Brokeback Mountain

[bookworm]

I did a search and didn't see a thread on this movie--if there is one, please feel free to merge/delete this.

So Brokeback Mountain just started playing here today. I figured it would be popular given all the press I've seen on it this week, so I flexed a few hours this afternoon to see a matinee. Now I sort of wish I had waited until tonight and seen it with someone else--it's a good one to talk about.

So, anyone seen it?

I wasn't quite prepared for how violent it was (not blood-and-guts violent, but emotionally violent).

I haven't processed everything yet, but figured I'd start the thread now, in case anyone else was seeing it today and had a similar reaction.

[Natasha]

I haven't seen it yet, I'm not sure I will. Would you recomend it?

[bookworm]

Oh, yes--definitely recommend. Sorry I didn't mention that :).

[Rosebud]

I can't wait to see it!! My friends who have seen it already have said it's definitely one of the best-- if not THE best-- movie of the year.

[PinkMartini]

Yea I haven't seen it either and really don't think I will. Doesn't look like my 'type' of movie

[bookworm]

PinkMartini, that's certainly fair. There are plenty of movies I don't see because they are not my taste.

Rosebud, I haven't seen nearly enough movies this year to know if this is "the best" or not, but it was very, very good.


(movie notes: not sure they are quite spoilers, but just in case, I'll post in a light color)

Heath Ledger was absolutely amazing. I don't know if I've seen him before (if I have, he didn't make an impression), but wow.

I wasn't quite as convinced by Jake Gyllenhaal. There were moments when he was great. They did a rotten job aging him though (same with Anne Hathaway, but she was a much more minor character).

At the beginning, I was wondering if I'd gotten sucked in by critics to another Annie Proulx yawn (I hate The Shipping News, but once the relationship was defined, it stayed compelling

The scene with Jack's mother just broke my heart. Hell, the whole thing did--wives, children, parents.


That's probably enough for now. I don't want to post anything really spoiler-ish.

Oh, on a totally prosiac note, at times I wished for subtitles. The low tones and drawls were hard to hear at first, and at a few points later on.

[polarama]

It opened in DC tonight, and I saw it with some friends. Some thoughts...

1. Wow, Heath Ledger was amazing. His character was really subtle and emotionally closed off, and he played it brilliantly. I mean, I loved him in "10 Things I Hate About You" and "Knight's Tale" :) but this was a whole other league.

2. I read the original short story, and was pleased with how they handled some of the narrative in the film. I also liked the bits that were not in the story (grown up Alma, for example).

3. Michelle Williams was amazing. Jake was ok--I will say that the short story didn't out his character as clearly as the movie did. He does a good job working those eyes though--when he tells Ennis that he misses him so much he doesn't know what to do...I was really moved.

4. Overall, the movie just made me feel so heartbroken and drained. By the time I got to the last scenes at Jack's parent's house, I couldn't watch because I was pretty much sobbing.

[PG-rated]

DH and I saw this last night. It was amazing, but so damned depressing that I was pretty much done for the night after we saw it. I said to my mom that it's the type of movie that makes you want to put your head in the oven.

Question for someone who read the book (it involves the ending, so I'll put it in white below):




When Jack's wife is telling Ennis how Jack died, it flashes to a scene of Jack being beaten to death by some guys. Is that supposed to be what really happened, or is that just what Ennis suspects the true story to be?

[ssstephanie]

I cannot wait to see it but it looks like I might be checking it out alone. Question: for those of you who went with your DH/SO, how did they handle it? My SO refuses to go but I know he will give in in the end.

[BrownEyedGirl]

PG to answer your question...it's just what Ennis suspects.

I'm going to see the movie tonight...I can't wait!

[ysolde]

I cannot wait to see it but it looks like I might be checking it out alone. Question: for those of you who went with your DH/SO, how did they handle it? My SO refuses to go but I know he will give in in the end.

