'Brokeback Mountain' - A Review (Unmarked Spoilers)

[Gemini Cricket]

'Brokeback Mountain'
Directed by: Ang Lee

Last night, I had an opportunity to see ‘Brokeback Mountain’ at Harvard University’s Film Archive Theatre. The interesting thing about this event was that it was initially billed as ‘An Evening with James Shamus’ where you were able to speak to him about his long list of film collaborations (‘Crouching Tiger’, ‘Happiness’, ‘The Hulk’, ‘The Ice Storm’). There was no mention of ‘Brokeback’ at all. Then an email came to me from the head of the Harvard Gay and Lesbian Caucus asking the members of the HGLC if we would be interested in seeing the film that same night after Shamus spoke. Ralphie and I jumped at the opportunity. Within hours the event was completely sold out.

The plans were to have a Q&A session with James Shamus, the president of Focus Features, and then show the movie. However, a flight delay postponed Shamus’ Q&A session to after the movie. For once in my life I was happy to hear about a delayed flight.

I had read Anne Proulx’s short story a couple of years ago after hearing about a scramble in Hollywood to obtain the film rights for a ‘gay cowboy movie’. Curiosity killed my cat and I bought Proulx’s book ‘Close Range’ a collection of short stories which contained ‘Brokeback’. It’s a short read, but it’s miles long in emotion. It was the very first thing I have read that made me cry. You know, the good kind of cry. Needless to say, I loved the story. So, when I heard about the movie release I was thrilled but mortified. Thrilled that this was going to be visualized by an independent film company and mortified that they were really going to screw it up.

Now that I’ve seen the film, I realized that there was no reason to be mortified at all. ‘Brokeback’ the film was in good hands and is simply wonderful.

I know, you’re thinking ‘of course it’s wonderful, you’re as gay as a Paul Lynde's picnic basket’. Well, that’s true. However, if you’ve seen as many of the stinko movies directly marketed to the gay community as I have, all I have to say is stink is stink even if it’s pink. Not only this, but I’m for certain that this is a movie not only gay men will get. It’s a universal love story about having someone you can’t possibly have. Everyone can relate to that. I know I can. I’ve been both characters in some way or another in my life but that’s another thread altogether.

Let’s get the bad stuff out of the way first:

1. The movie’s running time is a little long. For someone not already in love with the tale, it may seem about 15 minutes too long.
2. The budget did not afford a flawless transition of the characters as they aged 20 years. Anne Hathaway, although perfect in this film, still looks like a 22 year old all the way through . Even a bad set of wigs couldn’t mask her youth. I blame this on the modest budget and not so much on Anne herself.
3. I know I just took a jab at the film’s length but certain scenes ended too quickly. Lingering close-ups of the characters here and there would add to the intensity of what they were feeling. Example, there’s a great reaction by Michelle Williams (Heath Ledgers’ real life wife) when she figures out the truth about her husband. The shot is terrific, we’re really feeling what she is and suddenly the shot ends and we’re moving on. Savoring a meal is as fun as eating it…

Now the good stuff:

1. All of the characterizations are right on the money. But the one to watch in this film is Heath Ledger’s Ennis Del Mar. He takes a risk on what Ennis talks like and it pays off. If it didn’t, the whole film would have suffered for it. There has been some Oscar buzz for Ledger and rightfully so.
2. The cinematography in this movie is great. It captures the isolation and loneliness perfectly. It’s slow and methodical as the two men are and shows the world as being big enough to swallow everyone in it as they are overcome by the plight of their own lives.
3. The love scenes were done to perfection. Carefully blocked and paced, they are tender when they’re supposed to be and down and dirty where they need to be. Ang Lee gets his audience used to unfamiliar waters slowly and deliberately. When Jack and Ennis make love for the first time, it’s not displayed on screen for the shock value of it, it’s portrayed as inevitable and real. Although my gay side wanted the first love scene to go on forever, my film fanatic side was relieved it didn’t delve into soft porn. Being at a showing with a room full of gay men, I was surprised to see that the audience was dead silent during ‘the scene’. At first I thought it was an indifferent silence but I was fascinated to realize that it was a stunned ‘I can’t believe what I’m seeing’ silence. That was nice to experience.
4. As much as I loved watching Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, I found my eyes riveted to the performances of the wives of these two men. They were tragic and dramatic, everything a queen looks for in a female lead in film.
5. There’s a wonderful shot of Ledger in front of a fireworks setting that could make the best poster or desktop wallpaper.
6. My favorite scene is a scene where Ennis’ tender side slips out as Jake Gyllenhaal’s character falls asleep on his feet. It made me melt. Good stuff.

I applaud Ang Lee’s bravery in filming this very tender and sad love story. There were no punches pulled to cater to the close-minded conservative viewer whatsoever. It was right on the money.

