The next movie starring Daniel Craig, Luca Guadagnino’s romantic dramaQueer, is a drastic tonal departure from the James Bond franchise and could finally land Craig an Oscar win for Best Actor. Since his breakout role as the mysterious XXXX in Matthew Vaughn’s crime filmLayer Cake, Craig has become one of the most beloved movie stars in the world. He gave what some would call the definitive portrayal of Bond across five movies, and he’s even launched his own original franchise with his eccentric turn as Detective Benoit Blanc in theKnives Outmovies.
Craig has appeared in several Oscar-adjacent movies throughout his career, from historical dramas, likeElizabethandDefiance, to acclaimed thrillers by renowned auteurs, likeLogan LuckyandThe Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Buthe still has yet to score an Academy Award; he hasn’t even been nominated. Craig is a great enough actor to deserve an Oscar on his shelf – evenhis stronger performances as 007in the likes ofCasino RoyaleandNo Time to Diehave warranted awards consideration – but, so far, he has nothing to show for it. That could all change with his next movie.
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What Is Queer? Daniel Craig’s New Movie Explained (& How It’s Different To Bond)
Queer is a heartfelt romantic drama set in 1940s Mexico City
Set in 1940s Mexico City,Queerrevolves around a castaway American expat, played by Craig, who falls for a younger man, played by Drew Starkey. It’s the latest film fromCall Me By Your Namedirector Luca Guadagnino, reuniting with hisChallengersscreenwriter Justin Kuritzkes. Kuritzkes’ script is based on the novel of the same name by William S. Burroughs. Although it wasn’t published until 1985, Burroughs wrote the novel in the early ‘50s. It’s a semi-autobiographical story based on Burroughs’ relationship with discharged American Navy serviceman Adelbert Lewis Marker.
Craig’s Lee, loosely based on Burroughs himself, flees to Mexico City after being caught in a drug bust in New Orleans. While soaking in the city’s nightlife, he becomes infatuated with a drug user named Eugene Allerton – who, like Marker, is a discharged American Navy serviceman – played by Starkey.Queeris a radical departure from the high-octane Bond filmsthat Craig has starred in for the past two decades. Although the younger sexual partner and the globetrotting journey to a sun-soaked locale might sound par for the course for 007, this isn’t an action movie; it’s a touching romantic drama.
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Queer Could Land Daniel Craig His Very First Oscar Nomination
Craig has been nominated for BAFTAs and Golden Globes, but never an Oscar
Queercould be the movie to finally score Craig an Oscar nomination.The reviews fromQueer’s premiereat the Venice International Film Festival on September 3 have been very positive. The film has been praised for its heart, humor, and stunning visuals, but above all, Craig’s performance has been lauded by critics. In the lead up to awards season,Craig’s performance is the thing that’s really been gaining traction for the movie. The stars seem to be aligning; it could finally be time for Craig to get a Best Actor nomination from the Academy.
Craig has been nominated for other notable awards, like BAFTAs and Golden Globes, but he’s never gotten an Academy Award nomination. That could all change ifQueercontinues to build momentum in the months leading up to awards season. This wouldn’t be the first time that Guadagnino has directed his leading man to an Oscar nomination; Timothée Chalamet scored a Best Actor nod for his poignant portrayal of Elio inCall Me By Your Name. So, there’s a precedent for Craig to get nominated forQueer.
Daniel Craig Has A Lot Of Competition For The Best Actor Oscar
Ralph Fiennes, Timothée Chalamet, and Colman Domingo are all in the running
The only obstacle that might stand in the way of a Best Actor nomination for Craig this year is that there’s a lot of stiff competition gunning for the same award. The Venice hype aroundQueeris good, and Craig is well-placed for a nomination, but it’s already shaping up to be a highly competitive year for Best Actor nominees.Ralph Fiennes inConclave,Timothée Chalamet inA Complete Unknown, and Colman Domingo inSing Singare all possibly ahead of Craig in the Best Actor race right now, but a lot can change through awards season.
As it stands, Craig is one of the outliers for a Best Actor nomination, along with Paul Mescal forGladiator II, Sebastian Stan forThe Apprentice, and Joaquin Phoenix forJoker: Folie à Deux. Fiennes, Chalamet, and Domingo would all be repeat nominations – which the Academy has always been more comfortable with – while Craig is vying for his first Best Actor nod. But if the reviews are to be believed, his performance inQueeris strong enough to put him in good stead for Oscar consideration.
Queer
Cast
Queer chronicles the life of American expat William Lee in 1950s Mexico City. His solitary existence changes with the arrival of Eugene Allerton, a young student, sparking a profound connection and altering Lee’s interactions within a small American community.
