Film Review: “Queer”

Guadagnino’s soul-searching adaptation is a mixed bag of moods

If you’re familiar with the literary works of William S. Burroughs, then perhaps you won’t be surprised that film adaptations of his novels contain a strong sense of surreality, auto-biographicality, and intense intimacy. The latter characteristic is also prevalently featured in the works of director Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name; Challengers). Despite Guadagnino and Burroughs’ shared love for portraying romantic physicality, and Daniel Craig’s impressively daring and vulnerable performance, Guadagnino’s adaptation of the Burroughs short novel, Queer, tries and often fails to properly balance the two artists’ stylistic approaches. Continue reading “Film Review: “Queer””

Local Spin: Interview with Eli Conley

Eli Conley

Eli Conley suggests I order the breakfast burrito.  With a wide grin, he tells me that it’s a great vegan dish.  The Virginia native, now an East Bay resident, has a lot to smile about.  He’s finished his first full-length album, At the Seams, to be released on September 28th.  He’s setting west coast tour dates for the fall and lovin’ life at the moment.  At our small table at Herbivore, I could easily tell that Eli, the queer folk singer-songwriter with a powerful passion for music and an equally powerful voice, was anxious to unleash his music unto the world…

Your album, At the Seams, is done and about to be released.  How do you feel?

I’m super excited.  I actually got the physical CDs two months ago.  I know many musicians who had to rush at the end, not having time to master it or not having them in time for a CD release show.  So I’m like, ok, I’m recording in April and I should have them in hand by June so I have time to send them out to press.  Then I was thinking when to release it in September, and just figured ‘why not just do it on my birthday!?’

Continue reading “Local Spin: Interview with Eli Conley”