Great but not perfect (and raises questions)

Rating: 7/10 (23 January 2018)

"Call Me By Your Name" (2017 release from Italy; 132 min.) brings the story of Elio and Oliver. As the movie opens, we are reminded that it is "Summer of 1983" and "Somewhere in northern Italy". We get to know 17 yr. old Elio and his parents, spending time at their summer home in Crema, Italy. Then Oliver, who is a research assistant to Elio's dad (a professor of archaeology) arrives to spend 6 weeks there. Elio shows Oliver around in the local town. To tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.
Couple of comments: this is the latest movie from Italian director Luca Guadagnino, who just a few years ago brought us the excellent "A Bigger Splash" (and you can immediately pick up on certain structural similarities between these two films). Here, Guadagnino examines the restless and at times confused state of Elio who, for reasons never made clear, comes around to liking Oliver, a lot. Frankly, I struggled with that. Another thing: am I the only one who raises a question as to the age difference between Elio (whom we know is 17) and Oliver (his age is not disclosed, but I'm guessing, being a research assistant, probably mid-20s, if not older), a significant gap from a 17 yr. old's perspective. But there are plenty of other great things about this movie. First and foremost, having grown up in Belgium (with significant vacation time in the south of France), the movie captures the endless summers of my youth perfectly (I moved to the States in... 1983, the year this movie is set). The bike rides, the meals outside, the laying around in the grass, etc. etc., that is what summer time was like in the late 70s/early 80s. Second, Timothée Chalamet (as Elio) is nothing short of spectacular (on the heels of his smaller role in Lady Bird). While his name sounds French, he is in fact an American, but perfectly bilingual. Third, the production set and photography is pure eye-candy. Last and certainly not least, there is a fabulous soundtrack, with several new songs from Sufjan Stevens that capture the movie's mood just right. No surprise then that when the Oscar nominations were announced today, "Call My By Your Name" got 4 of them (Best Movie, Best Actor, Best Adopted Screenplay and Best original Song).
The movie finally went wide this past weekend, and the Friday evening screening where I saw this at was attended very nicely. Bottom line is that there are a number of great things about this movie, but I cannot give it a "perfect" 5 star rating for the reasons I mentioned. That should not stop you from checking out "Call Me By Your Name", be it in the theater, on VOD or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.