22/15

William Lee: Get on Your Ass!

Scenario

In 1950s Mexico, an American immigrant in his forties lives a lonely life in a small American community. But the arrival of a young student prompts the man to finally form a meaningful connection with someone. Daniel Craig eventually convinced Luca Guadagnino to play Drew Starkey after watching audition tapes with Guadagnino and telling him “That’s the guy” upon seeing Starkey… Or What’s Left of It After Four Years in the Navy.. Presented by The Graham Norton Show: Daniel Craig / Nicola Coughlan / Jesse Eisenberg / Kieran Culkin / Flo (2024).

So, there are plenty of options that might tempt you

The casual moviegoer will not be a happy camper after watching Queer. However, you will find it worth watching if you are interested in one or more of the following: 1) Wm. S. Burroughs’ life and writings; 2) The Beat Generation in general; 3) the sociology of gay culture, especially the challenges faced by sexually active older gay men; 4) representations of artistic addiction and psychedelic experience; 5) art direction and production values ​​in arthouse cinema; 6) Daniel Craig has impressively broken the shackles of his Bond legacy; 7) the director of Call Me by Your Name tackles another, but very different, gay relationship. If you’re a Burroughs aficionado, the film will be largely faithful to the book.

Is Allerton straight?

Craig captures the desperation of Burroughs’ surrogate, Bill Lee, as he seeks physical connection with a number of unrelated young men in 1950s Mexico City. Gay? Bi? An open-minded sexual adventurer, or perhaps even a calculating and clever lover? His shifting responses to Lee’s advances are open to multiple interpretations and add much of the narrative’s charm.

The production is beautifully designed and pleasing to the eye

Based on Burroughs; True experiences, we follow this mismatched couple through their hot, then cold, then transactional liaisons that lead to a surreal quest through the jungles of South America in search of a legendary psychedelic plant. , with realism, avoiding big lies, which reinforces the aura of the world experienced by the dysfunctional drug addict and sexual adventurer. Craig seems suitably humiliated and obsessive, and his slightly sullen lover vaguely resembles a young, bespectacled Burroughs. As events become increasingly surreal, some moviegoers will be reminded of the enigmatic ending of Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, but with a clean-cut Odyssey. The cut-off astronauts are replaced by the morally compromised habits of the Mexican demimonde.

Whether this intrigues or disappoints the viewer will depend on personal cinematic expectations

There will be many who, after seeing this latest effort from director Luca Guadagnino, will want to skip the hassle. Others, like me, will eagerly await a second or even third viewing of this complex work.