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Review: Call Me By Your Name

By Mark O’Callaghan

 

There’s a special quality to a film that presents itself as if you were actually with them. To not only feel the character’s emotions but feeling like you’re in the scene itself. “Call Me by Your Name” does a very skillful job of capturing this feeling by presenting an alluring summer romance in Northern Italy.

17-year-old Elio Perlman is with his family at their home in Northern Italy. He meets Oliver, a doctoral student who lives with them for summer as an intern for his father. Their initial flirtation blooms into something more as Elio and Oliver discover feelings for each other.

Driving this passion is Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer. Both of them have fantastic chemistry together that glows on the screen. Despite the character’s age difference, it doesn’t feel predatory as you might think. Instead, I felt every emotion with them from the joy they share to gut-wrenching moments. This relationship has so complicated layers that it feels so refreshing when we see each one unfolds. Chalamet gives this very restraint performance that’s so powerful as he opens up to Oliver. He will absolutely be nominated for Best Actor and is definitely in the winning for the win.

Another standout is Michael Stuhlbarg who quickly is becoming the supporting actor of 2017 with roles in “The Post” and “Shape of Water.” He plays Elio dad who understands and supports his son. There’s one scene with him that leaves you floored. It plays to the theme of not just acceptance from others but understanding yourself and positively accepting that.

What the director, Luca Guadagnino, does well is having shots that last a bit too long. That might seem like a bad thing but it works to his advantage. We feel like a fly on the wall watching the scenes play out. This helps us feel immerse with the characters and gravitate us to what they’re feeling.

“Call Me by Your Name” is finally playing nearby and you need to see it immediately. What starts as a summer romance turns into a beautiful message about accepting yourself. It left me emotionally stunned as I saw this breathtaking movie play out with it’s acting and directing. Each time I think about the film, there has to be a pause to not let myself be overwhelmed with such emotion. Easily one of the top movies that came out in 2017 that should be on your watch list.

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