My mom and dad went to see it. They both loved it. My dad is a real film fanatic, and keeps talking about the cinematography and Heath Ledger's acting. Apparently, there is only one love scene, and it is not particularly graphic. Didn't phase either one of them, and they are in their 60s.

[villanelle75]

I loved it. I thought it was very repsectful and wasn't doen in such a way that it was The Gay Lovestory. It was just a love story between two peopel in a difficult situation, and that situation ahppened to be that they were both men. I dont' know if that makes much sense, but I really appreciated that it was a rich film with a compelling story and that it didn't rely soley on shock value.


As for DH, I'll tell you where he stands on teh gay issue first. He's in favor of allowing gay marriage, doesn't think homosexuality is immoral or abberant or anythign liek that. However, he's not as comfortable with it as I am, who spent soem year dancing where 95% of the men I knew were gay. When faced with seeing homsexuality, he does get a bit uncomfortable. As much as he respects everyone's right to do their thing, there is a part of him that finds two men together sort of, I dunno, icky.

He appreciated the movie and said that it was challenging for him at points, but I also think it was very good for him. It showed him that two men in love are no different than any other two people in love and I think it really normalized homosexuality for him a bit more. I'm glad he saw it because I do think it helpd relax his discomfort a bit, but also because he did enjoy th emovie itself.

[ssstephanie]

Thanks girls for your answers. SO doesn't care who is gay or not but he gets very skeeved out at actually seeing how two men might behave toward one another. Either way, he needs to get over it.

[jesseybell]

Me and my mom went to see it last week. My dad is fairly homophobic so I knew he wouldn't want to go and since my mom loves seeing anything Oscar-worthy I invited her to go. While DH is fairly liberal, I think he would be a bit skeeved out by it.

The audience seemed to be 80% heterosexual couples, many of them over 60 (it was 2:00 in the afternoon on a Wednesday) and 20% gay people.

I really liked the movie, though it was a little long and a bit slow in the beginning. I was slightly bothered by the one 'love' scene, mainly because it was a tad bit violent in my opinion.
Heath and Michelle were great. Jake was okay - I have never been a big fan of his, plus I prefer the rugged cowboy type versus the Texan type he portrayed.

Highly recommend it!

[ssstephanie]

I'm better off just going to see this movie my damn self otherwise I will never hear the end of it from SO. He still complains that I "made" him sit through Alexander and how it really makes him uncomfortable to watch two men expressing themselves in that manner. Anyway, I just can't wait to see this movie.

[Evie]

Utah Theater Cancels 'Brokeback Mountain'

Sun Jan 08,12:12 AM ET

A movie theater owned by Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller abruptly changed its screening plans and decided not to show the film "Brokeback Mountain." The film, an R-rated Western gay romance story, was supposed to open Friday at the Megaplex at Jordan Commons in Sandy, a suburb of Salt Lake City. Instead it was pulled from the schedule.

A message posted at the ticket window read: "There has been a change in booking and we will not be showing 'Brokeback Mountain.' We apologize for any inconvenience."

Cal Gunderson, manager of the Jordan Commons Megaplex, declined to comment.

The film, starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, is about two cowboys who discover feelings for one another. The two eventually marry women but rekindle their relationship over the years.

The movie's distributor, Focus Features, said that hours before opening, the theater management "reneged on their licensing agreement," and refused to open the film.

Gayle Ruzicka, president of the conservative Utah Eagle Forum, said not showing the film set an example for the people of Utah.

"I just think (pulling the show) tells the young people especially that maybe there is something wrong with this show," she said.

Mike Thompson, executive director of the gay rights advocacy group Equality Utah, called it disappointing.

"It's just a shame that such a beautiful and award-winning film with so much buzz about it is not being made available to a broad Utah audience because of personal bias," he said.
-Associated Press



Thought this was interesting. Glad I live where it will be shown!

[bookworm]

That is a shame--it's a wonderful film. I would think the people who would be offended just wouldn't see it (and it would be their loss)---why prevent others from seeing it?

