I took it in last night, on Valentine's day, on a date, and was really blown away. I'm not really sure what I can say about it that hasn't already been flogged on every entertainment show or actual film critic this late in it's release, but seriously Ang Lee has powers over our emotions that no one previously could have suspected, and I hope that the department of homeland security is looking into him as a potential security risk. I found the objective tone of the majority of the film to be pretty powerful – Ang Lee isn’t trying to bash you over the head with anything, just let you watch it and draw the natural conclusion. Though of course there were a few shots, such as the one looking up at Ennis after he beat up two bikers on the fourth of July for cursing in front of his children to really drive home the idea that Ennis isn’t some sort of girly fag, he’s a red blooded all-American, but I think that may have been necessary considering preconceived notions that an American audience, even one familiar and accepting of media portrayals of homosexuals, would be carrying into the theaters with them. At any rate, I was really moved by Ennis’ dilemma of living two lives that he can’t mix – lying to his wife and family at one time, while still unable to commit to his lover Jack, his best shot for love because he knows he’d have to abandon too much. It’s a situation which, while more extreme than today’s garden variety closet case, many homosexuals can relate too. Having only recently come out to my friends and family, myself, I felt especially affected by it. Slightly disturbing was the fact that in many shots Heath Ledger looked a whole lot like George W. Bush. I was a little uncomfortable about that, but I guess that that’s just the way actors playing cowboys look. As for Jake Gyllenhaal, it actually took me about half of the movie to finally convince myself that this was the same guy who played “Donnie Darko” In the film of the same name – he really makes the jump well from pseudogoth cutie teen actor to this hard role as a 30something mustachioed cowboy. Also, for any guys afraid of seeing the film, but who might be prodded by a girlfriend to go see it – don’t worry about any graphic sex scenes. There’s really only a single homosexual scene which involves anything more than a tight close-up of cuddling, and even that doesn’t reveal anything, and is mostly clothed – it is, however suggestive, and there’s a bit of grunting, but nothing too bad. If you can make it through it, there’s a payoff of three heterosexual sex scenes, two of which include gratuitous naked boobs of a fairly high caliber. At any rate, as I think should have already been well established by media coverage and reviews, the end of the film is pretty sad, maybe just shy of bitter sweet. I’d say be prepared to shed a tear or two. By the end of the film you’re definitely not going to be seeing the characters as “Gay cowboys” or anything, it’s definitely gripping enough, the characters meaty enough to be seen as real people which don’t easily fit into simple labels, which of course makes the eventual tragic ending all that more powerful; you’ll be affected by the story long after leaving the theater. If anyone cares to respond to this thread, I'd love, especialy, to hear from anyone who thinks that this movie is part of the liberal Hollywood homosexual conspirasy, and whether or not they've actualy seen the film.
A friend walked into a couple fags humping in the shower late at night. The next morning there was a sign hanging there that said "Brokeback Shower."
I saw it, just a few days ago. I thought it was really amazing. So sad... I swear I spent most of the movie on the verge of tears. I think it may be one of the most beautiful movies ever.
Nice review Mystech. I haven't seen it and wasn't really interested because of the homosexual nature of it, but I was planning on seeing it once it came to DVD. Now, after your review, I'd like to see it. I didn't know heath ledger or jake gyllenhaal were in it. I don't watch commercials (and thus previews) on tv. All I'd heard was that it was good and about homosexual cowboys. I'll definitely see it now. Thanks. On an aside, anyone else love maggie gyllenhaal in Secretary with james spader?
Well actually I think he's onto something like there, it does sound a lot like anus, and you add to that the fact that the other lead's name is Jack. . . I dunno I kind of think it was done on purpose as any significance in the name of a fictional character usually is.
This was a really ice-shattering film. It does give you the sorta passive / objective feel that most indie films give, which demonstrates Hollywood's flexibilities. The homosexual theme is powerful, and the ending is heartbreaking.
Well even take the name of the film, for instance - there's no such place as Brokeback Mountain, but the name is certainly evocative of certain things which are important to the story. It's important for fictional names in a work of fiction to have some significance to the theme - it just makes for tighter writing.
Yeah there were actualy more heterosexual sex scenes which showed a lot more than there were gay love scenes Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! That doesn't particularly bother me, though, it was tasteful, and of course I don't think this film could have enjoyed the sort of success it has if it was chock full of more graphic sex scenes between the leads. . . eer well maybe it could have been just as successful, but to a different market, ha.
The whole film was Shot in Canada. Canada's been trying to suck up to American Film and TV producers for a long time, making it a pretty sweet deal to come and shoot there. Alberta's terrain is very similar to Wyoming, and besides there's no city big enough in Wyoming to house a whole film crew XD
