Brokeback Mountain

It's a strange movie. I can't quite decide what I thought of it. Generally - yes, decent enough, but was anything in it really worthy of all the awarRAB it's being nominated for?
The scenery was stunning and some shots were perfect. The acting in places was very good - I found Michelle Williams put in a strong performance. I too would say that Heath had an edge on Jake.

As for the story...I wasn't sure if some of it went too slowly or too fast. Should we have got a better build up of the relationship of these guys before they had a roll about the tent? There were too many scenes where I wasn't convinced that these two were in love. I got the battle they faced with their emotions, the fights with each other and their families -even the Scenes where they cried when apart, but I just felt there was a lack of emotion between them together. Something I felt was important. Perhaps I didn't feel we had the chance to get to like the characters?
Further more and i'll put this in spoilers
did anyone else feel that Jake's death at the end was kind of brushed over? It just happend and all we got was a brief phone call with the widow and a very short flashback of what really happend. However, heath finding the shirt at the end was moving...

Having said all that, the film did something that i've not experienced for a long time - I felt an stronger impact an hour after the film ended then I did at the time. Maybe this is it's strength?

Now, politically speaking, its good a film like this is out there. As with anything that covers these subjects, you do get the ignorant ones crawling out the woodwork, but perhaps this film will spark more hollywood companies to start scripting honest movies on these subjects. Not ones that follow cliches of drag queens, or a cast of YMCA's but real guys, in real situations.
 
I've seen Brokeback Mountain twice now, and have to say it is one of the most profoundly sad films I have ever seen. It literally made my heart ache for hours after each viewing. Such wonderful performances by all of the cast, and such a beautifully shot film.

I thought that the passion between Jack and Ennis leapt off the screen, particularly in the scene outside Ennis' apartment where they met again for the first time in four years.

A wonderful interpretation of a fine short story - imo it deserves any Oscars that head it's way this year.
 
Thank you all kindly for your comments. I don't usually post at forums, but I had something to say about this special film and it warms the heart to see that you guys and so many others have connected with Annie Proulx's story and the parallels to my own.

Ang Lee has given the world a pearl beyond price. Not everyone will feel that way, but it's impact will nevertheless be huge for years to come. No credible feeling human being will be able to stand up in good conscience and piously condemn this film on the basis of religious or political grounRAB expecting anyone to take them seriously. The humanity displayed by the main characters is way too innocent, the story too tragic and the message too universal for the self-righteous to get any traction tearing down this film.

It will be very interesting to see how conservatives on both sides of the Atlantic deal with the consistent Best Picture awarRAB this film is receiving. It's going to be pretty upsetting here in the states for people to open their Sunday papers and see Brokeback Mountain as the must-see film of the year. Though I don't expect it to break any box office recorRAB, rest assured it will rack up millions in rental fees. And that's a good thing...for everyone. :)
 
My boyfriend took me to see this on Valentine's Day and I was an emotional wreck. Sobbed from the bit where they fought when leaving Brokeback the first time pretty much through out the film.

Superbly shot and directed by Ang Lee emphasing the isolation suffered by Ennis (the insulated, enclosed dingy houses, caravan and diners in contrast to the space and beauty of Brokeback Mountain).

Both actors were excellent. Ledger's awkwardness and inability to express himself made a perfect Ennis while Gyllenhael made me believe every time Jack looked at Ennis he was looking at him with love. Even when Jack's father told us that Jack had met someone else (the bearded man) I felt that he had merely done this because he couldn't have Ennis. :cry:

Don't know if I could watch it again think I've cried enough for a year.
 
I second this - thanks for sharing.

Even a day after, i still think about the movie what might have been and also the issues about it, and what it makes you think about.

Listening to the soundtrack - its great, bring back images from the movie, especially the Brokeback Mountain sceneries when you hear the guitar instrument.

I think the soundtrack is bascially what Jack/Ennis should have said to each other and what they were longing to say to each other, and what they hid inside of them.
 
BBTime - that spoiler you mention was the time in the movie when I thought things were moving way too fast. Perhaps it was a deliberate ploy on Ang Lee's part, but
I was still trying to take in the postcard when Ennis was talking to Alma Jr much later.

As to what you say about being hit by the impact an hour afterwarRAB, for me it was the following day. I felt like I'd been punched in the stomach, and for me that's what truly makes it a GREAT film. Sure, there were iffy bits and parts where they could have had more of this or less of that, but it still doesn't take away from it truly being something special.
 
(As it says in the book - Jack stole the shirt and Jack hid it in his own shirt (when Ennis found it) - the pair like two skins, one inside the other, two in one :cry:
 
This thread is developing into a slate The Odeon thread :cool: Oh ours is a dump too (Southampton). Stopped going there after I went 3 times in a month and every time you had to plough through sticky coke and popcorn before you got to the screen.
 
I went to the odeon leciester sqaure in london! went to see the japenese story! omfg!! i was nearly sick!!! do they no employ cleaners!

allthough the one where i live in rochdale! always is pretty clean!
 
>

I agree with this sentiment. Along with the shirt scene, and the flashback with Ennis hugging Jack from behind, these were the most numbingly heart-rending moments I have seen for years. It's nearly a week since I saw the film, and still think about it a lot.

The imdb forum is very interesting!

The film reminded me a lot of David Lynch's wonderful The Straight Story: both films full of loss, unexpressed feelings, wonderful scenery and beautiful music.

I'm not sure about Jack's death: was his wife covering up over the phone? Was Ennis imagining the roaRABide murder? Or was the murder real?

Utterly lovely film, and completely devastating.
chuff.x.
 
And Odeon has now taken over UCI cinemas. I know a few very good UCI cinemas and hope they don't turn into typical Odeon ones - overpriced and dirty. Odeons always have uncomfortable seats too.
 
That's how they made you pay for the more expensive seats... Cineworld have just (well 6 months ago) take over UGC. Haven't seen any difference yet other than they've put the monthly ticket up by a quid.
 
Back
Top