Of course, it may have been an economic decision on the part of the theatre, if the audience just wasn't there. Not all communities can sustain independent movie theatres.

[shopgirl]

I am in the minority here - I saw the film last weekend and I wasn't impressed with it at all. I am a huge Ang Lee fan (minus The Hulk) and I left disappointed.

I dragged my husband to go see it with me and I felt sorry I had to let him sit though all that with me. He didn't like the film either.

We both agreed that Heath Ledger was phenomenal though. But the story line....I didn't feel the love there at all. I think there could have been more.

[BrownEyedGirl]

So I saw it Friday. It's slow, but it pretty much contains only what is in the original short story, it hardly strays at all. So it's going to be slow, the story was only 17 pages.

I thought it was a really good movie. The theater I went to was packed...maybe 10 seats left open! And it wasn't the first week there.

[wine_o_girlie]

We saw the movie yesterday and are still processing how we felt about it. Luckily for me, my husband is very easy going and had no problem going to see the movie. I will say though, that someone had told us (incorrectly) that you only see two guys kissing so that might have factored into his decision to go willingly. There is definitely more than kissing shown and he was a bit skeeved but it really wasn't a big deal.

Overall, I really appreciated the movie because of its' originality and its' willingness to tackle a somewhat "taboo" subject. I thought the acting was phenomenal and very "real". To me though, the movie was a bit too slow and I felt lacking in dialogue. It is draining and sad to watch but that doesn't bother me at all. I thought it was extremely well done but I wouldn't put it on my Top 5 or even 10 list. I'm glad I went to see it but it won't become a favorite movie of 2006 for me.

[Lauren23]

I went with FH to see the movie a few weeks ago. Nothing fazes him, but he didn't think he'd like the movie. He did, so did I. We both thought it was a really powerful film. We went on a Monday night and the theater was pretty crowded. And they had two showings at pretty much the same time (five minute difference) going on.

[Sazoo]

Brokeback Mountain did really well at the Golden Globes tonight - it won:

Best Motion Picture
Best Director (Ang Lee)
Best Screenplay
Best Original Song

:)

[SMgal]

I just got home from watching the Golden Globes. My friend and I were THRILLED this movie won so much!! While there is a "closet" issue in the story and having to remain secretive in rural conservative America, the movie is really about a love story- a love that could never be... For me, it was beautiful in so many ways! A top ten!
My DH is "hip" and not prejudiced about homosexuality at all. He however, had no interest in seeing this movie. I may try and bribe him into it because I do think he would appreciate the depth of the story... Wish me luck!!

[southerner]

FYI: The cast is going to be on Oprah this Friday Feb. 3rd.

[Asha]

saw them on oprah. heath ledger and michelle williams are completely adorable together!! quite ironic that they fell in love and married considering the story line of the movie.

[southerner]

rebjc, they've already aired the Oprah show??

[Asha]

yes, it was on friday.

[southerner]

I thought it was on next Friday. I missed it :(

[KGif]

A funny for ya:

Brokeback to the Future:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfODSPIYwpQ

[LyLMyssChaos]

Quick question about the movie(not for me, but for my brother & his gf.) They are interested in seeing the movie, and have no problem with the storyline or anything. The one question that they have is about the "one big scene" that everyone talks about. My brother said he wouldn't mind if it was a little bit of "stuff going on," as he put it, but he doesn't want to watch an all out event, if you understand what I'm saying, so how detailed is that scene really? Obviously, it's more than just kissing, but do just see shadows, or do you really see them having sex? He just wanted to be prepared before he saw it, so that he wasn't caught offguard.

[Myra]

It's not very graphic.

