Demanding that viewers familiarize themselves with the original story’s background—including the life of its author—before watching feels like an unfair imposition on audiences. When a film can't be understood without prior knowledge, it starts at a disadvantage. That’s certainly true of Luca Guadagnino’s adaptation of William S. Burroughs’s 1985 semi-autobiographical novella; it’s a slow-moving, wandering, pretentio…

Without the presence of a former "007," this gay-themed drama would likely be quickly forgotten and relegated to streaming services like Dekkoo within a couple of years. Daniel Craig portrays “Lee,” a wealthy man living in Mexico City, where he spends his time between tequila and heroin use while attempting to find young men for company. He’s generally successful in attracting attention, but then he notices an enigma…