26/45
[via telepathy] Eugene Allerton: I’m not queer
Chronology
In 1950s Mexico City, an American expat in his late forties leads a lonely life in the midst of a small American community. However, the arrival of a young student causes the man to finally form a meaningful connection with someone. Daniel Craig was ultimately the one who convinced Luca Guadagnino to cast Drew Starkey after watching audition videos with Guadagnino and telling him, “That’s the guy” after seeing Starkey’s… Lee… I’m not queer.William Lee: I know.Eugene Allerton: I’m disembodied.. Featuring Orfej (1950).
Greetings from the Darkness again
Some filmmakers have given themselves the benefit of the doubt to the point where every film they release is worth considering. Luca Guadagnino is one of those filmmakers. He first caught my attention with I AM LOVE (2009), and has since made such interesting films as A BIGGER SPLASH (2015), CALL ME BY YOUR NAME (2017), SUSPIRIA (2018), BONES AND ALL (2022), and CHALLENGERS, his first film released in 2024. This time around, he and fellow CHALLENGERS screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes are taking on William S. Burroughs’ 1985 novella Queer, which ties into his 1953 novel Junkie. Engaging with the writing of William S.
Daniel Craig plays William Lee
Burroughs is a challenge in itself for a reader, let alone a filmmaker. If you’re familiar with Burroughs’ then you know that the character of William Lee shares many of the same personal traits as Burroughs himself. He is a gay man who drinks too much, does hard drugs, and is quite sexually promiscuous. The film opens with Chapter 1: How Do You Like Mexico? Lee spends his time drinking nonstop and carousing in the proverbial hay for his next roll. He has a few ex-boyfriends, including Joe Guidry (Jason Schwartzman), but it’s a certain cool cat who catches his attention.
A night of passion between Lee and Eugene leads to Chapter 2: Traveling Companions
Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey) is a young ex-soldier, and Lee quickly falls in love. The two hang out together, although Lee is never really sure if Eugene is gay or not, as he spends much of his time playing chess with fellow bartender, Maria (Andra Ursula). The two men head off to South America as their awkward relationship (and arrangement) leads to more drinking. Chapter 3: The Botanist in the Jungle is certainly one of the most bizarre sections of any film this year, as the men trek deep into the jungle to connect with a doctor who has been researching some “vegetations.” That might solve Lee’s fascination/obsession with telepathy. There’s no usable description for this segment, but kudos to anyone who knows Leslie Manville – the one who has a pet sloth and keeps a viper at home for security. The epilogue picks up two years later, and it’s here that Lee’s long struggle with loneliness becomes most apparent.
If your previous contact with Mr
His time with Eugene leads to a real, lasting relationship with something other than a tequila bottle or heroin needle. Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey are both excellent here, and could each win an award. Craig is familiar with the James Bond films, you might find this role a bit surprising, but those who have followed his career are in the know. The film is in theaters on December 6, 2024.