[LyLMyssChaos]

Thank you for the quick response! I'll let him know! :)

[Sazoo]

It's not very graphic.
I agree. They don't really show much...it starts off with some kissing & then they start undoing their pants, etc. They're half-dressed the whole time (they do it in a tent) so you hardly see any skin, even. It is a little...rough, though, which was okay but I sort of wasn't expecting that, I guess. You can tell that one of the characters is really fighting the feelings he's having for the other guy & in some ways doesn't want to be doing what he's doing, so he resists it at first & then sort of gives in reluctantly...does that make sense? I dunno, I thought that sort of contributed to the roughness of the sex scene, myself. *shrug*

It's a fairly short scene too, BTW. And it's the only one in the movie where you see them actually having sex - the rest of the time it's mostly holding each other, kissing, & exchanging longing looks at one another. ;)

[msnicolea]

That scene is HOT--what a kiss!!!!!!!

[Rosebud]

Deleted because "Brokeback to the Future" was already linked here this morning and I didn't notice. Whoops! That video is so funny.

[anjuli]

I didn't expect the movie to move me in the way that it did. After watching the movie, I wondered what I would have done if I had a love like theirs. So sad....

[IrishMeg]

I agree, Nicole! I totally wasn't expecting to feel that way!

I had a hard time with the one sex scene. Not because it was two men but because I hate rought sex scenes. I didn't like the one between Ennis and Elma either. (When he flipped her over.) That kind of thing just bothers me for some reason.

I loved the movie though! It was incredibly heartbreaking. If I had been watching it at home, I would have been sobbing uncontrollably. I saw in the theater, though, so I held it back! I hate love two stories where 2 people so deeply in love can not be together. (ie: Bridges of Madison County) It just seems to painful so me.

[kd 9.21.02]

I'm late to the party. I only just saw the movie yesterday. I found it so upsetting; my heart just broke for them all throughout the entire film. Couple Qs/opinions...

I loved when Jack stood up to his FIL for his wife at Thanksgiving.

The violent version of Jack's death was only an imagination? That scene led me to believe that that's what really happened -- that he was "found out" by some men and then beaten and killed because of it.

I didn't really like Heath's character but I felt for him. The scene at the fireworks when he beats up the crude guys was so sad, IMO. You could see he had all this anger and sadness inside of him and it came out in rages.

Contrary to some of the opinions here, Jake really impressed me. I wasn't a fan before this but the movie made think he has some decent acting chops. And, gawd, could he have more beautiful eyes?!

What happens to Heath's character? Where does he go from there? Does he live the rest of his life as a sad loner?

Since I had read a bunch of reviews and opinions on the movie and they all included terms like "ill-fated" and "tragic," I thought for sure the two were going to go back to Brokeback Mt. and end their lives there. That's just what I was expecting and I was trying to prepare myself for that throughout the movie.

[alootikki]

I am so late to the party - but I just saw Brokeback yesterday with my mom and we just LOVED it. I can't stop thinking about it - what a great and depressing story. I have to say though - I really liked Jake Gyllenhal's acting, and was not as blown away as most people with Heath Ledger. Sigh. I just loved it - I'm taking DH to see it again this week!

[SQ2]

Loved this movie. I cried. It was such a wonderful, powerful, and sad love story. I am so bummed it did not win Best Picture at the Oscars. What an upset! :(

[kd 9.21.02]

I'm glad Crash won Best Picture and Brokeback won Best Direction. I think those fit. While I think Brokeback is a great film, it wasn't the best IMO - even though it was an incredibly heartbreaking, moving story.

I just got into an argument with a woman at a baby shower. She was going off on Brokeback and how she'd never see it yet she was passing judgement on it saying, "it's just getting the publicity because it involves gays" totally neglecting the fact that it wouldn't be a story if it involved a man and a woman who can love without fear. Turns out she's homophobic. Going to BYU probably didn't help her bigotry problem.

[SQ2]

And...I probably shouldn't pass judgement until I see Crash, which I haven't yet. ;) It looks like a good movie with so many good people in it!

Wow, that is pretty sad about the woman you talked to at the shower. :( I've run into similar sentiments from people and it's just disheartening and reminds me how far we have to go as a society in terms of acceptance and tolerance. Sad but true.

