#brokeback mountain but make it two 80s musicians

[sailorfuckinmoon]

[filmreviewsbyanidiot]

‘Call Me By Your Name’ According To An Idiot

It’s rare that a fairly big film comes out that’s specifically about a gay relationship. Sure, there are hundreds of smaller ones but ones that make the big screen and have Oscars whispers are fairly rare. Brokeback Mountain is the most famous example and Moonlight could be another, though I see that film as a growing up story much more than simple a gay story but anyway… let’s get going. Synopsis:  In Northern Italy in 1983, seventeen year-old Elio begins a relationship with visiting Oliver, his father’s research assistant, with whom he bonds over his emerging sexuality, their Jewish heritage, and the beguiling Italian landscape. The only word to describe this film really is beautiful. It looks beautiful, it sounds beautiful and the characters are beautiful. Particularly our main character Elio, even his name is beautiful. He’s an absolutely gorgeous human being in every sense. Forgetting the gorgeous slender physique and beautiful face… it’s more the way he moves and acts that is genuinely captivating. To me anyway. I felt as though the film was actively making me want to see Elio in the same way Oliver does and it absolutely worked. He hops and skips about the place, often sliding his feet across the floor in a comical but also adorable way. He’s a talented musician too which gives him an extra sense of cool. The way he speaks is so confident but also so unassuming. He’s just fantastic. Then there’s Oliver. I’m a bit less bothered with Oliver. He’s far more basic than Elio but is also very attractive. I feel like most people would fancy one or the other. They represent two different types of men that people go for. Oliver is more athletically built, he’s older and just generally more manly. Whereas Elio is younger and more boyish. In the film, they are 24 and 17 years old. Though in real life it’s 21 and 30. I feel like they both act like their real ages rather than the ones in the film. 17 year olds just aren’t as confident and sexy as Elio is in this film. And Oliver certainly acts older than 24. But anyway, maybe people acted different in 1983. I’ll let it slide. This film being set in the Italian countryside is such a good idea. The ‘80s was a tough time for the gays and setting it there means we don’t have to see or hear anything about persecution or AIDs or anything else. It still feels like the ‘80s but it’s so wonderfully removed from all that stuff. So idyllic. Everyone seems to be having a lovely life. They’re swimming, riding bikes and picking fresh exotic fruit from trees. Nobody is stressed. It’s a world you want to step into. Speaking of the ‘80s, the music in this film is splendid. ‘Mystery Of Love’, the original song by Sufjan Stevens is stunning and will hopefully at least receive an Oscar nomination or even win the Oscar for Best Song. The use of ‘Love My Way’ by The Psychedelic Furs is also noteworthy. Not to mention all the pretty piano music and other bits of ‘80s music, along with various French/Italian pieces. All just gorgeous. It’s rare for me to look up a Soundtrack on Spotify afterwards and that’s what I did when I got home last night. The story itself is certainly nothing unique. It’s no huge Brokeback Mountain Hollywood love story type thing. It’s all very gentle and simple. There are many elements to the story that I very much related to.I don’t want to give any spoilers so I can’t say exactly what but there were certain times where I knew exactly what Elio was thinking and how he was feeling. In fact, there was one moment where Elio is acting strangely but not fully expressing himself and I thought in my “Oh no, he doesn’t want him to go” and then Elio literally said “I don’t want you to go”. It’s a mix of very impressive acting from Timothée Chalamet along with a real affinity with the character. I should have mentioned Timothée before really. Seeing as the brilliance of Elio is down to his wonderful acting. Certainly a new actor to add to my watch list. I very much hope to see him win some awards. I can imagine what you’re thinking. Set in Northern Italy in 1983 and full of piano music and picturesque countryside? Sounds wanky to me. Well, it is a bit. Of course it is. It’s Oscar wanky. The sort of wanky we all have to accept in Oscars season. The film opens with shots of old antiques and a piano score. An old fashioned pre-credits sequence. It’s super arty and wanky but, for me, that just made it all more endearing. Again, without giving away anything. There’s a scene between Elio and his dad at the end that is incredibly moving and possibly the best scene in the film. Absolute perfection. Speaking of best scenes, there’s another scene with a peach that is probably the most memorable of the film. I won’t say anything else about it! Speaking of that scene, another thing to mention is that this film is funny too. It doesn’t take itself too seriously which makes you forgive all the wanky bits that I mentioned previously. Nobody is taking this hugely seriously and there’s still a lot of fun to be had which really helps it where it could collapse into boring cliche. This film is ultimately about a first love. It’s something everyone can relate to and it’s a feeling we all remember having, wishing would go away and then wishing would come back. That feeling is never possible to recreate with anyone afterwards. Those awkward moments, the uncertainty, the unknown. It’s a once in a lifetime experience that we all have and it’s absolutely delicious to experience again through Elio. 5 out of 5.