Review of Call Me by Your Name (2017) by Seth S — 15 Jan 2018

Call Me By Your Name is everything that a movie should be (spoiler alert, I loved it). The movie is about a seventeen year-old guy named Elio, played by the brilliant Timothee Chalamet, who spends his summers in Italy with his family. His father, played by the supporting actor of the year Michael Stuhlbarg, is an archaeologist who takes in a grad student every summer to mentor them. When this year's grad student Oliver (Armie Hammer) comes to stay tensions arise, passion overtakes, and time breaks hearts. .

Call Me By Your Name is one of my favorite films, not only of 2017, but of all time. The way Luca Guadagnino directs this film is breathtaking. His direction is very sensual, not only are you watching the beautiful scenery of the Italian summer, or hearing the beautiful dialogue spoken from the actors' mouths and the amazing score that backdrops them, but he crafted this film to make it as if you taste what they are tasting, smell what they are smelling, and feel what they are touching. .

In addition to the directing and the perfect score and soundtrack, the acting is what really brings this movie home. Armie Hammer gives his best performance to date. Long gone are the days of the Lone Ranger as Hammer brings a warm and heartfelt performance. Michael Stuhlbarg continues to shine this year in yet another supporting role, but this one takes the cake. Towards the end of the movie his character delivers a monologue in THAT DAMN SCENE that leaves you reeling. It is one of the most honest movie moments in a movie already filled with honesty and realism. But most of all, Timothee Chalamet shines. At just 22 years old, he brings a performance to the table that not only rivals his elders in the Oscar race this year, but should undoubtedly blow them out of the water. He envelops the character of a young man struggling with his feelings and makes you feel as though your not watching a character, but rather somebody's life unfold. The final scene brought me to tears and solidifies Chalamet as a phenomenal actor and one who will most definitely be on everyone's radar.

I found this movie refreshing in the supporting characters reactions and how they handled what was happening. There was no hate. No shame. Just love naturally occurring. The only antagonist in the movie was time.

This movie does take its time and earns its end. At a running time of just over two hours, when it ends, you want to stay here with the characters for even longer. You relate to the characters on a personal level, no matter your orientation. It made me feel as if I were 17 again and falling in love for the first time again.

Call Me By Your Name, in my opinion, is the best film of 2017. This movie is the kind of movie that made me fall in love with film in the first place. It is a master work. It is incredible. Go watch it as soon as possible.