'Queer' review: Daniel Craig is mesmerizing in underwhelming drama
What's the story
Luca Guadagnino's Queer, now streaming on MUBI, is based on the novella of the same name by William S. Burroughs.
Headlined by a mesmerizing Daniel Craig, the film follows a homosexual man named Lee and is a tender, moving, sublime portrait of a man deeply in love.
However, for the most part, the film struggles to engage and entertain you, becoming a laborious watch.
Story
Follows Lee and his adventures in love
We meet Lee (Craig) in 1950s Mexico City, where he chances upon Eugene (Drew Starkey).
Though they are several years apart in age, Lee is infatuated with Eugene within minutes and the two start a relationship not long after.
However, Eugene is almost always at a distance from Lee, leaving him puzzled and confused.
Will the differences between the two ever blur?
#1
Lee is a colorful, interesting character
Director Guadagnino paints a tender, gentle picture of Lee, who isn't apologetic or ashamed about his homosexuality.
He wears his heart on his sleeve and is an interesting, vibrant, curious character.
Craig delivers an unforgettable, arresting performance and is realistic as a man who pines for his lover who remains close yet cruelly afar.
Is a love like that worth it?
#2
Features some stunning dialogue
Some of Queer's best moments emerge when Lee and Eugene let go of their inhibitions and engage in candid conversations.
For instance, in one scene, Lee tells Eugene, "I will pay you 20 pesos not to work tonight."
Another emotionally heavy scene is when Lee says to Eugene, "I want to talk to you without speaking."
Such literary dialogues massively uplift the scenes.
#3
Steers away from the conventional path
For the most part, Queer is a film about silence, where intense gaze and quietness do most of the talking.
Several scenes look like vibrant, beautiful paintings and there is a sense of celebration, joy, and vitality that courses throughout the movie.
Additionally, while the movie may not entirely work eventually, the makers deserve credit for its audacious and experimental approach.
#4
However, the writing completely disappoints
Nearly all of Queer's problems have to do with its writing.
The film struggles to grow out of the shadow of its premise, the screenplay keeps meandering and it's largely tough to engage with the movie.
We spend a lot of time with Lee, but nearly none with Eugene, so his character remains shrouded in mystery, leaving a sour aftertaste.
#5
Comes across as hollow and half-baked
The film also struggles to maintain a sense of consistency, jumping from one scene to the other rapidly, without neatly tying everything together.
Some scenes seem complete while others seem rushed and even unnecessary, making Queer tiring and tedious.
Almost all of Queer comes across as superficial and hollow; we don't know enough about the characters to connect with them.
Verdict
Can watch for Craig, skip otherwise; 2.5/5 stars
Time stands still in many frames in Queer and there is a certain sense of beauty in films set in the pre-technology era.
If you're a hardcore Craig admirer, Queer will delight you as he delivers another masterclass in acting in this slow-burn romance drama.
Overall, however, the characters seem distant and foreign, and the movie runs out of steam very soon.
2.5/5 stars.