|
|
Post by ZapRowsdower on Jan 1, 2006 4:25:58 GMT -5
Brokeback Mountain
Drama/Romance, 2005
Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway
Produced by Diana Ossana and James Schamus
Written by Larry McMurty & Diana Ossana, based on the short story by Annie Proulx
Directed by Ang Lee
In a year where I caught myself being much more lenient on movies (and felt like I had to), watching this was like a breath of fresh air. When the ending credits started rolling, I whispered under my breath: "finally".
For the Golden Globes and for the Oscars, I'm putting my money on this movie. This was one of if not the best movie of the year. I love how the whole movie was about two men who love each other, and how I never once thought the movie was "gay". This should mean something, because the Crying Game made me throw up.
I had waited long for this movie to be released widely, and I must say it was well worth the wait.
The Good:
--Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams and Anne Hathaway. All four of them impressed me.
--The scenery, the likes of which we haven't seen since Dances with Wolves.
--The whole "gay" love story was neither overplayed nor underplayed. It was just right. Kudos for that.
--The original score.
--The overall fact that the movie isn't just getting all its praise for the fact that it's a movie about a gay relationship, but that there's actually depth to the story. Depth, intrigue, and beauty.
--Excellent screenwriting.
--Beautiful direction, coming surprisingly from the director of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (I loved Crouching Tiger, but this is such a different movie from it in every respect).
--From the acting to the direction to the writing to the story to the visuals to the pacing, this movie is absolutely perfect in every way.
Didn't Hurt It; Didn't Help It:
--N/A
The Bad:
--N/A
The Ugly:
--Luckily for me, I didn't have to deal with this. But unfortunately, you may be dealing with some really shallow assholes in the movie theater who went to see the movie just to point at the screen and say "haha, that's gay." I've had to deal with these people before (not for this movie -- Blood would be spilt if that happened), so I hope you don't have to.
Memorable Scene:
--Everything. The final 30-45 minutes of the movie were especially well done, and the way it ends sticks with you for quite some time.
Acting: 15/15
Story: 20/20
Atmosphere: 10/10
Cinematography: 10/10
Character Development: 20/20
Costumes: 10/10
Dialogue: 20/20
Music: 10/10
Direction: 25/25
Overall: 100%
|
|
|
|
Post by Phoenix on Jan 1, 2006 22:35:11 GMT -5
Great review Smitty - I will be avoiding the movie for exact reason you expressed in "The Ugly" - the Floridian rednecks are really out of hand for any kind of art-sy movie and I know I would be miserable seeing it in the theater. BUT I will see as as soon as I can rent it, glad to know you liked it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pulpmariachi on Jan 2, 2006 0:24:29 GMT -5
I was using that to convince people to come. Jokingly of course. I'd tell 'em:
"It's from the director of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon so you know there's going to be some SICK action sequences."
Haha.
This doesn't open here until Friday, and I don't think it'll be a problem at the theater it's opening at.
Even if this is Colorado Springs.
Fuckin' Focus on the Family.
|
|
|
|
Post by Quorthon on Jan 3, 2006 10:53:53 GMT -5
Good review, there Smitty.
Personally, I'll be avoiding this one, if for no better reason than financial constraints.
Also, honestly, the story doesn't really grab at me. If anything, I'll wait on the DVD.
