Luca Guadignino's Queer offers closure to an unfinished Burrough's story
FILM REVIEW
Queer
3 out of 4 stars
Rudy Segovia
Headliner Chicago
Queer
3 out of 4 stars
Rudy Segovia
Headliner Chicago
photo courtesy of A24 Pictures
It's been quite a year for director Luca Guadignino. He's releasing Queer, his second film in 2024, a few months after the biggest box office success of his career Challengers which starred Zendaya, Josh O'Connor & Mike Faist. Fans of Guadignino will want to compare the two films, and that's where it can get a bit complicated. The one big similarity is that they were both written by Justin Kuritzkes. The dissimilarities between the two films are evident in differing views of sexuality, time periods and age differences. These elements play a huge role in how the characters react to their own feelings and to others, making for two distinctly different, but equally satisfying films. That's one of the magical things that I love about Guadignino's work: he captures the essences of the time period and location with such precision and beauty.
Let's chat about the new film, Queer, starring Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey. The film is based on an unfinished 1985 story by William S. Burroughs about a drug addicted expat living in Mexico City during the 1950’s. In the film, we get to see William Lee (Craig) in Mexico City going about his addiction-filled life, until he meets a beautiful stranger named Eugene Allerton (Starkey).
photo courtesy of A24 Pictures
Fueled by Lee's infatuation. the two begin a complicated friendship that leads to few intimate moments and a journey from Mexico City to South America in search of the mind-altering drug Ayahuasca. That's where we end in the book and movie we get to see what happens during and after the visit. Creating an ending in the voice that would make Burroghs proud is a big task, The team brought in Oliver Harris, a leading William S. Burroughs expert in the UK, to be a part of the film adaptation to make that happen.
Without knowing the source material, many people may make assumptions about the film just based on the title. While there are moments that Lee (Daniel Craig) does explore his physical desires and wants, those themes are also overshadowed later in the film by his drug addictions. Those wanting to know about the explicit nature of the film, intimate scenes are few and far between and leave more to the imagination than what you actually see on screen.
There’s a few interesting things about being queer during this 1950’s time that are showcased beautifully in the film. Some of the characters live their lives out and proud, while others refuse to give their identify a label. That could be the 1950’s, it could be Mexico City, it could be their status as an ex-pat or a combination. When it comes to Allerton, he openly entertains the company of men and women in the same spaces, but gets little to no reaction from anyone from his interfered conquests. While, I do love the mysterious nature of Allerton’s character, there are some significant moments that I wish I could have seen him react in a more intense manner.
I was along for the ride of this movie for the most part. Similar to 2018’s Sorry to Bother You, when the film takes a psychedelic turn, it’s hard to stay invested in the story. There is one crucial moment in those trippy scenes that I won’t spoil, but gives context and answers to the entire plot.
Without knowing the source material, many people may make assumptions about the film just based on the title. While there are moments that Lee (Daniel Craig) does explore his physical desires and wants, those themes are also overshadowed later in the film by his drug addictions. Those wanting to know about the explicit nature of the film, intimate scenes are few and far between and leave more to the imagination than what you actually see on screen.
There’s a few interesting things about being queer during this 1950’s time that are showcased beautifully in the film. Some of the characters live their lives out and proud, while others refuse to give their identify a label. That could be the 1950’s, it could be Mexico City, it could be their status as an ex-pat or a combination. When it comes to Allerton, he openly entertains the company of men and women in the same spaces, but gets little to no reaction from anyone from his interfered conquests. While, I do love the mysterious nature of Allerton’s character, there are some significant moments that I wish I could have seen him react in a more intense manner.
I was along for the ride of this movie for the most part. Similar to 2018’s Sorry to Bother You, when the film takes a psychedelic turn, it’s hard to stay invested in the story. There is one crucial moment in those trippy scenes that I won’t spoil, but gives context and answers to the entire plot.
photo courtesy of A24 Pictures
My only real issue with this film is with characters dealing with the heavy drug use. We often see these characters smoking and drinking, but harder drug use is just understood, but not talked about, very similar to the characters' orientations. Allerton is indifferent in every sense when it comes to Lee’s drug use, and for me that seems bizarre. From the first time Allerton visits Lee’s apartment, there is paraphernalia that is never discussed or gets any reaction. Drug use in the service could have also been so prevalent at the time, that it doesn’t appear to be shocking to any of the characters.
From a modern view, it’s strange to comprehend that a younger attractive man would go with an addict to another country even though they don’t share the same addiction. Everyone has their reasons and motives, whether it’s society or self-inflicted for what they do or don’t do.
The journey of Lee and Allerton hits different then relationships we’ve seen in Guadignino’s previous films, but shows the lasting impact one person can have on our lives. While this is not my favorite Luca Guadagnino film, I do applaud the filmmakers effort in bringing a conclusion to Burroughs unfurnished’ story that would have ultimately otherwise never been told.
From a modern view, it’s strange to comprehend that a younger attractive man would go with an addict to another country even though they don’t share the same addiction. Everyone has their reasons and motives, whether it’s society or self-inflicted for what they do or don’t do.
The journey of Lee and Allerton hits different then relationships we’ve seen in Guadignino’s previous films, but shows the lasting impact one person can have on our lives. While this is not my favorite Luca Guadagnino film, I do applaud the filmmakers effort in bringing a conclusion to Burroughs unfurnished’ story that would have ultimately otherwise never been told.
Queer
opens in Chicagoland theaters on Friday, December 5
opens in Chicagoland theaters on Friday, December 5