Movie Man Darian Watching All Night Long

Bones And All 

This is an engaging coming of age story that revolves around cannibals in what is one of the most shocking, romantically twisted and disturbing films I’ve seen all year. Now I knew that this was done by the same filmmaker that did Call Me By Your Name which blew me away when I saw it back in 2017 and so when hearing he was tackling a romance film that centred around people eating people yeah it got my attention. It has twists and turns you won’t see coming, it’s amazingly well acted by Timothee Chalamet, Taylor Russell and a dark performance by Mark Rylance this is a film that will rattle you but have you discussing  it in depth long after the film is over. 

Firstly, The way this story is done is done in such a way that grabbed me and really immersed me into this bleak  but beautifully shot film. As you have a plot about cannibals and the way they go about eating others and hunting them down on paper that sounds like a truly problematic story that probably wouldn’t work well with audiences but it’s in the way it’s done onscreen that works it shouldn’t but it does. As the film doesn’t glamorize or condone cannibalism it’s shown in a way that seems like a cult in a way as we’re seeing it through the eyes of Taylor Russell’s character who is trying to come to terms of who she is as a person and why she is the way she is craving human flesh. And Mark Rylance’s character very much is what a person in that lifestyle has become when it’s just consumed them fully and they only know about eating others and that’s become their way of life. Now Timothee Chalamet’s character very much plays the in between of that obsessed cannibal but also will draw the line though. So the way they’re able to express those arcs through the course of the film is done in such an engaging and fantastic way that gets you hooked into the characters the moment they appear onscreen. So the character depth and the way their written was amazingly well told. In terms of the horror elements of the story it’s not as graphic as many people would think does it have unsettling images at parts yeah it does and the undertone could be very disturbing for some but it never makes you feel sick from what your witnessing. It is a dark tale for sure but the violence and gore is done in a very carful manner that is shocking but it doesn’t go way over the line in terms of its plot point of cannibalism. The subject is very dark and bleak but the way the film is showcased is beautiful the imagery and music is amazing and really pulls you into this macabre world and Luca Guadagino executes this film so well in terms of storytelling and style and the moment the film starts you are thrust into this very interesting story and your so wrapped up in each scene you are constantly eager to see how this story will play out this film is masterfully structured. 

Secondly, The performances are incredible! Taylor Russell delivers one hell of a performance in this film. She plays this very emotionally lost girl that is trying to find her place in the world and the  amazing vulnerability she taps into was incredible to watch. Then you have Timothee Chalamet who gives a very morally grey performance that is honestly one of the best performances I’ve seen of his as he plays this charismatic but yet violent individual who you don’t know where he stands with his morals and Chalamet walks that line so greatly with a truly dazzling performance that unsettles you but engages you all at once. Then you have Mark Rylance who is also a very shady individual and at first he seems like a very nice man but once we learn more about him over the course of the story we come to terms how dangerous and scary he is and now Mark Rylance brings a darkness to this performance that is unlike anything he’s ever done before. It’s a performance that will make the hair on your neck stand up he’s outstanding in this film. So overall the performances from all 3 key actors knock it out of the park with their amazingly well layered performances the acting in this film is truly brilliant everyone brought their A game. 

Lastly, Bones And All is a twisted romantic coming of age film that has a dark undertone about cannibalism and stylistically and narratively this is one of the most captivating films I’ve seen all year. It’s not a straight up horror but it does have horror elements it’s also not a romance film but the two characters have an amazing love story in here so it dips into so many different genres and just explodes this canvas of different colours resulting in such a engaging story that is romantic, violent, shocking and twisted in a tale that will stay with you long after the film is over. It’s amazingly well acted with some actors giving their best work in this film Bones And All is a brilliant film from start to finish and I recommend everyone go see this film. 

This film revolves around a girl who realizes she has a hunger for human flesh and finds others like her on her journey of self discovery and even true love in the process 

Rated R : Language Throughout|Brief Graphic Nudity|Some Sexual Content|Strong, Bloody Violent Content

Taylor Russell : Taylor Russell delivers a tender and emotionally charged performance here that will bring you to tears! Now Taylor Russell first broke out on the scene with her breakout work in Waves a couple years ago so to see her pop here was a great surprise. As she is the one character in the story that isn’t morally corrupt and very much is the character that guides the audience through the madness of this tale. She at first glance seems very dark and as the film unfolds we learn how emotionally vulnerable she is and that she just is on the search for her self identity. As yes she feeds off human flesh But she has no reason why she is that way and it terrifies her that she does not know why she gets off to that thrill and yes she meets people on her travels that explain what may be at the root of it but she still wants to feel “normal”. The way she brings that to the surface onscreen is incredible as Taylor Russell does not have these big grand sweeping emotional speeches she is very quiet in the way she approaches the character. As she is very emotionally closed off and yes she forms a relationship with someone over the course of the film but she is very carful in the way she even approaches her romantic relationship because she is so used to being on her own. Taylor Russell’s character evolves and sheds new layers through the course of the film as she finds out more and more about herself and by the final act she is so emotionally open in ways she wasn’t by the time we met her in the beginning of the film and the way her arc is presented by Russell in this emotionally honest and engaging performance is sensational. Sure the performance is more on the subtle side and is a very emotionally pulled back performance but she still had me invested in her character and what she was brining to the screen as she could of just phoned her performance in and let Timothee carry the film but no she delivers a performance of emotional vulnerability and self discovery that is both touching and heartbreaking and she finds the truth in her heart to express those sides needed to give the character the proper execution onscreen. It is a solid performance by Taylor Russell and I cannot wait to see what she does next as her work in this film is fantastic. 

