The film I'm really chomping at the bit to see is Call Me by Your Name, for obvious reasons.

The roll out for that movie seems super slow. I saw it during the holidays while visiting my parents in Toronto, since I had no idea when it was coming to Pittsburgh (I still don't know). In a huge city like that, it was playing on only two screens in the entire greater Toronto area.

It's a gorgeous film and Timothee Chalamet is marvellous, but I think I had my expectations set to the Moonlight level, i.e. utter emotional devastation, and it didn't quite deliver? I mean, that's kind of an impossible expectation, I admit.

My mostly unspoiled impression is it's not trying to field anything close to the level of tragedy dealt with in the stories of Chiron and his mother, though. The stakes are much lower and the obstacles less dramatic—along the lines of The Sum of Us rather than Moonlight or Brokeback Mountain

The stakes are much lower and the obstacles less dramatic

Yep. More internal than external conflicts. And there is much to be said about a gay romance that is not about suffering and persecution. Those qualities are front and center in two other big entries into queer cinema I saw this past year -- A Fantastic Woman and BPM. I loved them both, but watching them was an emotionally draining experience. CMBYN felt much gentler, although I have heard from plenty of people who confessed to weeping through the movie.

Yup, the Math Greek and I were just fighting* the other night about whether the lack of stakes was a problem with CMBYN. For the record, he found it moving and I did not. (On the plus side, this is what the MG and I argue about?)

And I just realized I don't think I put A Fantastic Woman on my "Top Ten Unseen 2017 Films I'm Most Looking Forward To" list so thanks Vonnie for reminding me of that one.

*For all values of fighting where x = mild disagreement

Nice list, megan!

I saw 46 films in the cinema in 2017 but I'm still filling some holes and working on my Best list.

Oh Plei, I watched Gifted on the plane last week and then immediately made my mother watch it. Then came home and read your stories.

Yay!

I am not sure if I'll manage to see CMBYN in a theatre--is it something that's worth spending the money on there, or will it be fine just as a rental?

My friend that I'm seeing I, Tonya with this weekend (who is also my usual movie buddy locally) got back from it last night and texted me paragraphs of gushing and, as she has a background from the before times in film crit, this is not a thing that she usually does.

Based on that, I am optimistic about my reaction to it.

And I just realized I don't think I put A Fantastic Woman on my "Top Ten Unseen 2017 Films I'm Most Looking Forward To" list

I would imagine it would be Chile's entry into the Best Foreign Film category. There have been talks about Daniela Vega getting the Best Actress nom -- she is fucking amazing and it would be historic to have a transgender actress be nominated for an Oscar, but this is a very strong year for actresses. You have Frances McDormond, Saoirse Ronan, Sally Hawkins and I assume Meryl Streep, because... Meryl Streep (well, I hear she is legit great in The Post). I think that fifth slot will go to Margot Robbie for I, Tonya but it'd be nice to be surprised.

I am not sure if I'll manage to see CMBYN in a theatre--is it something that's worth spending the money on there, or will it be fine just as a rental?

I think it will translate well to small screen. It's a very intimate movie.

Though, Italy in the summer, might be pretty enough to warrant the big screen even without sweeping vistas.

True dat. I had a case of massive vacation envy the entire movie. Why can't I be related to people who have gorgeous summer homes in Italy??

True dat. I had a case of massive vacation envy the entire movie. Why can't I be related to people who have gorgeous summer homes in Italy??

A question so many of us ask on the regular.