Call Me By Your Name

Last week, Oscar nominations were announced. This has always been a sacred day for me. Some people look forward for their Amazon Prime orders to ship; others eagerly await Christmas morning. Me, well I can't wait for Oscar nomination day. The most exciting part about it is that I've already seen eight out of the nine nominations for Best Picture! That being said, I have a lot of thoughts on all of these films and am eager to share them.

Since I wrote a raving review on Greta Gerwig's film, "Lady Bird," I thought it would be fitting to review another coming-of-age movie next- "Call Me By Your Name." 2018 is proving to be a great year for young actors. Saoirse Ronan blew me away with her performance in "Lady Bird." One of her costars, Timothee Chalamet, starred in Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino's "Call Me By Your Name," another coming-of-age film. At the young ages of 22 (Chalamet) and 23 (Ronan), these two young stars could make history with their nominations for Best Actor and Best Actress in their respective films.

Chalamet shines in his performance as Elio Perlman, a 17-year-old Italian American spending his summer reading and playing music in his family's villa. Things begin to shift when Oliver (Armie Hammer), an American student studying under Elio's father, arrives. Despite their age difference, the two develop a complex romantic relationship. Since love stories are told in film time and time again, it can be hard for filmmakers to break the mold and showcase new stories. This film succeeds immensely in doing so, telling the story of a forbidden love between two men of different ages in 1980s Italy.

The strongest component of this film is the acting, lead by the young but mighty Chalamet. I can confidently assess that his performance as Elio was one of the most impressive performances I have seen all year. Elio is a young kid with an exceptionally creative mind, occupying his mundane summer days with music and literature. While he can be confident and even arrogant at times, he is confused by his sexuality. He continuously flirts with a girl from his village, yet finds himself attracted to Oliver. Chalamet invites the audience to empathize with Elio's feelings of melancholy, heartache, passion, confusion, and curiosity.

Chalamet shares the screen with Hammer, playing Oliver, an exceptionally arrogant American who makes the Italian girls swoon. He may wear some very short shorts, but he does not wear his heart on his sleeve. While the audience sees Elio eyeing Oliver from the get-go, Oliver's feelings for Elio are initially more discreet. This film accomplishes expressing the tension, confusion, and complication in the relationship between Elio and Oliver. Their relationship allows for both Elio and Oliver to express vulnerability, which is rarely seen unless the two of them are together. Elio can be cold and distant, while Oliver can be callous and selfish. The only time either character expresses any sense of sensitivity are when they are together. While this vulnerability is one of the beautiful characteristics of their relationship, the strain placed on this relationship is evident as well. There is continuous palpable tension between Oliver and Elio. This results from a number of things- their personal sexual discoveries, the time restraint placed on their relationship, and the "forbiddances" of their affair. The overt sexuality of this film also sets it apart from others. Rather than being obscene and over the top, the intimate moments between Oliver and Elio further illustrate the complexity of their relationship as well as their independent internal turmoil.

In addition to painting the portrait of a romantic relationship between the two main characters, "Call Me By Your Name" also captures a fascinating European family dynamic. Elio's family seamlessly switches between French, Italian, and English in their conversations. Elio's parents seem to have a very understanding and communicative relationship (until the father ultimately reveals that he feels differently at the end of the film). While Elio never directly confirms his homosexuality with his parents, they've picked up on clues throughout the course of the summer and are extremely accepting of their son. Considering that this film takes place in the 1980s, a time where homosexuality was not widely socially accepted, Elio's support from his parents is a key factor.

Between the strong acting performances, the fascinating subject matter, and the stunning cinematography presented in "Call Me By Your Name" it is no surprise to me that this film was nominated for Best Picture. I can't wait to watch Timothee Chalamet's career progress, and am certainly rooting for this film this awards season.