|
|
|
|
Post by ZapRowsdower on Jan 6, 2006 0:11:49 GMT -5
I was using that to convince people to come. Jokingly of course. I'd tell 'em: "It's from the director of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon so you know there's going to be some SICK action sequences." Haha. This doesn't open here until Friday, and I don't think it'll be a problem at the theater it's opening at. Even if this is Colorado Springs. Fuckin' Focus on the Family. Focus on the Family is fuckin' bullshit. I don't get what "family values" has to do with one's sexuality, and even so, why are they imposing their own family values on others? I can't stand this kind of thing. People complaining about Brokeback Mountain because it's "pro-gay propaganda", they really should shut the fuck up. I mean, if it offends you so much, is it so hard to just NOT WATCH THE FUCKING MOVIE? If gay marriage bothers you, is it so hard to NOT MARRY A GAY PERSON? If there's an episode of South Park that makes fun of the Catholic religion, is it so hard to CHANGE THE FUCKING CHANNEL? Evidently, some people think "strong family values" means "no gay people". WRONG. I have strong family values, but I have nothing against gay people getting married. They ain't marrying ME. My family values are of love and respect for the people you care about. This applies not only to blood relations, but to friends and to significant others. I'm a Christian, but I'm sick and tired of the Bible running everything. People, the Bible isn't as Holy as you think. This isn't the word of God; it's the word of man allegedly speaking for God. And Leviticus (the passage of the Bible that denounces homosexuality) sounded like a real psycho. Read it! It's quite amusing. Sorry for that long, off-topic rant. I just figure if they're not hurting or affecting anybody in any way, what's the fucking harm? |
|
|
|
Post by Pulpmariachi on Jan 6, 2006 1:09:34 GMT -5
You see, that's one of the few reasons I don't totally break away from being Catholic. From what I've noticed, Protestants (or Christians, they're all the same even if Catholics are TECHNIVALLY Christians) base their entire foundation off the Bible, which was written by men (who need an editor), and is falliable. The whole point of Catholicism is based around the eucharist, the bread and wine that they give out is Christ, basically. You're being with him physically instead of just reading some junk someone wrote in one drunken night. Not to mention the fact it's been changed, in order to control the people.
LEVITICUS: Yeah, there's that gay guy down the street. I don't like him. Let's make it wrong for everyone to like him too. Haha, won't that be a lark!
I also don't know if there's a problem with marriage or whatever. I think it also has to do with more rights that's granted through marriage. I'm not sure, but I know it's hell for a gay couple, men in-particular (since women are able to have children), to adopt a child. I think there's the reasoning that it'll "turn the kid gay" if the kid has a same-sex parentage. Which is utter bullshit.
There's always someone out there wanting to keep someone else down. That's all it comes down to.
As for Focus on the Family, it's more like a cult than anything else. Loads of people follow that Dobson character blindly. I agree with you Smitty, there's no CORRECT way to raise a family. As long as they're not wearing a paper bag as a T-shirt and murdering their neighbors I'd say you're doing okay.
By the way, Smitty, I don't think you're off-topic. Some arguments and supports and bitchings are bound to come up in a movie like Brokeback Mountain (which I'm probably seeing this weekend).
I remember this one Christian guy calling it "gay propaganda" or something, which I don't understand what he means. I bet Charlton Heston's his hero.
|
|
|
|
Post by Quorthon on Jan 6, 2006 9:20:53 GMT -5
You really have no fucking idea what you're talking about. Fuck sakes!
My paper bag shirts are fucking comfortable and stylish!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Pulpmariachi on Jan 9, 2006 18:15:51 GMT -5
I saw this yesterday.
And while it's good, I think, for me, it fell short of what everyone is saying about it. Yes, it's a very good, well-acted movie, that is very sad and very beautiful, but it was just lacking...SOMETHING, I don't know what, but I wanted to look at my watch at times (never a good sign).
I don't know, a lot of gay-themed things are either about coming-out or tragedy. This is a total tragedy, which (I don't know what I'm getting at) also seems like a...cop-out.
Seeing Anne Hathaway naked was a bit odd for me, because I kept thinking of her in The Princess Diaries (horrid films with a bad message).
Oh well, it's still good and as of now in my top 10 of 2005.
***/**** for me.
PS. My theater luckily didn't have anyone shouting "THAT'S SO GAY on-screen." Mainly it consisted of middle-aged women, a few gay couples, and a few guys looking to hook up.
