.

Initially, there isn’t a substantial narrative in this work. Lee, however, finds Gene Rosenberg intriguing, and that seems to be it. Yet, the cinematic aesthetic, the attention to detail from the period, is exceptionally well-executed. For those unfamiliar with William S Burroughs’ work, consider Graham Greene as an alternative reference.

If Greene’s novels had a distinctly LGBTQ+ theme set in mid-20th century Latin America, this movie would evoke a sense of being immersed in one of those stories. It’s as if you can almost feel the intensity, taste the tension, smell the anticipation.

Additionally, let’s consider the situation from Lee’s perspective. After overcoming various health issues connected to his extraordinary ability to consume more than just one thing, Lee ventures deep into the Ecuadorian rainforest in pursuit of a drug labeled ‘yage’. This peculiar substance is rumored to bestow telepathic capabilities on those who are perceived as bold (or idiotic) enough to take it. Furthermore, it allows for mad hallucinations.

Starting from here, the film takes a bizarre turn, suggesting that directors Luca Guadagnino and Justin Kuritzkes (who also worked together on this year’s acclaimed film The Challengers) may have experienced ayahuasca themselves.

However, Lesley Manville delivers a remarkable performance as a somewhat intimidating, almost unbalanced American botanist and physician who has assimilated deeply into the jungle, catering to the curiosity of her guests with great expertise.

It’s not easy to steal this film from Craig but if anyone manages it, Manville does. 

It appears that Angelina Jolie is strongly favored to win the Best Actress award at Venice for her powerful portrayal of opera singer Maria Callas in Maria. However, if Lesley Manville receives a nomination for Best Supporting Actress when the Oscar nominations are announced, it wouldn’t shock me one bit. Queer is definitely worth watching, and Manville’s performance alone makes it so, but there’s much more to this film as well.

There is as yet no confirmed UK release date for Queer.

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2024-09-04 13:34