Queer

Directed by: Luca Guadagnino

Screenplay by: Justin Kuritzkes based on the novel by William S. Burroughs

William Lee (Daniel Craig) is an expat American living in Mexico. A man of means, a dilettante, who spends his time in the city’s gay bars, looking for casual relationships, until he comes across a young American, Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey). This quickly turns into infatuation, Lee becomes obsessed and desperate to understand Eugene and his feelings towards him. Eventually the two head off on a journey through South America, a journey that deals with Lee’s drug addiction, obsession with Allerton and their relationship.

I have a mixed relationship with Guadagnino’s films, some I’ve enjoyed, some I have disliked hugely. Queer sits somewhere in the middle. In its first two thirds, there are themes common to Guadagnino’s films, obsession and desire. It looks wonderful, and has some great needle drops. Then its final third goes on a psychedelic trip and it has to be a trip you’re prepared to go on, if you’re not, it’s likely it will all begin to feel a little self indulgent and tiresome.

It’s not without merit, especially in its performances, Craig is excellent as the unsure and obsessed Lee, a man unsure of who he is and, more importantly, how he is seen. Starkey is enigmatic, never giving away too much. Jason Schwartzman supports well, as does Lesley Manville, in a scene stealing performance as the jungle based botanist, Dr. Cotter.

But It is the final act that killed it for me. While the first two acts, may have been slow moving at times, the story was well told with a sweetness to it. But its drug induced trip in the final act lacked that and forced you to either go with it or, as I did, find it overly long and self indulgent, making me wish it would just stop!

This is a film that you’re likely to go with, or not. It has things to recommend it, its look, soundtrack and performances amongst them. But it’s also too long and becomes increasingly self indulgent especially in its final act. I didn’t hate it, but it didn’t really work for me.