Timothee Chalamet : Now before I start analyzing his performance is this a Stellar performance of his? Yes it is but is it as good as his work in beautiful boy? No it is not but I would definitely put this in a top 5 of his best performances I have seen of his so far. Now I have been watching this amazing actor blossom in Hollywood since 2017 and after I saw what he did with beautiful Boy which to me is the best work of his career he probably can top that performance but for right now that is the high bar he has set for himself in terms of performance. As his work in Bones And All is truly a spectacular performance that is both shady and charismatic all at once. Now Timothee plays this off the beaten track character that has been in the world of Cannibalism for sometime now so he knows where to find the best people to eat and how to go about doing it and Taylor Russell’s character at first is a bit taken aback by that but she is so drawn into his personality and the way he carries himself. As he introduces her into how to go about it in a way that is smart but also thrilling and as the film progresses we see how obsessive this way of living is to him. Timothee is able to channel this maddening quality to the character that is both grippingly energetic but also terrifying and what I mean by that is even though he makes her feel ok you can still feel that he has that tick in his brain that could he eat her would he you don’t know and so that questionable mysterious aspect to the character Chalamet is able to shine through so greatly. As he is a very shady character that borders between romantic and insanity Timothee brings this raw emotional energy to the character that you can feel in every word he speaks pure passion and you believe every word he says as the words spoken from his lips have such impact. He gives his 100 percent to every scene he is in and is constantly showing new sides to the character as the story progresses with how we saw Taylor Russell’s character evolve from as closed off person to a very emotionally open person for him we see him go from this relaxed very in control person to a obsessed romantically driven person that will do anything to keep that thrill of eating others alive in his heart and on his mind at all times. Timothee brings that tenderness around Taylor Russell’s character but also can bring that darkness in his soul out when he needs to feed and he brings that perfect balance of those two emotional switches beautifully it is again another truly amazing performance by Timothee Chalamet giving one of the best performances of his career playing one of his most emotionally complex roles that has you wrapped up by his finger every time he’s onscreen. 

Mark Rylance : Rylance creeped the hell out of me in this film! Now Mark Rylance amazed me earlier this year with his great work in the overlooked film the Outfit which he gives an explosive performance in. Now seeing him in this film about Cannibals was an interesting choice for him as even in the film the Outfit he played the hero of that story and so here he plays a morally dark person who you could go as far as saying is the villain of the story. Now that being said what is so unsettling about his performance in the film is how he creeps up on you with his approach to this character. As when you are introduced to him you think he is just going to be a nice guy to help Taylor Russell and then send her on her way. That is what I thought but as we learn more about him we see how unhinged he is as a person and how dangerous he truly is. He says right off the bat that eaters don’t go after each other but since he has been a Cannibal for so long that ethic rule he came up with he even bends and so he is unpredictable in his nature which makes the scenes he is in ten times more tense and scary due to the fact he could violently lash out at any moment. Rylance has this softness to his voice but a hunger in his eyes for anyone he comes across and he gives this predator feeling to him that makes your skin crawl and this is a total departure for Mark Rylance as he has not tackled such a sinister role like this before. Which for me made the performance stand out even more because he commits to every ounce of this character by showing such raw powerfully given delivery that is emotionally disturbing as he speaks in this calm way but then can scream if he does not get his way and to him it all seems normal the way he speaks to someone in that violent nature because he is so used to doing it for him he sees nothing wrong with it which makes it the more unsettling. As Rylance explores the dark depths of this mans heart and shows how obsessive he gets to the point of stalking the two main characters and he makes them feel like he just bumps into them by chance and tries to calm them down with his charming voice and it is all a front for what dark intentions he truly has for them and Rylance brings that to such life in one of his all best performances that is twisted but so damn engaging. He creeps the hell out of you but you can’t look away because of how good the performance is by Mark Rylance a truly terrifying but brilliant performance that steals the show. 

Luca Guadagino : Luca directed the hell out of this film! Now this guy is a fantastic filmmaker that made quiet the splash with his film Call Me By Your Name back in 2017. To see him tackle a film about Cannibalism and mix it with a coming of age narrative intertwined with romance melded interestingly really well. As he introduces us to a character that is thrust into this world of cannibals and the sheer nature of it and has to learn why she operates the way she does and it is done in such a very emotional and personal way. As he easily could have leaned more into the horror elements of the story and made it a straight up jump scare fest but he didn’t he instead took the coming of age route which some may say is cheesy but he does it in such a gripping way. As it felt like a twisted Romeo and Juliet in a lot of ways and the way she expresses the landscapes and positions the camera to help invoke the emotional nature of the story was so striking to the eye. Not many filmmakers I know would be able to tackle a film about Cannibals and make it a romance but it oddly works and Luca is able to bring you in with the cool style and colourful nature of the environment but truly capture your attention from the sinister story at hand and its very memorable characters. This film is a high wire act because if done improper could of been as I said very problematic but he is able to show how creepy the nature of eating other humans are and those who are into that lifestyle and the sheer obsessive and dangerous aspects of having that kind of life leads to. The film can be hard to stomach but Luca holds no punches and will make you feel disturbed at what your seeing but he refuses to shy away from the very bleak nature of the subject which I respect. He captures the violence and darkness of Cannibals in a very real and skin crawling way while also having you wrapped up in these characters journeys they go on. It is masterfully directed and one of his best films I have seen of his as he is balancing a lot here as so much could have gone wrong but he pulled it off amazingly well.