In 'Queer,' Daniel Craig delivers a transformative performance that defies his "James Bond" persona. Directed by Luca Guadagnino, the film explores themes of love, repression, and liberation in postwar Mexico City. Craig's role as "Lee", an American expat, showcases his versatility and has sparked Oscar buzz.
- Daniel Craig has a new role in 'Queer'
- It's a new look for him
- He opens up on the challenges of the film
Guadagnino's Vision for 'Queer'
Daniel Craig, once synonymous with the sleek and suave James Bond, has taken a daring leap into uncharted territory with his latest role in 'Queer.'
In this film, directed by Luca Guadagnino, Craig portrays "Lee", an American expat navigating love and longing in 1950s Mexico City. The performance marks a significant departure from his "007" days, showcasing Craig's willingness to embrace new challenges.
"You have to push against it. Whether you have success or not is irrelevant, but you have to try to push against it." The film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, has quickly become one of the season's most talked-about releases.
Luca Guadagnino, known for his work on 'Call Me By Your Name,' brings a nuanced approach to 'Queer,' which is adapted from William S. Burroughs' novel.
The film explores themes of repression and vulnerability, with Guadagnino noting, "I’m really interested in the repression of others." The director's long-standing interest in the novel led to a collaboration with screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes, who adapted the unfinished book into a screenplay that captures the essence of Lee's internal struggles.
The cinematography, shot on soundstages in Rome's Cinecittà, adds a classic touch, inviting viewers to ponder the doors to self-discovery.
In 'Queer,' Craig's character, "Lee", becomes infatuated with "Allerton", played by Drew Starkey. Their relationship is a complex dance of attraction and ambiguity. Starkey, known for his role in 'Outer Banks,' faced the challenge of portraying a character with few words but profound depth.
"I can’t tell you how nervous I was. It was terrifying," Craig says. "But something clicked that day, the first day. And Luca said, ‘That’s it.’ I was very nervous to try to expose it, but it became a kind of unfolding of the character. I kind of introduced myself to him."
"I think Daniel loves the camera in a way that is intimate," adds Guadagnino. "Because he knows the camera cannot lie and you can’t lie to the camera. The love you feel from the camera, to me, is not the love of vanity. It’s the love of recording the truth."
Starkey, the 31-year-old 'Outer Banks' actor, was met with the very different challenge of playing a character with few words on the page and a cryptic presence. He theorized that Allerton is in retreat because it’s “as if you’ve lived your whole life and never seen your own reflection, and someone puts a mirror in front of your face.”
"A question I asked early on was: Is Allerton aware of the game that he’s playing?" Starkey muses, highlighting the enigmatic nature of his role. The chemistry between Craig and Starkey unfolds naturally, with Guadagnino emphasizing the importance of authenticity in their interactions.
As intimately as Craig and Starkey would be working together, they decided to let their relationship unfold naturally.
"We didn’t, like, grab coffee and have a list of ice-breakers or something," Starkey says. "We just started working. We jumped into movement rehearsals and that was a great way to learn how to be free with the other person. It never felt like there any walls up."
Not having walls up was, in many ways, the abiding nature of 'Queer.' And for Craig, it was one of the most rewarding experiences of his career. He and Guadagnino are already planning another film together.
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"I don’t have any grand plan for my career. It’s been OK ’til now. It’s been going along," Craig says, with a grin. "Then something comes along like this and you find a group of people to have this wonderful experience with. It makes me go: I want to keep acting. I never wanted to give up, but if I could get this again, I’d love to do it."
