An Almost Perfect Peach.

Rating: 9/10 (21 October 2018)

Turning this novel into a movie was always going to be a tricky feat. The novel oozes beauty and romance, peppered with sexual tension and longing from the first person perspective of young Elio. Can it replicated for the big screen?
Thankfully it can. Beautifully captured by James Ivory, the script captures all these elements of the novel deftly. It's no wonder that Call Me By Your Name swept the board during awards season for best adapted screenplay.
The production is incredible too, the nostalgia of the time is captured amazingly, from the costumes, to the locations, to the gorgeous cinematography. One wanted nothing more than to swept into this world on numerous occasions, with a cigarette hanging from my lips, sipping coffee in my short shorts... For the viewer to become immersed the world so thoroughly is high praise to all involved.
Timothee Chalamet, is perfect as Elio. Beautiful, yearning and vulnerable, he emotes everything with an ease and believability that more than proves his Best Actor nominations worth. Notable mentions to Elios parents too (Michael Stuhlbarg and Amira Casar) - both of whom are revelations in themselves; charming, warm and funny and add another dimension of beautiful heartache when dealing with their son.
The only reason that one didn't give this movie 10 stars is because of Armie Hammer. The character of Oliver should have been younger. While Hammer has the classic looks and charm of the Oliver in the novel, he just looks too mature. Also his borderline rude nonchalance towards Elio at the start of the film, is almost too much, and makes the interest in Elio, almost come as a little of a surprise.
Their relationship however is beautifully captured, the tension and the attraction between the two of them is very seductive, which makes the resolution of he narrative all the more heartbreaking.
Call Me By Your Name, feels real. That's where the main success lies. It tells the truth about forbidden love, lust and loss. I dare you not to fall in love too.
BOTTOM LINE: Absolutely peachy.