Queer: Daniel Craig’s ‘smug’ but ‘beautiful’ new film divides critics

Daniel Craig’s latest film, which sees the James Bond star play a gay man in 1950s Mexico, has premiered at the London Film Festival.

The actor’s final Bond film, No Time To Die, was released in 2021, and fans have been watching with interest to see which roles he would take on after playing 007.

In recent years, the 56-year-old has appeared in the Knives Out whodunit series as Benoit Blanc, an eccentric detective from the American South.

His latest film Queer, which is directed by Call Me By Your Name film-maker Luca Guadagnino, sees him take a new direction. But it has divided critics, with several describing it as “incoherent” and others awarding it five stars.

The film received its UK premiere at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Thursday, but Craig did not attend as scheduled due to illness.

Director Guadagnino and Craig’s co-star Drew Starkey walked the red carpet in his absence.

Queer is based on William S Burroughs’ semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, which was published in 1985.

The film follows Lee (Craig), who falls for a young, recently-discharged US Navy serviceman named Eugene Allerton (Starkey).

The first of the movie’s “chapters” is more or less what you’d expect from the synopsis – but the rest of the film most definitely is not.

The second half veers off in a bizarre direction as Lee ventures in search of a plant found in the jungles of Ecuador, which is said to have telepathic qualities.

Lee is apparently motivated by his belief that the plant, Yage (pronounced yah-hey), will allow him to control others – including Allerton, who does not have the same feelings for Lee despite their sexual encounters.

Discussing the book and film last month, Craig said: “It is about love, but it’s about loss, it’s about loneliness, it’s about yearning, it’s about all of these things.

“And I mean, my God, if I was writing myself a part, and trying to tick off things that I wanted to do, this would fulfill all of them.”

Craig was a magnificent Bond and his other recent films have been generally high quality and entertaining. Unfortunately, some viewers may find this one a slog to get through.

Of all the films BBC News has attended press screenings for as part of the London Film Festival so far, Queer was notable for being the only one not to get any applause at the end.

Awarding the film two stars, the Standard’s Jo-Ann Titmarsh said: “There are some great moments, four excellent performances and some great lines, but together they are not enough to create a coherent or entertaining film.”

Entertainment Weekly’s Maureen Lee Lenker described it as “an exercise in cinematic smugness”.

“The entire film reeks of self-importance and a need to remind us all that those behind the camera are smarter than anyone in the audience,” she said.

“It’s a shame because it does contain some truly fine performances and compelling imagery.

“But much like its central character, it can’t get over itself.”

But other critics have heaped praise on the movie.

The Telegraph’s Robbie Collin awarded it five stars, writing: “Queer doesn’t scrimp on provocation and pleasure, but it’s also a beautiful film about male loneliness, and the way a solitary life can so easily shade into a life sentence.”

Coollider’s Ross Bonaime agreed: “Queer is an audacious adaptation and yet another remarkable film in Guadagnino’s increasingly impressive filmography, as well as a showcase for a captivating performance by Craig.”

“Queer may be flawed,” said Time Out’s Sophie Monks Kaufman in a three-star review, “but its naked approach to such a raw subject, coupled with a remarkable lead performance, makes it a trip worth taking.”

Carla Hay of CultureMix concluded: “Like a lot of movies that portray drug addiction, Queer is sometimes unfocused, rambling, and incoherent.

“However, Daniel Craig gives a memorable and uncompromising performance.”

Queer will be released in the UK on 13 December.

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