Brokeback Mountain

[jazz]

It would be interesting how this movie fares in a wide release. A co-worker(who I thought was pretty liberal)asked me the other day if I know anything about this movie. She then proceeded to tell me that she and her husband saw the trailer when they went to the theaters last week and was "horrified" when what they thought was a cowboy movie turned up to be a "gay" movie.

[Deleted]

I am sure the first week of wide release it will draw large numbers due to people curious about the gay aspects of the film, and the usual suspects at any Jake Gylanhall and Heath Ledger movie.

I forget where I heard or read it, but I guess Jake is a lil miffed that all the Oscar talk is surronding Heath and Ang Lee for best Actor and film. So I guess he is trying for a best Actor bid from his role in Jarhead.

[hillbillylover]

I forget where I heard or read it, but I guess Jake is a lil miffed that all the Oscar talk is surronding Heath and Ang Lee for best Actor and film. So I guess he is trying for a best Actor bid from his role in Jarhead.

I'd heard rumblings about that too. But I thought Focus Films was gonna do the category jump thing and submit Jake for consideration in the Best Supporting actor field for Brokeback.

True, he's not a supporting actor in the film, he's the co-lead. But this type of thing is done all the time. I've read that Universal is doing the same thing in its campaigns for Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick in The Producers.

Of course category jumping to win awards is frequently unfair to true supporting players because nomination slots for featured actors are increasing being taken up by lead performers who are submitted in the supporting field.

As for a Best Actor nomination for Jake in Jarhead, well, there's no chance. Reaction to that film was far too indifferent.

[Deleted]

admin said:

Even if Heath and Toothy are both lead actors, is HL better in the movie?...is that why he's getting the attention?

I haven't seen the movie but almost every review out there by proffessionals and regular film goers is raving about Heath Ledger's performance. If he wasn't so young, I would think he really had a chance at winning the Oscar. Jake has been getting good notices too, but he's completely overshaddowed by Heath, at least in terms of Buzz.

[hillbillylover]

Even if Heath and Toothy are both lead actors, is HL better in the movie?...is that why he's getting the attention?

Not living in NY, LA or San Fran, I haven't had a chance to see the movie. But based on most of the reviews I've read, the entire cast is excellent, with Ledger being singled out for special praise. Many critics say he owns the picture and the NY Times compared him to a young Brando.

If this had been a weak year for lead actor performances, I think it would be possible for two actors from the same movie to be nominated in the lead category. But 2005 like 2004, has had an abundance of lead actor performances that could be considered worthy of Best Actor Oscar nominations.

Under those circumstances, Gyllenhaal won't make the cut.

[Deleted]

Brokeback Mountain just got 8 BFCA nominations. The most of any film. (Crash came in second with 6)

[huntergrayson]

BFCA? Boston Film Critics?

Even if Heath and Toothy are both lead actors, is HL better in the movie?...is that why he's getting the attention?

You know, I don't think so. I think Heath just has the better role -- all brooding and internal. Jake is the more typical romantic -- all eager and dreamy-eyed and in luv. Critics love the tortured stuff. I think a lot of it also is that Jake has been getting praise for a while for stuff like Donnie Darko, the Good Girl, Jarhead, etc. so critics expect "good" acting from him, but notsomuch from HL.

She then proceeded to tell me that she and her husband saw the trailer when they went to the theaters last week and was "horrified" when what they thought was a cowboy movie turned up to be a "gay" movie.

I love the idea that are all these people longing for a good old-fashioned Western and feel all betrayed. The Boondocks did a funny series of comics (linked strip and the following five days-ish) based on that idea. Who is really, really longing for a Western? Didn't Kevin Costner make one that no one saw? Also, it's the postmodern age, myths are deconstructed, get used to it...

Sigh, I just wish the movie had been better. I still liked it enough and want it to do really, really well, but I don't think it's the kind of masterpiece it's being lauded as. Ang is so gosh darn formal and restrained.

[Deleted]

huntergrayson said:

BFCA? Boston Film Critics?

Broadcast Film Critics Association

Apparantly their picks tend to be a pretty good indication of the Oscars.

[jazz]

I saw the Kevin Costner western and I loved it(but this is from somebody who faithfully watched every darned John Wayne movies)but I am conflicted on Brokeback Mountain. For one thing I don't like Heath nor Jake so there is no appeal there for me. I might see it when it comes to DVD. I loved Maurice though and I thought that movie was beautifully done and sow as My Beautiful laundrette.(but then I am a Daniel Day-Lewis groupie)

[Neurochick]

I saw the movie this morning and I thought it was wonderful. I don't get why people say it's too long, it wasn't that long at all. I saw it this morning at 10am and the only thing that really pissed me off was the stupid theater didn't open its doors until 9:45; by that time there was a long line, it was cold and folks were not happy.

I loved it, formal? No I didn't think so, yes restrained but that's the point. This was the 1960's in the west. Since I grew up in the 1960's and 70's I paid attention to the little things, like when the radio was on and Harry Harrison was on the air, and the clothes and the furniture.

I thought the relationship was sad and tragic and their lives...just...well it was so sad, made me feel that if I ever meet my soulmate, I'm not going to give a fuck what color they are or anything else, life's too fucking short.