19/14
In 1950s Mexico City, a forty-something American immigrant lives a lonely life in the midst of a small American community. However, the arrival of a young student inspires the man to finally make a meaningful connection with someone. Daniel Craig was ultimately the one who got Luca Guadagnino to play Drew Starkey after watching the audition tapes with Guadagnino and telling him “it”; is that the guy? after watching Starkey. William Lee: Sit on Your Ass! Or What’s Left of Him After Four Years in the Navy. Starring 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 at the 2024 London Film Festival during the “Queer” screening: this was probably to be expected, as the source material for both films was provided by William S Burroughs. In 1950s Mexico, William Lee, an American writer who was on the wrong side of… forty? Fifty? He spends his days getting drunk, shooting, and having casual sex with other men. One day, a muscular, intelligent young hunk named Eugene walks into a bar, and Lee is impressed. But what does Eugene want? Plus, there’s the telepathic drug of thought… I’m not sure what stylistically director Luca Guadagnino is trying to achieve with this film. The scenes are decorated almost entirely in block colors—dull reds and olive greens, for example—and have that unrealistic, clean, technical look that makes me think the intention was to pay homage to the films of the era the film is set in. . But if that’s the case, why the distinctly 1950s rock and techno soundtrack? Daniel Craig (is it my imagination or is he starting to resemble Sid James?) is paralyzed in the lead role by the constant unnecessary utterance of nonsensical words. in an accent that is clearly not his. Drew Starkey is able to give a more subtle performance as the manipulative Eugene and he definitely looks prepared. Lesley Manville is unrecognizable as the doctor living in the South American jungle – good for the makeup team! This is the kind of movie that feels more about art style than narrative substance. It was okay to see it once, but I won’t watch it again.