Shamus spoke to us after the film was over. I’m glad it was done afterwards because there were many great questions asked. Not only this, but it helped me go from weeping queenie to interested film studies man in a flash. Shamus was a good speaker and was quite funny. Best of all, he was informative. I have a few good morsels to pass on:

1. He said that Ledger and Gyllenhaal are straight. Oh well. But that they handled the scene professionally and without high school protestations. Ang Lee bogged his actors down in direction for the scene so that they couldn’t concentrate on anything else. I also found out, for all you ‘Sense and Sensibility’ fans, that he used the same strict blocking technique on Emma Thompson for the scene where she finds out the Hugh Grant’s character is not married. It’s a wonderful scene which Emma was pumped up for but was pulled back by Lee by him telling her that she couldn’t move her head more that a couple of inches for shooting purposes. This stress of not being able to move made her reaction reserved yet maniacal all at the same time. Brilliant.
2. I had asked him if Anne Proulx had seen the film and wanted to know what she thought of it. He said she did and absolutely loved the way the film panned out. I can have my diva moment right now by saying that in a room full of men raising their hands, a studio president picked me for a question. Ha ha.
3. ‘Brokeback’ opened in NY, LA and San Francisco first deliberately. He wanted to hit liberal America first. It’s going to be released to 500 theaters countrywide and, red state be damned, he’s going to open it in even the most conservative of cities in the US. Nicely done, I think.
4. The movie was made for $10 mil. He expects it to make a profit in a couple of weeks. He says he’s not wanting it to be ‘Narnia’ numbers but it will make a profit. That’s nice to hear.
5. It’s being promoted as a ‘chick flick’ and not so much a ‘gay flick’. He’s hyping it up to women who want to see it and take their stuffy straight husbands with them. There’s a bug push in marketing to the female filmgoer. I think this is a neat strategy, too.
6. He introduced Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams. They are now married. That’s so sweet.
7. He’s not interested in conservative backlash from the extreme religious groups out there. In fact, he’s heard that they are backing away from protesting this film. They want it to fade. Even if there was any sort of 'Brokeback' boycott, he says he wouldn’t care about it. The way he said that, I believe him. I think that’s great. This is one of the best movies I have seen in awhile.

So, there it is. I went, I saw, I loved it and oh yes, I cried. Yes, all you sensitive Lords, Ladies and Queens, it’s a tearjerker. Bring the Kleenex. What makes me extremely happy is that ‘Brokeback Mountain’ is now a great love story on film that belongs to us all.

[lindyhop]

Yesterday the L.A. Film Critics Assn. named "Brokeback Mountain" best picture of 2005.

[wendybeth]

Paul Lynde's picnic basket was gay?

I had no idea......


(Great review, GC! ).

[Gemini Cricket]

You know, it's been a couple days since I've seen this film and I'm still thinking about it. For me, that's always a good sign that a film is really good.

lh ~ I heard the same thing. I would have to agree.

wb ~

[tracilicious]

Firstly, allow me to be really immature and say that I find it hilarious that a gay guys name is Ennis.

Secondly, I really want to see this. Jake Gyllenhall is ho-ot!

[innerSpaceman]

Hmmm, not sure if I want to read GC's review yet, before I see the film.

I tried to see it today with my boyfriend at the only theater it's playing at in L.A. (where parking is a freaking nightmare) - but by the time we got there at noon, all the day's shows were sold out.


I doubt I'll have the chance to see the film before next weekend (when I hope it opens wider), and perhaps not even then. So I might just break, and read Brad's review.


But not quite yet.

[libraryvixen]

I haven't seen the film yet but based on GC's review, I look forward to seeing this film when it hits a theatre near me.

This film looked like it was right up my alley the moment I saw Jakey's name. Add to the fact that they were straight fellas... I was SO going to be there. Also, Heath and Michelle have a little baby, Matilda (I keep on thinking Waltzing Matilda).

I applaud the fact that now there is a fantastic movie that portrays a genuine love relationship between two men that is a drama feature and not an over the top representation (examples: Kiss Me Guido, The Birdcage). Aside from Philadelphia, there really hasn't been a mainstream movie that has garnered a lot of press over the fact that the main characters are gay.

Since my NorCal friends here haven't shown a lot of interest in going to see this film, I will bring myself as a date who will love and appreciate this movie. Oh, and I plan on bringing some tissues with me (thanks for the tip Brad!)

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by tracilicious

Firstly, allow me to be really immature and say that I find it hilarious that a gay guys name is Ennis.

I thought the same reading the story. Then I found out during the movie that 'Ennis' is pronounced with a short 'e'.


Now, about dear Jake. I went to this film to see Jake, Jake, Jake. But, girls, I left saying 'Heath, Heath, Heath'. I can't explain it. Something about his character. Yum.

iSm ~ I say don't read it. Go see it and post a review of your own. I'd love to hear LoT views on it.

[MickeyLumbo]

i'm afraid i'll weep in public like a little phag.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by MickeyLumbo

i'm afraid i'll weep in public like a little phag.

Honey, I cried three times during this one. i haven't done that since 'Cinderella Man' and 'Billy Elliott'. I cry during movies, I admit it. In real life, not so much...

Also, if anyone's interested, Anne Proulx's original short story can be found here on the New Yorker's website. Reading it would depend on whether you like to do so before the film adaptation or not.