Call Me by Your Name Movie Review

Call Me by Your Name (2017)
Directed by: Luca Guadagnino
Screenplay by: James Ivory
Based on: Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman
Starring:  Timothée Chalamet
                Armie Hammer
                Michael Stuhlbarg
                Amira Casar
                Esther Garrel
Music by: Sufjan Stevens

           

THE ACTUAL REVIEW

Luca Guadagnino offers a film that is evocative and full of subtle meanings in the narrative. It is both sexual and pure at the same time that made it more special. The film showcases the idea that love will always be followed by desire, yearning, and eventually brokenness. Call Me by Your Name is a sensual romantic movie that was adapted from the novel with the same title, and it may be one of the faithful film adaptations that have ever existed.

The film takes place in the summer of 1983 somewhere in Italy, and Elio (Timothée Chalamet) a talented and curious 17 year old is spending his summer with his family at their 17th-century villa in Lombardy, Italy. He then meets Oliver (Armie Hammer), a doctoral student who is an intern for Elio’s father. Later, they will develop a genuine relationship that could only be understood by the two of them.

Armie Hammer and Timothée Chalamet’s chemistry on screen is beyond spectacular, it looks natural and appealing to those who will see it. Their chemistry is one of the assets of the film, and it made the film more thrilling and sexy to witness. That’s why most of my favorite scenes in the film are when they are doing something together.

Call Me by Your Name is filled with colors that are switching from vibrant to calm colors that depict the protagonists’ desires and forlorn fate in the story. The transition of the hues that were used somehow symbolized the fickle mindedness of Elio and his curiosity in discovering more about his sexuality. Also the color schemes in the film really gave the audience a view on how each character feels at the moment. It’s really a classic that you could boast to everyone to see how well-made it is, and how the cinematography will make anyone drool for its beauty.

Despite of the lighthearted feeling while watching the first half of this coming of age film, you could feel that there are frames that are inserted that can bring sadness and depressing feeling. There are a lot of long shots that are taken in this film (e.g. the long roads scenes: the scene where Elio and Oliver riding their bicycles and the scene where Elio and his mom riding the car), and with that kind of scenes being in the movie made me feel emotions that are related to solitude and short-term things.

The songs and their film scores play on the right time and the right moment, one of the highlights of the film is the scene where Oliver and Elio dancing to ‘Love My Way’ by The Psychedelic Furs. It’s a throwback to 80s and that’s where the nostalgia will kick in. The film has a nice soundtrack and it fits well to the film’s concept and story. Remembering everything, even the smallest things.

Chalamet’s acting in this one is admirable, I was in awe while watching him portray Elio; he’s really the real life Elio from the novel. His transition of emotions from the repression of his desire to letting it all go was the most fascinating thing I have seen from the theater. He also has this secretive emotions going on his face that I really like. His co-star Hammer also captured the essence of the character, Oliver. He performed with sturdy and delicate acting, he’s the epitome of an American stud just like what Oliver is. Both of their acting are worthy of praises, you can never just turn away from the screen. They will make you glue your eyes on them whenever they are on the scene. I also personally liked the scenes of them making out and hugging, basically all of the romantic scenes involving Elio and Oliver; it was so sweet, tender, and loving.

Memories play a huge role in this film, since one of the character’s lines is saying that he still remembers all of it; what happened in the love affair of the two characters, personally that was one of the strongest lines in the last act. The power of love, especially the first love was executed greatly in this that needed to be seen by everyone. The film will make you empathize with the characters, feel them, and live with them in those short span of time; just like the relationship of Elio and Oliver.

Call Me by Your Name is a film that will make you awake at night for hours thinking. It will not just leave a mark, but also a scar. It teaches a lot of lessons about changing and reminiscing, most importantly the joy of living a life that have something to look back on.