I went with my gay best friend David (no, we're not dating) who is my main filmmaking competitor and frequent actor, and our friend Amanda. He almost cried. She was depressed for the rest of the day. I watched The Simpsons.
|
|
|
|
Post by 42ndstreetfreak on Jan 9, 2006 18:48:28 GMT -5
I went with my gay best friend David and our friend Amanda. He almost cried. She was depressed for the rest of the day. I watched The Simpsons. Now THAT should be on the poster. |
|
|
|
Post by ZapRowsdower on Jan 9, 2006 20:25:11 GMT -5
I don't know, a lot of gay-themed things are either about coming-out or tragedy. This is a total tragedy, which (I don't know what I'm getting at) also seems like a...cop-out. MAJOR SPOILER BELOW! MAJOR SPOILER BELOW! MAJOR SPOILER BELOW! Read at your own risk. I disagree with the whole cop-out thing. The whole point of the film is the fact that society would not accept their love for each other. His death and the way they implied his death occured was somewhat necessary to show this. What WOULD have been a cop-out is if Ennis returned to his wife and they lived happily ever after as if the ordeal never happened. But as you can see by the epilogue, Ennis never stopped loving Jack. But other than that, glad to see you enjoyed the movie. |
|
|
|
Post by Pulpmariachi on Jan 9, 2006 23:58:42 GMT -5
I don't know, a lot of gay-themed things are either about coming-out or tragedy. This is a total tragedy, which (I don't know what I'm getting at) also seems like a...cop-out. MAJOR SPOILER BELOW! MAJOR SPOILER BELOW! MAJOR SPOILER BELOW! Read at your own risk. I disagree with the whole cop-out thing. The whole point of the film is the fact that society would not accept their love for each other. His death and the way they implied his death occured was somewhat necessary to show this. What WOULD have been a cop-out is if Ennis returned to his wife and they lived happily ever after as if the ordeal never happened. But as you can see by the epilogue, Ennis never stopped loving Jack. But other than that, glad to see you enjoyed the movie. THE SPOILERS OF SMITTY CONTINUE Okay okay, I can understand what you're saying. But I don't think it was society not giving them a chance (at least until the very end) but that they were, or at least Ennis was, ashamed of what they were doing. It was mostly Ennis's past that kept him down. Sure, he was caught by his wife but I think she divorced him because he continued to lie to her and offer up all sorts of deciving things, and to a lesser extent because she didn't understand (alright, not quite a lesser extent but still, you get what I'm saying). Again, almost for everything that seems society would deem horrid, there was a contridiction. Like them not being rehired, it's not because they dug each other (no pun intended) but more because they weren't working. But I think what you're saying, man, comes up right there at the end, with the most haunting scene of the film (ie, SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER Jack's death END SPOILER, END SPOILER, END SPOILER). I think they were afraid of each other too. But I think I felt a little...copped-out by the ending was that it was VERY similar to an ending of a book I read (At Swim, Two Boys, which is a good read). And I guess I was more connected to the characters there than here. And read it first. But whatever. This is still a movie you should see. But...after you see Munich. |
|
|
|
Post by Quorthon on Jan 10, 2006 10:17:31 GMT -5
Seeing Anne Hathaway naked Okay, now I'm interested in the movie! Ah screw it--I'll be able to find the picture online for free in a month. Did I read right...? Is one of the guys in this movie named .... Ennis? |
|
|
|
Post by frankenjohn on Jan 10, 2006 15:28:48 GMT -5
Anne Hathaway is hot.
I know a person who's last name is Ennis.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bartwald on Jan 10, 2006 15:32:12 GMT -5
I would LOVE to be named Ennis.
Anne Hathaway is alright.
And nice discussion you're having up there.
|
|
|
|
Post by Heineken Skywalker on Jan 10, 2006 17:49:11 GMT -5
I would LOVE to be named Ennis. Is it pronounced like TENNIS or like PENIS?? Because if it's like penis, that's just unfortunate and quite funny, in a movie with this particular subject matter. |
|
