Brokeback Mountain

[Deleted]

I would also add that what is so central to this film (at least in my opinion) is its exploration of masculinity and men's struggle with suppressing their emotions.

Excellent point nusan. I saw the film last night and that was one of the elements that I loved about it: Seeing two men (particulary Ennis) with stereotypically male emotional temperments fall in love. I actually think that enhanced the poignancy of the film.

Overall I liked the film alot. But I agree with those that say the Linda Cardellini stuff could've been cut completely. All her scenes bored the crap out of me. I kept thinking "What is she doing in this film? Why should I care about this? I want to see more of Alma and Ennis. Hell, I just want to see more of Ennis period."
Other thoughts:
* The early scenes were beautifully shot. My very outdoorsy, nature loving fiancee was pretty enthralled by this part of the film. BTW, he wasn't freaked by the homosexuality as much as mystified by it. I'm not sure what that says about him. The audience didn't snicker at the sex/sexual scenes (I saw the film in Atlanta by the way). But they did snicker at a few of Michelle William's scenes. Particulary, when Alma sees Ennis and Jack kissing. I'm not sure if it was overt homophobia as much as it was just nervous laughter on the audience's part.
* The subplot with AH/JG was ok, but didn't interest me as much as the subplot with MW/HL's characters.
* Jack's mom made me weep.
* The songs that played during the credits (Willie Nelson sang one and Rufus Wainwright sang the other) made me weep too.

Good movie. I'm glad I saw it.

[mrpancake]

I guess what I said earlier was worded really poorly, so I'll try to clarify. I don't think this film really brought anything new to love-story films. Yes, they happened to be gay, but that was really the only thing about it that seperated it from other generic love stories. Plus, I really don't find constant cheating, etc. romantic in the least, and I hate when it's glorified in Hollywood films. I realize there weren't many feasible options for them, but still, it just bothers me. It's not that the movie was horrible, it just wasn't at all as great as critics like to pretend it is. Maybe that's a bit harsh, but I cannot think of a more overhyped movie. If this walks away with best picture, I'd be pretty peeved.

[memememe76]

Plus, I really don't find constant cheating, etc. romantic in the least, and I hate when it's glorified in Hollywood films.

I think Alma and Lureen are given enough time and space for the viewer to sympathesize them. In another film, Alma would've discovered the affair much later in the film. By having Alma discover them almost immediately, the romantic rush of the Jack/Ennis reunion is undercut by having us realize that what they're doing is not something we'd recommend.

[defaultusername]

I saw this movie with my mommy two and a half weeks ago, and we loved it. We were both sobbing at the end of it, and I have never cried at a movie before. We thought it was very well done all around.

[comfortablynumb]

Still not playing here. 'Cos y'all know that if we don't see it, it don't happen, y'all!

Grrr.

[clementine74]

When is this supposed to open at more theatres? I thought it was supposed to be around this time--but I was going to go see it again with a friend, and it is only playing in one theatre here in NYC. WTF? It was playing in three when I saw it on opening weekend.

[huntergrayson]

It opens at tons more theatres on the 6th. Weird that it's been reduced in NYC, though.

I would make the obvious Texas steers and queers joke, dasaky, but I won't. Oh, I guess I kind of did.

[comfortablynumb]

huntergrayson said:

It opens at tons more theatres on the 6th. Weird that it's been reduced in NYC, though.

I would make the obvious Texas steers and queers joke, dasaky, but I won't. Oh, I guess I kind of did.

Oh my! To think that a God read and commented on one of my lowly posts. I think I'm going to have to take to the bed. I feel a bad case of the vapors coming on! ;D

ETA: Well roll me in cornmeal and fry me for breakfast!^TM I checked Cinemark's local website and it WILL be here on the 6th.

So much for your steers and queers theory, huntergrayson!

[clementine74]

Actually, I just checked the newspaper and it appears to be in about 9 or 10 theatres here. Moviefone man must be on the pipe.

[huntergrayson]

Or Moviefone doesn't care about gay cowboys. It's a conspiracy, I tell ya.

Actually, there was a really great article (may be spoiler-y) in Salon about how the Christian right is not mounting any huge protests basically because they don't want to give it free publicity and they feel their efforts would better be used in a positive sense instead (i.e. promoting a movie like Narnia:The JesusLion).

All, that said, ONTD had a post with the Christian Film and TV Commission's review (very spoilery). I really want to know what all the abbreviations at the top mean, but am more curious as to how the film is a Marxist, Commie, etc. work. Also, my favorite line is pretty much, "If only the leftists, radical feminists and Communists would show the same compassion for the wives of homosexual perverts like these two characters, the world might be a better place."

Did they even see the same film we did? Or was I in a different theatre where the absolutely heartwrenching Michelle Williams and Anne Hathaway in her phone call to Ennis, describing Jack's death in which you realize how much she knows and yet how little she knew her husband at all was given every ounce of compassion given to Jack & Ennis?

As was so brilliantly expounded (or copy and pasted) by nusan, this isn't some gay agenda film -- the characters themselves are at much at fault for bringing about tragedy through the masculine urge to supress emotion as society is...my god, Ennis nearly disconnects from his own daughter in the final scene. Jack is the more "sensitive/romantic" type and fares somewhat better in his life, but where does that lead him? It's not merely a gay thing, guys that show their emotions are shunned or dismissed. I just have no idea how this could be painted with this brush of OMG, it's a gay agenda film. I think it's too complicated and conflicted for that - I think the viewer's sympathies are meant to be split amongst the four characters and we are meant to struggle as they do.