“Bones and All” Review
Timothée Chalamet and Taylor Russell star as two cannibal lovers on the road trip of their lives in “Bones and All.”
A romance film about cannibals starring Timothée Chalamet and directed by the same man who directed “Call Me By Your Name?” Boy I bet Armie Hammer was pissed that no one reached out to him with a role. I mean, Hammer’s been preparing for the role his whole life. All jokes aside, I was very intrigued by the concept of “Bones and All.” A romance film that focuses on two runaways on the road already has the makings to be mentioned alongside cross-country journey films like “Sideways,” “Green Book” and “Logan.” When I learned that the film’s protagonists were flesh eaters, to quote one of the most evil characters in cinema, “you had my curiosity, now you have my attention.” After viewing the film, “Bones and All” was a deeply engaging and simultaneously devastating experience supported by its concept and performances.
Set in the 1980s, Maren (Taylor Russell) is a teenaged girl with one particular problem: a desire to consume human flesh. After being abandoned by her father (André Holland), Maren roams the countryside trying to suppress her urges when she meets Lee (Timothée Chalamet), a fellow “eater” who strikes up a romance with her. With no one but each other, the pair go on a cross-country trip while trying to control their cannibalism. But their future is threatened by Sully (Mark Rylance), a particularly disturbed eater who is just as dangerous to his fellow cannibals as he is to the rest of civilization.
I think most people walking into this film will be thinking that there’s no way that “Bones and All’s” romance will grow on them. Yet somehow, by the film’s end, you feel so attached to Maren and Lee’s journey as a couple. Make no mistake, there’s no doubt how messed up the character’s actions are and there’s no attempt to glamourize the cannibalism scenes. It’s clear that Maren and Lee need to consume human meat, there’s no choice in the matter. Sure they can hold off the urge, but being deprived of flesh will eventually weaken and kill them so they have to feed for survival.
Chalamet and Russell’s performances are remarkable. Russell in particular is compelling as she represents the audience. When she has her first cannibalistic impulse in the film, it’s shocking not just to the audience but to her as well. The more she learns about “her kind,” the more she’s terrified of herself. But she wants to live and that internal drama had my attention. Chalamet also has a soft side and has people in his life that he wants to protect, but he’s given into his urges more and feels that he’s lost too much of his humanity to attach himself to anyone. Their chemistry kept me glued to the screen for the film’s two hour and ten minute runtime.
Mark Rylance’s (right) performance in “Bones and All” shows that he doesn’t have to be charming in his films, he can also be incredibly scary.
While certainly a long film, “Bones and All” justifies its length with its atmosphere. In a good road trip film, you want a lot of landscapes and some interesting characters that are seen along the way and you certainly get that. However, the main focus is on Lee and Maren on their own, trying to comprehend their existence as monsters and it works really well. The drama that unfolds both within and between them is fascinating and you grow so attached to them.
“Bones and All” may have compelling protagonists, but the antagonist is just as memorable despite not a lot of screentime. Mark Rylance as Sully is unbelievably creepy which genuinely surprised me. I’ve been so used to seeing Rylance as more of a likable presence in films like “Bridge of Spies,” “The BFG,” “Dunkirk” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7.” Even in his mysterious role as a former gangster turned cutter in “The Outfit,” Rylance still had such a charming presence.
All of that is gone with Sully and I probably won’t be able to watch “Monsters Inc.” for weeks because of it. Mark Rylance is so scary, but not overtly so. It’s more about his uneasy presence. At first, it seems like he’s trying to be friendly to Maren by instructing her on the rules of being an eater and how to live this life by hurting as little as you can. However, you begin to think that something is off about him and those suspicions are quickly confirmed. I used to think that Mark Rylance looked like the sweetest guy but now I’m probably going to lose control of my basic bodily functions if I ever see him again.
Director Luca Guadagnino’s take on this story is truly beautiful as he tackles it with the subtlety and gorgeous visuals that you’d expect from a more traditional deeply moving romance film. By taking the same compassionate approach to “Bones and All” that he took to “Call Me By Your Name,” Guadagnino has made one of the most unconventional romance films that I’ve seen since “Warm Bodies.”
“Bones and All” might not be for everyone given the truly disturbing actions of its characters. However, if you love the actors and are looking for a romance film that’s different from any other film currently in theaters, this might be worth a watch.
