Well I finally watched Broke Back Mountain and I am telling you first off that I am going to rent this movie again for my Dad. He is going to love this movie, he has said he wants to see it, not because he is so artistically open minded, but because he loves cowboy movies. Not the shoot em-up kind but the horse riding bull bucking type. I'll have to FF the sex scene for him but other than that I think it should be okay. I liked this movie, not because it was about two gay guys but because it was over all in my opinion a good movie. A lesbian friend of mine told me that the film will probably not move me, as much as it did for straight people or really closeted gay people. She said because we have watched gay love stories that were made for gay audiences, so they were more in-depth and because we have already dealt with a lot of emotions shown in this film. Now fans of this movie don't go nuts on me but I have to agree. Maybe if I watched this five or more years ago, I probably would have balled halfway through it, but as for now the only time I felt a little wet around the eyes, was at the end when he was alone in that cramped trailer and says "Jack I swear" I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that it was the end and also we lost the fine young actor saying the lines.
I thought the story line was good, the shots were great. I liked the way it was not always about them being gay and yet at the same time it was about them being gay. Naturally I saw a lot of me in the choices Ennis made and at the end I thought to myself "I don't want to be Ennis Del Mar" I don't want to end up alone. I think him living in the trailer at the end drives home the point hard, any sort of life with Jack would be a lot better than being so alone with nothing and no one, I think in a way he is dead also, inside. However like I said earlier, I have been dealing with these feelings for the past couple of years and have watched a lot of gay movies, so there was no shock moment or light bulb switching on for me. I would say the movie helped a lot of straight people move forward to understanding this is who we are, not something we chose just to be different like a punk haircut.
If you asked me the scenes that stuck in my mind, I would have to say when Ennis and Jack first split up and Ennis hid in the ally and cried, because we just feel he is over whelmed knowing he is about to start a life that he does not want, and could not understand the life with Jack that he does want or how to go about asking for it. Another other scene was of the old gay rancher that was murdered and mutilated just for being gay. How the father also took his sons to teach them not to be gay. It made me angry to think that sort of stuff did probably happen even though the gay couple did not bother anyone else. I bet all those good decent folks went home after, to drink and beat their wives before showing up to church on Sundays. Another one that surprised me was when Jacks mother was subtletly letting Ennis know that she understood who he was in relation to her son and told Ennis he was welcome to came back anytime. The scene in the mountains when they are older, every one makes fun of when Jack says 'I wish I could quit you' but I was a little moved when next Ennis cries and is so over whelmed with hopelessness that he falls to his knees, you could not help feel sorry for his character. Of course also the final scene with him in the trailer, no Jack, no family and the trailer basically empty, ending with the shirt and post card on the door and the small window beside it.
It was also interesting to watch Ennis struggle against Jack every time he tried to bring him in close, as if fighting off Jack's affection would fight off his homosexuality. He would always push away until he was brought in by Jack, then it was as if he was giving in to who he was and for brief moments he would accept it only to fight it off again. I was there at one time, partly still feel that way and I also see it in blog-land as well. I think anyone who is gay or gay positive should see this movie, it is actually a good movie and can stand on it's own without the hype of being a gay love story for the masses. By the way, as a farmer's son, I totally agreed with the herding boss, there is no way I would hire them again if they were banging all night while wolves were killing my sheep, gay or not! I give it a two thumbs up, I will also let you know what my Dad says next time I rent it, maybe it is even an opening for me to tell him if he acts positively towards the film.
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My favorite scene: the scene where Jack and Ennis meet each other again for the first time after all these years.
I think that's the first scene in which they kiss each other and a loving way. For me this scene shows that Ennis really loves Jack; that it's not just the sex, but that there is real love between the two of them.
It's a great movie, the heartbreaking scene near the end where he holds the shirt to his chest gets me every time.
My friend Mark asked me recently if I had seen that movie. I'm kinda torn about watching it. I usually feel let down when so much hype surrounds a film because I have such high expectations for it that when I finally watch it, I don't feel it lived up to all the hype. He says he may tie me down to watch it with him when he comes to visit.
Steven, I felt exactly the same way. What I thought really impressed me (I should really say "moved me") was the fact that there was so much acclaim and praise from the critics and general audience for this movie. As if it was a further step in the "acceptence of us."
This movie made men's love real to me for the first time. I "knew" in a sort of abstract way that men could love men; after all, my brother had a partner for years before he died. But this was put in front of me in a way that was a real awakening. Wonderful, beautiful, heartbreaking.
Birdie
It was a very good movie. But I hate movies with sad endings.
great movie, just watched it again last night and I agree with Steve, when they meet up again and kiss behind the garage is the best scene.
Brokeback is the most heartbreakingly beautiful film I've ever seen in my life. It's really hard to watch. Now, with the passing of Heath Ledger it's even more difficult to watch. Still...I don't know how any straight person can watch this film and not "get it." It's a classic love story for all time!
It is a brilliant movie - but do yourself the favour and read the short story. It is well worth it.
The cinematography (spelling?) was brilliant, and both actors excelled - but I did feel that it focussed primarily on the gay issue. A strong theme in the short story is the universiality (word?) of living with the decisions you make - which can apply to straight or gay people.
Cute blog by the way - glad I found it.
I haven't seen this in a long time, and I should watch it again.
One thing that struck me after I saw it was how dull and colorless the scenes were (especially the house where Jack grew up) until our two boys were together in the wilderness. Their world became vibrant when they were able to be themselves.
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