41/42
1950s Mexico City. An American immigrant in his forties lives a lonely life in a small American community. However, the arrival of a young student inspires the man to finally make a meaningful connection with someone. Ultimately, Daniel Craig convinced Luca Guadagnino to cast Drew Starkey, after watching Guadagnino’s audition tapes and saying “Is that” the guy? after watching Starkey.. William Lee: Sit Down! Or What’s Left of Her After Four Years in the Navy. The Graham Norton Show stars Daniel Craig/Nicola Coughlan/Jesse Eisenberg/Kieran Culkin/Flo (2024). I’ve never seen “Naked Lunch.” (1991), but I often thought about it during the screening of “Queer” at the London Film Festival 2024: it was to be expected, since both films were sourced by William S. Burroughs. In 1950s Mexico, William Lee, an American writer in his… forties? Fifty? Spends his days getting drunk, shooting up guns, and having sex with other men. One day, a muscular, intelligent young hunk named Eugene walks into a bar, and Lee is impressed. But what does Eugene want? And then there’s that telepathic mind drug… I’m not sure what style director Luca Guadagnino is trying to achieve with this film. The scenes are almost entirely done in solid colors—like dull red and olive green—and have this vaguely unrealistic, clean, technical look that made me think the intention was to pay homage to the films of the era in which the film is set. But if that’s the case, why is the soundtrack reminiscent of ’50s rock and techno? Daniel Craig (is it me, or is he starting to look like Sid James?) is paralyzed by his constant need to spout nonsense in an accent that is clearly not his. Drew Starkey is capable of playing a more subtly manipulative Eugene and is definitely handsome. Lesley Manville is unrecognizable as a doctor living in the South American jungle – kudos to the make-up team! This is the type of film that is more about the art style than the plot. I watched this film once, but I don’t intend to watch it again.
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