HE to Luca Guadagnino: Wow…what a fascinating psychedelic space-out…a dig-down dreamscape thing…the sexuality is there, obviously, but subordinate to the spiritual current, the exotic atmosphere, Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey’s truly fascinating performances, the nimble editing, the South American jungle yage ** scenes….

The trippy mystical vibe kinda sneaks up on you…it’s one of the most fascinating, out-there films about vulnerability, transformative intimacy and emotionality that I’ve ever seen…amazing!

Seriously…hats off to you and yours.  I was blown away.

Queer is a truly fascinating mood piece and space-out…a film has never taken me to a realm like this…an amazing reach, amazing combustion…and when the William Tell moment happens at the end…God!! It explores and delivers so much more than I expected.

Queer is much more transformative than Call Me By Your Name…it may be your best film ever, or it may be your most out-there or whatever…I’m not sure how to label it but Craig’s performance is staggering…purely a matter of heart and spirit and twitchy emotion…all I know is that he’s uncovered something fresh and alive…really something else.

The Venice Film Festival reviews kind of missed the boat, I think. I mean, Queer is about so much more than just “Lee” and his sexuality and the atmosphere of early ‘50s Mexico City…I truly adored the cinematography, editing, musical choices, the miniature models, the Cinecitta sound stage recreations of Mexico City.

I didn’t even recognize Leslie Manville, who’s really out-there as the jungle medicine woman. And dear effing God, what has happened to poor Jason Schwartzman?…he’s gained at least 50 or 60 pounds!!..what’s happened to Max Fischer? (Wait…I’m told he’s wearing a fat suit.)

I really didn’t see this coming. Talk about your October surprise. Queer is a wake-up thing. It delivers a feeling of inwardness, extra-ness.

** pronounced “yah-hay”