Bones and All

I saw it for Timothée Chalamet. And his work is just admirable. But the great job is offered by absolutely impressive Mark Rylance, giving a version of evil absolutely fantastic.

No doubts, Taylor Russell represents the perfect option for role of Maurene.

One of virtues - the atmosphere of Reagan United States. In same measure, the touch, especially in the meetings, of South Gothic. Another virtue - the gentle poeetry, the travel becoming, in some measure, scene by scene, yours. The exploration of family, in the perspective of young adults is another good point.

The sin - maybe, the paradoxal hurry, the characters remaining more sketches .

But , indeed, a beautiful film, deserving the atention each minute from its two hours.

This movie had no explanation, no plot, no good story. Literally looked like I watched a longer trailer. It was so bad that people walked out and my friends and I were next. I'd Rather watch Bob Ross painting a picture than watch this again. The director could've done so much better. It was poorly edited, seemed rushed, the vibe was weird. Literally felt like it was filmed and edited with technology from the 70s. None of it was scary, just bisexual people eating flesh and falling in love with eachother. I was greatly disappointed. Don't waste your time going to try to watch this movie even if you have nothing else to do.

Before I start this review, I have to admit I have a soft spot for Luca Guadagnino and his directing style, which really speaks to me on an emotional level.

The movie is not perfect, but I enjoyed watching it, as to me this mixture of gory horror and on the road romance is quite new.

The plot is quite thin and the pace of the movie is slow and indefinite, but to me this is not negative: in the two hours of screentime I was never bored, and I sort of felt like I was on the road along with the protagonists.

The lead actors were really good, and in my opinion this was one of the best performances by Timothée Chalamet, whose chemistry with Guadagnino is undeniable. I think he was particularly suited for this role, because his innocent face and body perfectly communicated the nature of his character, conflicted between his monstrous instincts and his good heart.

The best performance was anyway delivered by Mark Rylance, whose creepy character Sully was great for keeping the tension high throughout the whole movie.

I really loved the poetic atmospheres of the road trip scenes, so typical of Guadagnino.

The negative aspects that can't be denied are the poor development of the characters, which makes it hard to root for them, and the quality of the dialogues, which are often shallow.

Personally I didn't appreciate the ending scene and the related dialogue especially.

Despite some negative specs, I would absolutely suggest seeing it, if you don't mind some pretty gory scenes.

Fair to say I went in to this with pretty high expectations (considering I'm a genuine admirer of director Luca Guadagnino, since he made one of my favourite films "Call Me By Your Name") & sadly, as much as it physically pains me to say it, they just weren't met here. You could argue my disappointment is therefore my own fault - because the film endeavoured to achieve something I had not initially anticipated - (& that is a valid countenance to make, to a degree, as I'm judging it from a biased perspective, basing my opinions on what I'd originally envisioned etc.) but quite frankly, upon much rumination... After trying to consider what it was actually trying to do instead - other than tell a frustratingly shallow & simplistic tale about 2 cannibals falling in love - I still remain nonethewiser? Hence, the lack of any discernible purpose (that could justify the gruesome subject matter) irked me somewhat by the time I'd reached the end, as I'd assumed the theme of cannibalism would at the very least be allegorical & used to convey a deeper message to the audience. Alas, it wasn't - as far as I could decipher.

Yes, the movie is shot in a very intimate way, capturing the rawness of the emotions which are experienced between the two leads & the resultant primal nature of their bond - sealed by a forbidden urge neither can control - so I understand the filmmaker's desire to capture a stripped back depiction of "love", mirroring how primitive it is, ironically at its heart... But there's nothing linking that to the viewer (in a developed world) which could result in anything clear or relatable, so the meaning (if there is one?) feels sadly lost. The creative team at the helm therefore may have benefitted, drawing comparisons between the fictional reality & our own, portraying the romance as LGBT+ (immediately drawing parallels, using one controversial behaviour - rightfully - frowned upon by society as an extreme example to contrast it against another, which still isn't completely accepted - perhaps showing how ostracism results in deep connections being made between soulmates who share the same trauma / outlook?) but again, that potential is squandered frustratingly, despite the fact that briefly, it does seem to be headed in that direction - funnily enough, when it works most effectively.

Plus, it doesn't help that Timothée Chalamet's on screen chemistry with the aforementioned male (who has a fleeting role) is ten times stronger than that of which features alongside Taylor Russell; confounding the problem by acting as an immediate reminder of a more fruitful path this could've easily been taken in.

I see a lot of potential here & the possibilities for what could've been are enticing (a commentary on male entitlement, the destructiveness of addiction, or maybe showing how the worst of us have a chance at redemption if we're willing to commit to the idea of our own betterment?) but nothing is ever clear enough to feel satisfying or fulfilling, upon completion... So ironically, we do not enjoy this "Bones & All."

What do you get when you join horror and romance in the same movie? You get BONES AND ALL. This movie, directed by Luca Guadagnino and written by Dave Kajganich, based on the novel by Camille DeAngelis, follows the story of Maren (Taylor Russell), a young woman abandoned by her father who goes on a thousand-mile odyssey across America. On her journey, she meets Lee (Timothée Chalamet), a disenfranchised drifter with whom she forms a bond. However, their pasts come back to haunt them and lead to a showdown that will determine if their love can survive the darkness of their otherness.

This movie intriguingly blends cannibalistic horror and romance, while exploring themes of identity, acceptance, and embracing one's truth. Taylor Russell as Maren gives a captivating performance that is both heartbreaking and empowering. Timothée Chalamet's portrayal of a young man trying to find peace in an unjust world is also spellbinding. The script is filled with striking dialogue, and the haunting score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross adds depth to this mesmerising story.

BONES AND ALL is an intense, heartbreaking, and uplifting tale that is sure to leave an impact. It's a must-watch for anyone who enjoys horror and romance, or simply needs a reminder of the power of love. Be warned though - this movie has lots of blood and gore, so it's not for the faint of heart.