Title: Bones and All
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Starring: Taylor Russell, Timothee Chalamet, Mark Rylance
Runtime: 2 hrs 11 mins
What It Is: Maren (Russell) was born an “eater” meaning she is a living person who seeks to crave her thirst for human flesh. When she’s left to fend for herself after her father leaves she run into a vast group of people who are also “eaters” including the strange older man Sully (Rylance) and the dashing young Lee (Chalamet). All of whom guide her through her journey of self-discovery and the odd consumption of another human being.
What We Think: Somehow Luca Guadagnino always managers to find people who make his films look like a million bucks! Cinematographer Arseni Khachaturan does just that and Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor make it SOUND amazing too. On all fronts Lucas newest film delivers, even if the adaptation ( of Camille DeAngelis’ material) is only so so in it’s actual writing. Rylance gives a stirring and unhinged performance as Sully, even if that character isn’t as…fleshed out as he should be. We’re really here for Russell and Chalamet’s chemistry though. Which at times is authentically electric. Lee and Maren fit, they feel made for one and other. Filling in the personality gaps the other has and leaving them both better than where they were to start.
Our Grade: B+, This is essentially My Cannibal Romance and we’re front and center for the red parade. It’s bloody, romantic and bloody romantic. With great chemistry this is a cannibal romance you didn’t know you definitely wanted to see, and see it you should. It’ll fly under the radar, which is a surprise for a Guadignino picture but it deserves praise for stellar acting, deft direction and a unique spin on a few well wrought genres. It’s a must see for me!