I enjoyed your thoughts on the film and can sense your enthusiasm for it. After listening to you, I now want to see the movie again, but unfortunately, it is no longer around (Oddly enough, it was only in town for a few days here in southeast Michigan). I liked the first half of the film, but struggled with the last half. That's why I'm thinking that a second viewing might help me understand the second half better. That being said, I too loved the overall look of the film as well as the acting, especially by Craig. Plus, I liked the choice of contemporary music, which I thought was a nice juxtaposition against a story set in the 50s. Thanks for your enjoyable review. I'll check out some of your others soon. Cheers!
IDK if you're into foreign films, but you should check out Amorres Perros (2000) directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu. He directed Revenant, Birdman, Babel.
I have watched and/or read many reviews of this film, and I think yours is the best (perhaps because you agree with me! 🙂). This is an excellent movie in so many ways. It is well written, the acting (especially Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey) is superb. The cinematography and music are phenomenal. It definitely represents the lives and the psychology of gay men at two very different stages of self-acceptance in the early '50s. So, why is the movie so divisive? Why do some love it and some hate it? I think it has to do with a few things. First, there are people who are homophobes and hate queer movies. Not sure why they went (LOL--yes, I am pretty sure, at least). Second, it has a lot of metaphors in it. People's brains tend to be dichotomous as to whether they are linear thinkers and like movies in which everything is spelled out for them OR they are less concrete and more associative thinkers and like the many interpretations of metaphors. Of course, it's really a continuum, but these are the extremes. People at the first extreme (more concrete thinkers) would hate this movie and not understand its true meaning. Those at the other extreme probably would love it. As you say, it's the story of a gay man in middle-age (former military) who lives in Mexico. He's a drug addict, which likely represents the misery he experiences as a gay man in the '50s. He says he's in Mexico because his drug habit would get him imprisoned in the U.S. Remember, though, this was the era of McCarthyism, and his homosexuality also may have gotten him imprisoned--as a "communist"). So, he lives in Mexico and is seeking a meaningful gay relationship. Unfortunately, all he finds is superficial hook-ups. He sees and becomes infatuated with Eugene, a younger man who is struggling with his queer identity and is unable to accept it. Yet, he is drawn to Lee, the older man. This sets the stage for what is to occur. The part that I think really confuses people and is off-putting for them is Chapter 3 with the telepathy augmenting drug in South America. This is the metaphor for the struggle that Eugene is going through, knowing that he is attracted to men, specifically Lee, and denying his own homosexuality. Lee "hears" the thoughts of Eugene during their drug intoxication, "I AM NOT QUEER!" Ultimately, Eugene runs away in an effort to escape his sexuality. And Lee lives on alone, lonely, and grieving over the loss of Eugene, and dies a miserable death. Whie the movie has a hit of romance; it really is a tragedy of two gay men who are at very different stages of their lives and unable to connect in the early '50s. That is my assessment of the movie.
I enjoyed your thoughts on the film and can sense your enthusiasm for it. After listening to you, I now want to see the movie again, but unfortunately, it is no longer around (Oddly enough, it was only in town for a few days here in southeast Michigan). I liked the first half of the film, but struggled with the last half. That's why I'm thinking that a second viewing might help me understand the second half better. That being said, I too loved the overall look of the film as well as the acting, especially by Craig. Plus, I liked the choice of contemporary music, which I thought was a nice juxtaposition against a story set in the 50s. Thanks for your enjoyable review. I'll check out some of your others soon. Cheers!
I saw this film last week. Still thinking about it. Still listening to music from that film. Same thing happened after watching Challengers.
IDK if you're into foreign films, but you should check out Amorres Perros (2000) directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu. He directed Revenant, Birdman, Babel.
Cool video I’ll subscribe
I have watched and/or read many reviews of this film, and I think yours is the best (perhaps because you agree with me! 🙂). This is an excellent movie in so many ways. It is well written, the acting (especially Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey) is superb. The cinematography and music are phenomenal. It definitely represents the lives and the psychology of gay men at two very different stages of self-acceptance in the early '50s. So, why is the movie so divisive? Why do some love it and some hate it? I think it has to do with a few things. First, there are people who are homophobes and hate queer movies. Not sure why they went (LOL--yes, I am pretty sure, at least). Second, it has a lot of metaphors in it. People's brains tend to be dichotomous as to whether they are linear thinkers and like movies in which everything is spelled out for them OR they are less concrete and more associative thinkers and like the many interpretations of metaphors. Of course, it's really a continuum, but these are the extremes. People at the first extreme (more concrete thinkers) would hate this movie and not understand its true meaning. Those at the other extreme probably would love it. As you say, it's the story of a gay man in middle-age (former military) who lives in Mexico. He's a drug addict, which likely represents the misery he experiences as a gay man in the '50s. He says he's in Mexico because his drug habit would get him imprisoned in the U.S. Remember, though, this was the era of McCarthyism, and his homosexuality also may have gotten him imprisoned--as a "communist"). So, he lives in Mexico and is seeking a meaningful gay relationship. Unfortunately, all he finds is superficial hook-ups. He sees and becomes infatuated with Eugene, a younger man who is struggling with his queer identity and is unable to accept it. Yet, he is drawn to Lee, the older man. This sets the stage for what is to occur. The part that I think really confuses people and is off-putting for them is Chapter 3 with the telepathy augmenting drug in South America. This is the metaphor for the struggle that Eugene is going through, knowing that he is attracted to men, specifically Lee, and denying his own homosexuality. Lee "hears" the thoughts of Eugene during their drug intoxication, "I AM NOT QUEER!" Ultimately, Eugene runs away in an effort to escape his sexuality. And Lee lives on alone, lonely, and grieving over the loss of Eugene, and dies a miserable death. Whie the movie has a hit of romance; it really is a tragedy of two gay men who are at very different stages of their lives and unable to connect in the early '50s. That is my assessment of the movie.
Incredible assessment, and I agree with most of your sentiment. It’s going to be a great movie to rewatch and learn more each subsequent watch!
@@jacobdiedenhofer I hope it streams. Otherwise, I fear it will have limited viewers.