[lawyerlee]

I just got into an argument with a woman at a baby shower. She was going off on Brokeback and how she'd never see it yet she was passing judgement on it saying, "it's just getting the publicity because it involves gays" totally neglecting the fact that it wouldn't be a story if it involved a man and a woman who can love without fear. Turns out she's homophobic. Going to BYU probably didn't help her bigotry problem.
What a shame. :( Plus, she's missing out on a beautiful, powerful love story.

[Myra]

I just got into an argument with a woman at a baby shower. She was going off on Brokeback and how she'd never see it yet she was passing judgement on it saying, "it's just getting the publicity because it involves gays" totally neglecting the fact that it wouldn't be a story if it involved a man and a woman who can love without fear. Turns out she's homophobic. Going to BYU probably didn't help her bigotry problem.
Eh, I tend to agree. It's well done, but the whole they-love-eachother-and- circumstances-keep-them-apart has been done over and over. Hell, it was done in Walk the Line too. And I'm not homophobic, I just think the movie was overrated.

[kd 9.21.02]

Eh, I tend to agree. It's well done, but the whole they-love-eachother-and- circumstances-keep-them-apart has been done over and over. Hell, it was done in Walk the Line too. And I'm not homophobic, I just think the movie was overrated.

But in this case the circumstances keeping them apart are fears of being tortured and killed. Quite different than those that come up in those other films. Don't get me wrong... I didn't aboslutely love this movie like some did, but it broke my heart so much that it ached. I have to say it was incredibly powerful.

[Myra]

But in this case the circumstances keeping them apart are fears of being tortured and killed. Quite different than those that come up in those other films. Don't get me wrong... I didn't aboslutely love this movie like some did, but it broke my heart so much that it ached. I have to say it was incredibly powerful.
Right, but it's still a rehash of an old story, just replace, say, the interracial couple, with the gay cowboys.

[brenda]

Right, but it's still a rehash of an old story, just replace, say, the interracial couple, with the gay cowboys.

And you've seen a truly original movie in major distribution recently? Because I would love to get in on that action.

[lawyerlee]

Right, but it's still a rehash of an old story, just replace, say, the interracial couple, with the gay cowboys.
But at least we can say that we've made progress on our societal attitudes toward interracial couples. I'm afraid we're still very unwelcoming of gay couples. We definitely aren't going to let them marry anytime soon in most states.

[Myra]

And you've seen a truly original movie in major distribution recently? Because I would love to get in on that action.
Right, and I didn't write that the movie lacks value, I just have a problem with people calling it "groundbreaking."
But at least we can say that we've made progress on our societal attitudes toward interracial couples. I'm afraid we're still very unwelcoming of gay couples. We definitely aren't going to let them marry anytime soon in most states.
Totally agree. I don't think we have to worry about anyone labeling Ashton Kutcher's Guess Who movie as groundbreaking.

[Regina Phalange]

Just watched the movie tonight and I really really liked it. I think it's groundbreaking for the content but also for the actors. Great movie about a great love story. You get so involved in this relationship you forget that is a "gay" relationship. You just see it as two people in love. Powerful writing, directing and acting!! Good stuff all around.

[lbs27]

Don't know if there are others that have seen this recently or not, but I just rented it on On Demand. I have to admit I almost turned it off after about 20 minutes because it was really slow and I couldn't understand a word Heath Ledger was saying--I had to keep turning it up and then turning it back down. But, then it got really good. ;) I agree with others here, it was very good, very moving. I really didn't know anything about the story, outside of the obvious and some of the turns of the movie really surprised me. It was very well done and left me feeling very sad. The last time they saw each other and Heath went off in his truck was just awful (of course you don't even know it's the last time when it happens and it's still awful!). The only complaint I have is that I wished Heath's character enunciated a little more, it was so hard to understand everything!

[jnettie]

I agree that it was slow, espeically by modern movie standards, but I think that has a lot to do with Ang Lee's directing style. Story aside, this is a beautifully shot movie, which is something I enjoy about seeing Ang Lee's films (except for Hulk ;) ).