August 30th 2024.
Daniel Craig stars as William Lee in the highly-anticipated film Queer, which has already generated Oscar buzz for his performance. The 56-year-old James Bond legend takes on the role of an American expat and war veteran in Luca Guadagnino's new romance/drama, based on William Burroughs' semi-autobiographical novella set in 1940s Mexico City. The story follows Craig's character as he embarks on a steamy romance with a younger man named Eugene Allerton, a discharged Navy serviceman and drug addict.
The film is set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival on Tuesday, and early reviews suggest that viewers will be left feeling hot under the collar due to the explicit nature of some intimate scenes. One particularly steamy moment sees Craig performing oral sex on Allerton, who initially rejects his advances before giving in to temptation. Critics have already hailed Craig as "brilliant" in the lead role, and festival boss Alberto Barbera has described his performance as "the performance of a lifetime."
Director Guadagnino has also praised Craig's portrayal, declaring it his most personal film to date and a tribute to the British filmmaking duo, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. The film's explicit scenes have also been acknowledged, with Guadagnino admitting that they are quite scandalous. He has even compared them to the iconic film The Red Shoes, which he has seen over 50 times and believes that Powell and Pressburger would appreciate.
The potential for Craig to finally win an Oscar for his performance in Queer has also been a topic of discussion, with many believing that it could be his first Academy Award. Despite having acted for over 30 years and portraying Bond five times, Craig has yet to receive the prestigious award. But with his impressive resume, it would come as no surprise if he were to finally take home the Oscar.
In addition to his role in Queer, Craig has also recently wrapped filming for the third installment of the popular Knives Out series, where he portrays the gay detective Benoit Blanc. This isn't his first time playing a queer character, as viewers learned in Glass Onion that Blanc is married to Hugh Grant's character Phillip. In a candid interview, Craig shared his thoughts on portraying a character's sexuality, stating that it should be normalized and not made into a big deal.
Director Guadagnino is also known for his LGBTQ+ films, with Call Me by Your Name and 2024's Challengers being just a few examples of his acclaimed work. Queer is set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival this week, and although its UK release date is yet to be confirmed, fans are already eagerly anticipating its release. Whether Craig will finally take home an Oscar for his performance remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure - Queer is set to be a must-see film.
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