I was far from delighted with Paul Mescal‘s performance in Aftersun. My thought was “I’m stuck with this guy?” But now we’re really stuck with him.
It was announced yesterday that Mescal (whose cheery voice isn’t deep enough) is “in talks to play Lucius Verus (son of Connie Neilsen‘s Lucilla, grandson of Marcus Aurelius) in Ridley Scott‘s Gladiator sequel. Mescal is also replacing Blake Jenner in Richard Linklater‘s Merrily We Roll Along film…Jesus.
Friendo: Did you rewatch Aftersun after seeing it in Cannes [last May]?
HE: No.
Friendo: I’m not sure how a Critics Week sidebar flick made it this far into awards season. That’s never happened before. You would presume that Cannes competition and the Quinzaine passed on it before it ended up n Critics Week.
HE: [Director] Charlotte Wells‘ identity was undoubtedly a factor. Millennial-aged queer female director from the UK. Not a chance in hell that film wouldn’t been celebrated if a dude had directed it.
Friendo: Very personal statement about her toxic father. Wells kinda looks like Elliot Page.
HE: I just don’t specifically recall what was “toxic” about Mescal’s dad character. I remember weepy.
Friendo: Mescal’s character was going through a depression but mostly he was a neglectful father. He cared but he was a mental mess.