11-15-23: In rereading this, I've realized that I've misspelled Msr. Chalamet's last name wrong at least once (and asterisked it with no accompanying footnote, which is a personal pet peeve--my bad!). I also misspelled his first name, throughout. "Timothy." The Anglicanized version. It is, in fact "Timothee," with an accent on that last "e." No, wait...the first "e." How does that work? But I digress. In any event, I have no idea how to accent letters on this site.
Now, generally, I would ask for proof as to this spelling, accepting nothing less than a birth certificate. However, in this case, as Msr. Chalamet is both a citizen of the of the United States and France and is fluent in French (although not necessarily in English--kids today!), I will heartily give him the benefit of the doubt. I will not, however, go back and amend the misspellings. My apologies to Msr. Chalamet if I've contributed to his "cross-cultural identity issues." Rest assured, I will be supporting Msr. Chalamet by going to see "Willy Wonka" at a theater, even though I feel a third version of Willy Wonka it two versions too many.
CFR
Be On the Alert for a Spoil-Sport!
That's a still from Call Me by Your Name, which arguably made Messrs. Chalemet* and Hammer Stars with a capital "S."
Lots of questions. 'Frinstance: What's peeping out of Armie's shorts? How did a love story involving a minor ever get made and when it was, with nary a concern from the culture? If "gay" movies are considered to be not commercially viable; why does everyone remember this and Brokeback Mountain? A line from the latter has actually entered the lexicon: "I wish I knew how to quit you." Did straight men go to see these movies? If so, did they enjoy them? I mean, somebody was going to see them.
Now, generally, I would ask for proof as to this spelling, accepting nothing less than a birth certificate. However, in this case, as Msr. Chalamet is both a citizen of the of the United States and France and is fluent in French (although not necessarily in English--kids today!), I will heartily give him the benefit of the doubt. I will not, however, go back and amend the misspellings. My apologies to Msr. Chalamet if I've contributed to his "cross-cultural identity issues." Rest assured, I will be supporting Msr. Chalamet by going to see "Willy Wonka" at a theater, even though I feel a third version of Willy Wonka it two versions too many.
CFR
Be On the Alert for a Spoil-Sport!
That's a still from Call Me by Your Name, which arguably made Messrs. Chalemet* and Hammer Stars with a capital "S."
Lots of questions. 'Frinstance: What's peeping out of Armie's shorts? How did a love story involving a minor ever get made and when it was, with nary a concern from the culture? If "gay" movies are considered to be not commercially viable; why does everyone remember this and Brokeback Mountain? A line from the latter has actually entered the lexicon: "I wish I knew how to quit you." Did straight men go to see these movies? If so, did they enjoy them? I mean, somebody was going to see them.
More questions: Don't you think Timothy looks a lot younger than 17? He looks about 14 to me, even though he's 20 here. Why was this choice made? Also, why did the author of the book, who is straight, get a pass to write about gay culture? Or was 2007 before "cultural appropriation" entered the lexicon.
So, we all know what Armie Hammer has been accused of and that he's been pretty much cancelled. It all started when his "cannibalism fantasies" were made public. But they were just fantasies. As far as we know, Armie never actually tried to eat anybody.
Which brings us to this:
So, we all know what Armie Hammer has been accused of and that he's been pretty much cancelled. It all started when his "cannibalism fantasies" were made public. But they were just fantasies. As far as we know, Armie never actually tried to eat anybody.
Which brings us to this:
The above movie, which has recently been released, is based on a YA novel. The subject matter? Teenage cannibal lovers on a road trip. "Teenage cannibals Chris?" you ask. "Surely you don't mean literally?" Yes, I reply. Literally. They eat human flesh. Sometimes "Bones And All." "Like, the entire body of a grown adult?" Not all the time; but they are capable of it. Like when the heroine was a little girl, she ate most of her baby-sitter. Not all, but most. "But wait Chris, how could a baby physically consume most of something at least five times bigger than they are? How would that be physically possible?" Hey, don't ask me. The movie completely glosses over the mechanics of its cannibalism.
"Wait a second...I'm still stuck on the cannibal thing? You're telling me they make meals of other humans and actually devour their flesh?" Yes! "Do they need to do this to survive?" It's not clear; the movie shows them eating normal food like pancakes and Lucky Charms. "And they can chew through bones?" According to the script. You see, they're called "Eaters" and they can find others like themselves through super-powered smelling. "They smell? Or they can smell one another?" Both. "Okay...do they ever eat one another?" Apparently; although some "eaters" draw a line at eating their own kind. Others not so much. "Can you give me an example?" Sure! Apparently Timothy C. killed and ate his own father "all up." "You're telling me he completely consumed his own father? Including his father's...you know..."
Your guess is as good as mine. Apparently he's a bi-sexual eater. And incestuous. "And this was all in a novel for "young adults"? Yep. "Wow...that's kind of twisted. And then they went and made it into a movie that's Rated R; so ostensibly "young adults" can't see it without "old adults?" Uhh-huh.
