Tue 24 Apr 2007
Not only was the directing, cinematography, acting, screenplay, and editing flawless, this movie showed more insight and courage on the part of the director, cast, and crew than any film in recent history, perhaps ever. The subject matter was challenging for everyone, and under the gentle guidance of Ang Lee, and the incredible story upon which it was based, this movie managed to deal with two outsiders in a way that made their story universal. The emotional and cultural bridges that this movie built makes it an historic event as well as a beautiful piece of cinema. This love story rises to the level of any Greek tragedy and is something of which Shakespear would have been proud. History will prove this to be one of the most groudbreaking and phenominal movies in the history of film. Already the number of parodies, articles, web sites, e-groups, and uses of the movie’s quotes are unprecedented for such a recent film, and the language of the film has already become a part of world-wide culture and language. Men who understand the closet from every community in the nation sat in a the dark in theaters across the nation and watched this movie and wept to see their stories finally told with love, sensitivity, truth, and compassion. That the Academy did not award Brokeback Mountain the Best Picture Oscar will be a source of amazement forever, and those who voted it down will be exposed for the visionless and perochial cowards and that they are.
6 Responses to “BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN”
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April 26th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
This is the most overrated movie in the history of cinema. Watch some westerns by John Ford, Budd Boetticher, and Anthony Mann, if you want to see truly great filmmaking in this genre. For that matter, watch any of the westerns on the AFI 100 greatest movies list. I sincerely hope BBM doesn’t make it onto the new list — it doesn’t belong in the same company as the true greats.
April 28th, 2007 at 1:15 am
I can’t believe my eyes. You think the direction and the writing to Brokeback was flawless?? HA!
April 30th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
Dear Willy. May I call you willy? You are obviously, and sadly, one of those would be critics who thinks that you demonstrate your expertise by dropping the names of old movies you have seen, and who thinks that something has to be old in order to be good. The only thing that time does is show the movies that last that most people did not have the insight and vision to appreciate at the time. As a theater and writing instructor, I have seen all of the movies to which you arrogantly point, but I did not feel the need to impress anyone by mentioning them, since they are not the issue here. I review this film as a fellow professional writer and not as a critic, so forgive me if I don’t play the critic’s favorite game called try to find the bitchiest comment possible to show how above it all you are. You and Luke (how’s your sword Luke? Feeling a little small and threatened?) would do well to heed the words of the great Irish playwright Brendan Behan when he wrote, “Critics are like eunichs in a harem. They know how it is done. They see it done every day. But they are able to do it themselves. I stand by my asessment of the film, along with other’s who understand written and filmed literature, say, the Pulitzer Prize Committee for instance?
You will serve your own interests better if you tuck your homophobia away and think with the big head next time.
Michael
May 2nd, 2007 at 5:51 am
I’m with Michael on this one. Even if “Brokeback” isn’t flawless technically, it touches the heart in a way that movies in this day and age rarely do. Calling it a “western” or a “gay western” is too reductive. It’s simply the best American film of the last twenty-five years.
May 4th, 2007 at 11:01 am
Thank you for your post, Michael, I obviously feel the same way you do (see my post above). I also love the picture you selected. It’s like being able to see the entire film at a glance, and what an overwhelming experience that would be! –Tom
May 7th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Thanks for your comments, Alan and Tom. I wish more people were able to step outside their own cultural biases when they view a work of art. When I joked once about getting rich as a writer, my son, around 10 at the time, said, “No dad, that’s not how it works. You will be poor, and then they will discover your genuis when you are dead and I will be the one to get rich”
I smiled back and said, “Only if you’re in my will!”
My son has grown into a wonderful and secure straight man who shed a few tears himself when he saw Brokeback. I wish more straight guys could be as manly.
I also want to take this opportunity to correct my typos on the Brendan Behan quote (where are those editors when you need them?):
“Critics are like eunichs in a harem. They know how it is done. They see it done every day. But they not are able to do it themselves.”
Ah well, as Yente said, “We suffer. We suffer. We suffer in silence! Right? Of course right!”