Queer: If Daniel Craig wanted to distinguish himself from James Bond, his most well known role, he has certainly being successful in this goal. The 57yo actor has acted in Knives Out, and then this release which has been garnering him a number of acting award nominations, notably the Golden Globe and the SAG Award for Best Actor. I had heard about this film based on those awards. Set in the 1950s in Mexico intially, Craig plays William Lee, an American ex-pat living there to avoid arrest for his personal preferences. He has money, and lives a life of casual leisure. In his small town he is known for frequenting the bars, he has a problem with alcohol, and also enjoying the company of younger men. Lee is a bit awkward around people, and he has limited success with those men he meets, unless he ends up paying for their company. He has his head turned by a young American man, Eugene Allerton (played by Drew Starkey). Allerton seems to have a job, but there is plenty of flexibility for him in how and where he spends his time. The two cross paths many times as Allerton meets up with and hangs out with a woman, while Lee does his wandering with no particular purpose.
The rest of the film explores the relationship between the two men, and the complex interplay with them. Told in three distinct sections, with an epilogue, the sections explore very different themes. While as the title suggests there is an exploration into being homosexual, there are other themes like addiction (alcohol, drugs and sex), and wartime use of drugs for telepathy, understanding of people and their motivations which ring true as well. I found the third section the most confusing as the scene shifts to Ecuador and the search by the two men to find this plant used, apparently, to try and improve the human capability for telepathy. The two men head into the jungle, and meet a woman and her partner who are in their own camp. She has some research she has been protecting rather dramatically, but she also seems to have some indight into the plant Lee seeks. Craig’s character isn’t very likeable, and he describes himself at times as “disembodied”. That’s an interesting word for it. His life and lifestyle. He seems to be a man in search for a purpose, and one that has eluded him up until now. I don’t recall the word “love” being used between the characters, and in fact young Allerton has his own path of discovery into himself to address. Allerton plays nurse and provider of addiction facilitation for Lee from time to time. All the while continuing to follow him. There are steamy sex scenes which are decidedly not James Bond material. Seeing Craig in this light shows the acting chops are there as he explores his post-Bond career. Being married to Rachel Weisz, who has an Oscar of her own from the 2006 Best Supporting Actress in The Constant Gardener might also be encouraging him to take on these different and challenging roles. I do think that there is an attitude that Weisz is the more “serious actor” and that Craig cranks out the bubble gum Bond films that generate enormous sums of money. As a movie, I scratched my head over the plot, including a number of dream sequences and some basic visual effects, and the direction of the film. I can’t recommend it for any of those things, but seeing Craig in a 180 degree change in what he has be known for, this is intriguing. I will also note that in a small role in Mexico Jason Schwartzman looks almost unrecognizable.
Love is Blind Season 8: This season has concluded as they move on from Minneapolis. The flawed premise in rushing people who never lay eyes on one another, to get engaged and make a very quick decision about marriage continues to repeat itself time and again. It seems very odd to me where those who are newly engaged, so complete strangers, are upon meeting then sharing a room in a lovely beach resort, and then moving in together back in their hometown. Family are brought into it, and ultimately can be attending a wedding for which they may not know the outcome. How strange is that?!
In this season, some wrinkles that were new included a couple that gets engaged and then the guy’s sister pushes him hard not to get married and his friends were told his fiancee had dated some other guy and they questioned her motivations. Huh? In another couple, presumably they had not talked in the pods about their religious and political views. Not sure how that doesn’t happen. Hell in the US there couldn’t be a greater political divide than there is now, unless we’re back into the 1860s and the Civil War. But in Yankee-land Minnesota that wouldn’t be an issue. George Floyd’s murder took place there. All that to say, the end result with the ceremonies was dropped last week along with the Reunion which had plenty of drama and fireworks with people you would look at and think “what did you ever see in one another?” More seasons are to come of course, and more around the world. This remains forgetable mind candy showing the elusive search for love in the 2020s!
Mondays With Robbie 