Queer

Mixed feelings about this one. On the one hand, this is the best work I've seen from Daniel Craig - he's beyond fantastic in this. There are also lots of strong visuals, especially towards the end of the film. On the other hand, I definitely felt this dragged. I haven't read the book, but I am familiar with some of Burroughs' other work, and I do appreciate that his style of writing is not exactly the easiest to translate on screen. This film has very little in terms of a plot. As great as I found Daniel Craig to be, the co-lead didn't really do it for me. He was fine, but I felt he was constantly overshadowed by how brilliant Craig was in every scene. Will need to reflect on this some more, but as of now, I can't say I'm in a rush to watch it again.

One of the many things that director Luca Guadagnino accomplishes so perfectly in his movies and projects is that feeling of longing, desire and passion all together mixed with escapist visuals, beautiful imagery, gorgeous sets and locations with stories that are polarizing but necessary to experience. While Challengers explores the steamy dynamic of power and desire between the triangle of characters, Queer explores a desperate desire for connection, for synchronization between two men that are looking for different things. Expanding the work by author William S. Burroughs, the film is presented in three chapters and a powerful epilogue, but the film itself could be divided into two acts that work in their own way as two different stories with the same characters: first, an unrequited love story and second, a psychological trip induced by drugs to explore the concepts of human connection and telepathy. The sad yet beautiful dynamic and chemistry between Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey is a refreshing combination and the melancholic tone of Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross’ powerful score create a passionate, engaging and honestly, bit depressing story that mirrors the authors own life in a way that only Guadagnino knows how to honor.