obsessed with this film

Rating: 10/10 (20 March 2018)

I saw it a few days ago and I've been trying to so hard to stop thinking about it but I can't. I absolutely hate how much I liked this movie!! I say "hate" because there were so many "problems" with this film... I wasn't supposed to like it this much. No parents back in the 80's in Italy would have been ok with their guest having sex with their little 17yo boy. And as soon as the town had found out these two would have been tortured and killed. Also, there was no indication of their romance starting to develop. Like, none. Whatsoever. Elio, out of nowhere, starting expressing to Oliver his feelings. Who does that?? In the gay world, first you'll try to get a hint or a clue if that man could possibly be even remotely open to the idea of liking another guy. Elio just tells him "oh yea, i feel the same way" and poof - it's magic. Like, no. Hold up. It doesn't work like that!! You don't just confess your love to this gorgeous man and it just so happens that he actually feels the same. What??! Egh... this film is a complete fantasy yet it tries to be "real". Honestly, Armie Hammer is just too perfect of a human being. I mean, they both delivered oscar-worthy performances but Armie... Oh, Armie!! And despite the fact that both of them were so incredibly amazing I can't help but wonder - weren't there any gay actors who could have been cast in this film?? I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm absolutely having a full-on relationship with Armie Hammer in my fantasies but I just think that gay actors should be given a chance. It would have added to the "realness" of the film so much and the possibility that maybe - just maybe - this beautiful story could have actually been true... is that so much to ask for?? Because right now, we all know it's nothing more than just stellar acting performances and that's all it would ever be. I really shouldn't have liked this movie so much!! I should be giving it 5 stars.... but the way it makes me feel.... the memories it brings up... I too grew up in the 80's in eastern europe as a gay kid. And every summer when I'd go visit my grandma out in the country... Oh, how i can relate to this movie. Nothing like this ever happened to me. This film makes me want to turn back the hands of time and go back to that place and time - something I HAVE NEVER wished for!! That's why I hate it. It wasn't a good time. It wasn't a good place for a gay kid to grow up. It was terrible. Still is. This movie is such a fantasy fairytale - even with its terrible ending. I am so torn... I just hate how much I loved it.