Call Me by Your Name (2017)

I haven't read André Aciman's novel of the same name, and still I was excited to see Call Me by Your Name because it's directed by an Italian filmmaker, Luca Guadagnino, and basically everyone praised it, but it was a little disappointing. 

Northen Italy, Summer 1983. Seventeen-year-old Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet) is spending his days in his family's villa transcribing and playing classical music and reading. Then Oliver (Armie Hammer) arrives, an American graduate who has come to help Elio's father (Michael Stuhlbarg) with archaeological research and Elio soon develops a crush on him.

It's kind of a basic plot. Actually, there's barely one as nothing really happens in the film, but I didn't care much for that since the important thing here isn't the plot. This, after all, it's a coming-of-age and a love story. The incredibly slow pace didn't bother me either. If anything, it made the romance between Elio and Oliver more realistic since this kind of things don't happen overnight.

My problem was another one. While I was very interested in seeing how the romance would evolve, I found it rather charming and sweet, and I didn't want it to end, I didn't feel any emotional connection to it. It just felt cold to me and didn't move me at all. The film was over and I was like, yeah, it was a good romance, I was kinda invested in it, but I felt nothing. Why is that? Frankly, I'm still trying to figure it out. If there's something to be admired here though it is the fact that the romance between Elio and Oliver is never treated as a gay romance, but just as a love story between two people.

Sony Pictures Classics

However, Call Me by Your Name does work as a coming-of-age. Not your typical coming-of-age, but one exploring sexuality. The emotional conflict of Elio when he recognises his feelings for Oliver is analysed quite well, and Timothée Chalamet does a good job delivering the struggle of Elio and he kind of reminded me of Rooney Mara in Carol (only he did not make me cry).

Another positive note is the cast. Armie Hammer finally has something good to work with and finally gets to shine, but I wouldn't go as far as saying he deserves an Oscar for it. Anyway, the chemistry he has with Chalamet is beautiful. Michael Stuhlbarg also does a good job as Elio's father. Actually, his monologue towards the end is the highlight of the film and for that, it's his performance that stands out.

Then there's the beauty of Italian landscape that is captured wonderfully and the impeccable music that accompanies the story. And the disgusting peach scene.