Review of Call Me by Your Name (2017) by Jenna I — 05 Jan 2018

This is the type of movie that reminds you how it feels to fall in love when you're young. Butterflies in stomach, longing for touch, nonstop erotic thoughts, newfound excitement in old rooms and places, the type of day-old memories that keep playing out in front of your eyes like a film. Call Me By Your Name is a sensual movie in the least pretentious meaning of the word - a love story told through touch, smells, taste and warm feelings. And eventually tears.

Armie Hammer and Timothee Chalamet have such a great chemistry. They both also bring really rich subtle movements that help enrich who their characters are without words. Elio's stiff shoulders and repetitive smooth slides into rooms, his talent on the piano the sleeping beast within. Oliver's imposing stature and brain, juxtaposed with his soft touches and open movements. I also adored Michael Stuhlbarg - like can we give this guy an oscar already he is always fucking fantastic. But he really steals the show in his final monologue, in a scene that splashes you in the face not only because it makes you realize how long it's been since there was some actual thoughtful and reflective dialogue in the movie but also with its overwhelmingly kind and understanding content.

It's a beautiful movie too, heavy on the out of focus sun-saturated scenes. It captures Italy in the summer for sure, flies and all. Also an excellent soundtrack, a mix of classically arranged music with 80s Italian pop and then modern day Sufjan. Though the movie starts a little too slowly and a little too stilted. The scene of Elio and Oliver standing around the WWI monument felt like it came out of nowhere - I needed more furtive glances and notes of longing before they could have dialogue that was that overt. But while the transition felt awkward, everything that follows lapses into a truly natural and physical romance.