"Wait a second...I'm still stuck on the cannibal thing? You're telling me they make meals of other humans and actually devour their flesh?" Yes! "Do they need to do this to survive?" It's not clear; the movie shows them eating normal food like pancakes and Lucky Charms. "And they can chew through bones?" According to the script. You see, they're called "Eaters" and they can find others like themselves through super-powered smelling. "They smell? Or they can smell one another?" Both. "Okay...do they ever eat one another?" Apparently; although some "eaters" draw a line at eating their own kind. Others not so much. "Can you give me an example?" Sure! Apparently Timothy C. killed and ate his own father "all up." "You're telling me he completely consumed his own father? Including his father's...you know..."
Your guess is as good as mine. Apparently he's a bi-sexual eater. And incestuous. "And this was all in a novel for "young adults"? Yep. "Wow...that's kind of twisted. And then they went and made it into a movie that's Rated R; so ostensibly "young adults" can't see it without "old adults?" Uhh-huh.
So, this movie was directed by Luka Guadagnino who directed Call Me by Your Name; which of course starred Timothy C. and Armie. So is there a cannibalistic connection here? I mean, if not, isn't that kind of a huge coincidence?
And let's go back to that initial unravelling of Mr. Hammer's life. I'm not trying to dismiss the more disturbing allegations against him. However, the first insinuations of Mr. Hammer's "cannibalism" were more than less taken at face value. Like people were acting like he really was a cannibal when it was just a fantasy. A weird fantasy; but a fantasy none the less.
Some more questions/concerns: So it was okay for Timothy's character to kill gay men as opposed to men who might have a wife and kids? I mean, there's a scene where he seduces a male carny worker, cuts his throat while he's jerking him off from behind and then Timothy and Maren (Taylor Russell) proceed to bite nice bloody chunks off of his naked body, which is shown quite graphically. When they find out later this guy had a wife and children, Maren has a crisis of conscience; the implication being that it would've been okay if he was just, you know, a fag. Speaking of fags. The movie uses the word "Faggot." Timothy's sister in the movie says: "You look like a faggot in that shirt!" (shirt seen above). I mean, there's no good reason for it. She could have said a million other things. Like "stupid" for example. Or, "a girl." It was just mean spirited. And it's coming from a director who's gay himself. There's been a lot of queer self-loathing in Hollywood lately. Just watch American Horror Story: NYC. Tell me I'm wrong. I really hope the actor who played the carny goes on to bigger and better things. He stole his scenes right out from under Timothy C. and that's not easy to do. He out-charisma-ed him! His name is Jake Horowitz.
And let's go back to that initial unravelling of Mr. Hammer's life. I'm not trying to dismiss the more disturbing allegations against him. However, the first insinuations of Mr. Hammer's "cannibalism" were more than less taken at face value. Like people were acting like he really was a cannibal when it was just a fantasy. A weird fantasy; but a fantasy none the less.
Some more questions/concerns: So it was okay for Timothy's character to kill gay men as opposed to men who might have a wife and kids? I mean, there's a scene where he seduces a male carny worker, cuts his throat while he's jerking him off from behind and then Timothy and Maren (Taylor Russell) proceed to bite nice bloody chunks off of his naked body, which is shown quite graphically. When they find out later this guy had a wife and children, Maren has a crisis of conscience; the implication being that it would've been okay if he was just, you know, a fag. Speaking of fags. The movie uses the word "Faggot." Timothy's sister in the movie says: "You look like a faggot in that shirt!" (shirt seen above). I mean, there's no good reason for it. She could have said a million other things. Like "stupid" for example. Or, "a girl." It was just mean spirited. And it's coming from a director who's gay himself. There's been a lot of queer self-loathing in Hollywood lately. Just watch American Horror Story: NYC. Tell me I'm wrong. I really hope the actor who played the carny goes on to bigger and better things. He stole his scenes right out from under Timothy C. and that's not easy to do. He out-charisma-ed him! His name is Jake Horowitz.
Yes, there's somehow an undercurrent of homophobia in this movie. And age-o-phobia. 'Frinstance, Mark Rylance's character explains that his first human meal was his grandfather, who was already dead. Sure, why not? Just the sort of spicy detail a book aimed at teen-age girls needs! Where was all the freaking out over cannibalism when this book came out; or when it was chosen to be made into a movie. No one at MGM thought, hmmmmm...just who is this movie for? Armie Hammer?
And I just gotta ask...why wasn't Mr. Hammer in this movie? He clearly inspired it. Or would that have been a little too on the nose? Or did the filmmakers have the bad taste enough to have asked him and he declined?
Did Armie Hammer have the good taste in this scenario?
Why does Armie Hammer get obliterated and a movie based on his kink (come on, it has to be) get a pass? With kids yet?
And why wasn't this song on the soundtrack of a movie about cannibals in 1988?
And I just gotta ask...why wasn't Mr. Hammer in this movie? He clearly inspired it. Or would that have been a little too on the nose? Or did the filmmakers have the bad taste enough to have asked him and he declined?
Did Armie Hammer have the good taste in this scenario?
Why does Armie Hammer get obliterated and a movie based on his kink (come on, it has to be) get a pass? With kids yet?
And why wasn't this song on the soundtrack of a movie about cannibals in 1988?
CFR 12/6/22