Queer

Based on the semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by William Burroughs, Queer stars a very game Daniel Craig as Bill Lee, a wealthy, deeply disturbed gay alcoholic junkie who spends his time in Mexico City desperately looking for love. Director Luca Guadagnino recreates a semblance of Mexico City in Cinecitta, aided by sound design which provides most of the atmosphere (perhaps influenced by Cuarón’s Roma) adding much needed authenticity to the obvious sets. They could have shot the film in Mexico City instead of laboring with sets and matte paintings, but the movie got Italian funds, I assume to be spent in Italy, I believe with Italy and Ecuador substituting for parts of South America. The tight shots and moody cinematography by Guadagnino’s frequent collaborator Sayombhu Mukdeeprom are effective, if the atmosphere is not totally believable. Guadagnino uses a great collection of current pop songs as commentary to the story, as a way to say that although it happens in the 1950s, it’s still current. A cool score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross incorporates lyrical moments into a darker mood.

Guadagnino is an uneven filmmaker but he seems to be at his most sensitive when handling adaptations of homoerotic books. Call me by your Name and Queer are much better than the utterly insipid Challengers, the pointless remake of Suspiria, and Bones and All, the dreadful cannibal movie he made with Timotheé Chalamet. I Am Love, an…