32/14
Greetings from the dark again
Tale
In 1950s Mexico City, an American immigrant in his forties lives a solitary life in a small American community. However, the arrival of a young student pushes the man to finally establish a meaningful relationship with someone.. It was Daniel Craig who convinced Luca Guadagnino to cast Drew Starkey after watching audition tapes with Guadagnino and telling him “That’s the guy” after seeing Starkey… William Lee: Sit on your ass! Or what’s left of him after four years in the Navy… Featured on The Graham Norton Show: Daniel Craig/Nicola Coughlan/Jesse Eisenberg/Kieran Culkin/Flo (2024).
Daniel Craig plays William Lee
Some directors have earned the benefit of the doubt to such an extent that every film they release deserves attention. Luca Guadagnino is one of those directors. He first came to my attention with I AM LOVE (2009) and has since gone on to make interesting films like 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, he and CHALLENGERS screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes are tackling William Burroughs’ 1985 short story Queer, which is a tie-in to his 1953 novel Junkie. Tackling William Burroughs’ writing is challenging enough as a reader, much less as a director.
The film opens with Chapter 1: How Do You Like Mexico?
If you’re familiar with Burroughs’ writing, then you’re aware that the character of William Lee shares many of the same personal qualities as Burroughs himself. He’s a gay man who drinks too much, uses hard drugs, and is quite sexually promiscuous. Lee spends his time drinking non-stop and drinking his way into his next roll in the proverbial hay. He has several ex-boyfriends, including Joe Guidry (Jason Schwartzman), but a cute cat catches his eye. Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey) is a young ex-soldier and Lee quickly falls in love. The two date, although Lee is never really sure whether Eugene is gay or not, as he spends much of his time playing chess with another bar patron, Mary (Andra Ursula).
A night of passion between Lee and Eugene leads to Chapter 2: Comrades
The two men head to South America as their awkward relationship (and arrangement) leads to more alcohol. Chapter 3: The Jungle Botanist is easily one of the strangest segments of any film this year, as the men head into the jungle to contact a doctor who has been researching some element of “vegetation.” This might solve Lee’s fascination/obsession with telepathy. There’s no good description for this segment, but kudos to anyone who recognizes Leslie Manville, the one who has a pet sloth and keeps a viper for home security. The epilogue picks up two years later, and it’s here that Lee’s long struggle with loneliness becomes more apparent. His time with Eugene provides the basis for a real, long-lasting relationship with something other than a bottle of tequila or a needle of heroin. Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey are excellent here, and each could get an award.
If your previous exposure to Mr
Craig was through the James Bond films, you might find this role a bit surprising, but those who’ve followed his career know better. Released December 6, 2024.
