After seeing the trailer for this film and all the buzz it was receiving I kinda wrote this off as a boring Oscar bait movie I wouldn't care about. Boy was I wrong, because this is definitely one of the highlights of 2017.
This film follows a teenage boy living in 1983 Italy named Elio, whom forms a strong relationship with Oliver, a 24 year old man from America on a summer internship with Elio's father, a professor of Greek and Roman culture. Elio is hesitant and unsure of Oliver initially but as the summer goes on the two form a special bond and romance. The characters themselves and the situation they are in makes this film a lot more complicated than one might expect, and it makes watching their relationship blossom all the more interesting.
Elio is played by Timothee Chalamet, perhaps one of the main reasons I was hesitant towards the film. I found Chalamet honestly quite annoying in Lady Bird and from what I saw from this film I was expecting more of the same. At first I didn't like his character, he was very sheltered and arrogant and I was just getting the vibes I expected and didn't want. Luckily, as the film goes on he grows strongly as a character, and Chalamet does a great job of bringing the conflicted nature of a teenager in the 1980s discovering his sexuality. He gives a very real and nuanced performance in the leading role. While Chalamet was great in the film, Armie Hammer as Oliver is the standout to me. He brings out the best of Elio/Chalamet and a the film revolves a lot around him. We see his subtlety in advances towards Elio and then his strong attraction and Hammer portrays it beautifully. I also really enjoyed Michael Stuhlbarg in this film. He gave a very strong performance as Elio's father and really gives the film an accepting and welcoming tone whenever he's on screen. My only issue is that I just didn't see enough of him to put him on a pedestal with the top supporting performances of the year. The rest of the cast isn't necessarily anything special but they do a good job of filling out the world in which the film takes place.
Luca Guadagino directs this film and does a very solid job. I can't say his direction is anything groundbreaking he adapts the script quite well and got great performances from all of his actors. This film really earns its credibility from the script and how it is performed. The dialogue is really well written and the way the relationship between Oliver and Elio grows feels very natural. It takes its time and then works in the film's favour as the audience really starts to root for them. The film is also very beautiful. The Northern Italian setting makes for some very beautiful scenery and buildings and it no doubt added to the romantic aspect of the film.
I really enjoyed this film much more than I expected and I wouldn't be surprised if we saw it gain some major recognition from the big award ceremonies. This is a touching story and a beautiful film.
Rating: 4.5/5
Written by Matt McKenzie
This film follows a teenage boy living in 1983 Italy named Elio, whom forms a strong relationship with Oliver, a 24 year old man from America on a summer internship with Elio's father, a professor of Greek and Roman culture. Elio is hesitant and unsure of Oliver initially but as the summer goes on the two form a special bond and romance. The characters themselves and the situation they are in makes this film a lot more complicated than one might expect, and it makes watching their relationship blossom all the more interesting.
Elio is played by Timothee Chalamet, perhaps one of the main reasons I was hesitant towards the film. I found Chalamet honestly quite annoying in Lady Bird and from what I saw from this film I was expecting more of the same. At first I didn't like his character, he was very sheltered and arrogant and I was just getting the vibes I expected and didn't want. Luckily, as the film goes on he grows strongly as a character, and Chalamet does a great job of bringing the conflicted nature of a teenager in the 1980s discovering his sexuality. He gives a very real and nuanced performance in the leading role. While Chalamet was great in the film, Armie Hammer as Oliver is the standout to me. He brings out the best of Elio/Chalamet and a the film revolves a lot around him. We see his subtlety in advances towards Elio and then his strong attraction and Hammer portrays it beautifully. I also really enjoyed Michael Stuhlbarg in this film. He gave a very strong performance as Elio's father and really gives the film an accepting and welcoming tone whenever he's on screen. My only issue is that I just didn't see enough of him to put him on a pedestal with the top supporting performances of the year. The rest of the cast isn't necessarily anything special but they do a good job of filling out the world in which the film takes place.
Luca Guadagino directs this film and does a very solid job. I can't say his direction is anything groundbreaking he adapts the script quite well and got great performances from all of his actors. This film really earns its credibility from the script and how it is performed. The dialogue is really well written and the way the relationship between Oliver and Elio grows feels very natural. It takes its time and then works in the film's favour as the audience really starts to root for them. The film is also very beautiful. The Northern Italian setting makes for some very beautiful scenery and buildings and it no doubt added to the romantic aspect of the film.
I really enjoyed this film much more than I expected and I wouldn't be surprised if we saw it gain some major recognition from the big award ceremonies. This is a touching story and a beautiful film.
Rating: 4.5/5
Written by Matt McKenzie
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