"I remember everything..."

Rating: 10/10 (18 February 2018)

It's that time of the year again. This year there are 9 nominees vying for the Best Picture at the Oscars and I'm looking forward to watching all because I'm only familiar with this one and at best I only knew the title and that it features Armie Hammer, who played twins in The Social Network and whom I was sure was destined for stardom along with his disarming voice until he did The Lone Ranger.
Based on the novel with the same name, the movie tells the story of the friendship (that's what they called it back in the day - or even until now actually) between Oliver, a visiting research assistant and Elio, the 17 year old son of Oliver's professor. Their initial chemistry was uneasy, with the former's arrogance typical of an American and the latter's condescending typical of a teenager. In time, they agreed to be friends (there's that word again) and ended up with the most memorable experience one could hope for set in sunny Italy in the 80s. For the longest time I've been looking for the right term to call that feeling when the sun is shining just right, the wind is blowing the dandelions in the air, you're laying beside your loved one and you don't want it to end. This movie helped me find it: it's called Romantic.
I've read multiple articles on how many chances Armie has been given already only because he's the very definition of white privilege, but it's good that the director took a chance on him to tell us that stereotyping in any way, shape or form is a loss for everyone. He also defended his decision to cast straight actors for the role by saying to cast someone in a role based on gender identity is oppressive. Timothee Chalamet deserved his Best Actor nomination (see end credits of movie). Praises as well for Elio's parents who made me realize that's the kind of parent I want to be if ever I become one.
As for it's prospects of winning, if the academy is ready to make good on the error they made when they chose that movie no one remembers anymore over Brokeback Mountain back in 2005, it wouldn't be wasted on this. But if the other eight nominees are more deserving, I wouldn't give them a hard time about it.
Favorite quote:
"We rip out so much of ourselves to be cured of things faster than we should that we go bankrupt by the age of thirty and have less to offer each time we start with someone new. But to feel nothing so as not to feel anything - what a waste!"