Brokeback Mountain

I just saw it and it totally moved me. It left me with such an anguish espeically after hearing the song that played during the end credits. It's totally worth seeing. It's not just another "gay movie." It's a true love story and very powerful.

 

can't wait to see it.

 

I finally saw it tonight.


It left me speechless.

 

IT'S FULL OF FILTHY DIRTY FAGS!!!! SOOOOO GAY!

Actually I think it looks interesting. Not sure if I can be bothered seeing it though....

 

Oh wait, i just read the other comments, maybe i shall see it

 

I saw it over the weekend, and I'll be very surprised if this film doesn't take Best Picture in a year that saw many outstanding films released. This is easily Ang Lee's best film. It was so honest and heartbreaking. Just . . . wow!

Oh, and Heath Ledger can actually act. I always thought he was just a hack with a pretty face, but he proved me wrong in this role.

 

I hated it.

First of all...they didn't do the timeline very well...specifically in the beginning. It was like, one second they were just sort of indifferent with eachother, and the next they were intimate. I think they could have done a little better with that. Especially since Heath Ledger's character was getting married, I'm sure being gay didn't cross his mind when he was up on Brokeback Mountain in the beginning. And if he WAS homosexual, they should have indicated that a little better in the beginning.

Second, I really DID NOT like the fact that Heath Ledger's character totally abandoned his family. He didn't care about his children or the wife he had at home. In fact, when the oldest girl wanted to live with him, he said no. What kind of dad is that? Gay or not...you don't do that to your children...he rarely seen them...and instead went out and have a fling with someone else...hetero or homosexual.

Maybe I went in with too high of expectations...everyone I talked to said what a good film it was. I thought it was a crock. If you're going to do a story about something as edgy as homosexuality...I think you should do it a little better than that.

My own personal opinion, of course.

 

~~~Don't read if you haven't seen it ~~~

Just making a film that is a homosexual love story doesn't mean they have to be perfect people. He did care about his kids, you could tell that. Remember the scene where Jack came to visit him and he sent him away because it was his only time with his kids? You have to remember that during the time this movie took place, it was nearly impossible to be honest about a thing like homosexuality. Look at Jack's death. And how would they "show" that they were homosexual better? Are you under the impression that the American fad of flamboyant gayness that is so popular now is the way every gay person is? Especially in the 60s. A man in the 60s isn't going to go into a one-on-one situation with another man and tell him off the bat that he is gay. Besides, men during that time period were taught that it was such a terrible thing that they repressed it in themselves to the point where they started to look at it as personal flaw that might go away if they ignored it, rather than a biological trait.

I also do not think that he said no to his daughter so he could have a fling. I think he was embarrassed about who he was and how his life had turned out and he didn't want to subject her to that. Every aspect of this movie speaks so well to how difficult society makes life for anyone who is considered "different." Homosexuality just happened to be the example they used in this particular film.

 

In response to DancerAnnie's comment...


It's good to hear an opposing review.

SillyAngel pretty much covered most of the things I was going to say about the film. I don't think Ennis was a homosexual and that is why it was never indicated in the beginning of the film. I believe he later developed feelings for Jack, and only Jack; there was no other indication that he fell for another man for the rest of the film. He found Jack to be his soulmate and true love which is why, no matter how hard he tried, he could not turly be happy with his wife and children.

I also don't think he abandoned his family, really. I think Ennis gradually became unhappier and eventually fell into a depression. After all he did love Jack more than he loved his wife. Because of his repressed feelings, he felt out of place in his own family. He and his eldest daughter, however, shared a powerful bond.

I wouldn't consider his relationship with Jack a "fling" either. It was something much deeper and more meaningful. He would rarely see Jack, (I think they saw each other either once a month or every 4 years??? I'm not sure).

 

How could you tell? I sure couldn't. Other than the ONE time that he sent Jack away when he had his two daughters...remember, he didn't see his kids the month before that...

In my opinion, if you care about your kids you make sacrifices for them...hetero or homosexual. That's just like a man going off with another woman or vice versa (sorry, it is no different)...get DIVORCED, then be with them. AND DON'T ABANDON YOUR CHILDREN...be respectful enough to be honest with your wife/husband (taboo or not) and don't let your kids suffer because you're being selfish.

Jack's death was at the end of the movie. I'm talking about the beginning of the movie. There was no hint that there was any intimate feelings for eachother. If I hadn't known the movie featured two gay men, I wouldn't have even EXPECTED it at the beginning. One second they are indifferent, the next they were in the tent together going at it.

I have homosexual friends...I know they aren't all flamboyant. I just know how relationships in general work. It's not once second being indifferent and the next being intimate. And I thought the director did a poor job in portraying the timeline of the movie...because that's what it felt like to me.

 

I believe Ennis could only be with his children once a month due to his wife getting custody, correct me if I am wrong.

There was no way Ennis could have taken care of the children anyway, he was a barely making ends meet. Overall he had many problems, and I don't think he wanted to subject his children to that.. Who knows though.

In the beginning I think it is hinted at that Jack has an attraction to Ennis, very subtle, but in my opinion it was there. It was a cold night, they had been drinking a lot, and the chance to have sex presented itself. I don't really think It was about the homosexual feelings at this point, At least from Ennis. The same situation could have happened with a man and a woman. Alcohol can lead to sex, and in this case it was with two men.

Besides, there doesn't have to be clues for a man to be homosexual..

In my opinion you don't have to agree with the characters decisions, but agree with the overall message. I have been thinking about this movie in depth since I saw it, and I hope to see it again soon.

 

I guess when I watch movies I try to find a connection with the main character and try to understand who they are and what makes them tick. In order to really understand a movie, you must be able to relate, on some level, to the main character. I couldn't do it. I couldn't understand why Ennis was the way he was toward his family...and because of that, I had a hard time connecting with the character...I guess I just feel strongly about the family unit.

 

I understand what you're saying, but Ennis's family was his children. His wife hated him(understandable). He didn't want his children to live with him because he didn't have enough to support them. He barely made ends meet. Towards the end when Jack and Ennis get in the fight at Brokeback, Ennis talks about that. He couldn't meet Jack again because of his financial problems.


I don't know, He wanted his children to have the best life they could have, and I think if they would have lived with him, they wouldn't have received that.

 

huh? i'm sorry i must insert my opinion here. my personal belief, because of my religion, is that homsexuality isn't a bio triait. it's an attack from the devil.

 

I don't give a fuck about religion, but being gay is by far a PERSONALITY trait. Aside from people with fucked up chromosomes who are sort of half male half female, GEE I wonder if the boy who grew up in a trailer park with a meth-addicted mom who got molested by his uncle and priest, who later turned out gay, I wonder if he is the product of his environment? Hmm...

 

Dancer you really took some of what I said out of context. That's why you post the entire quote, not just portions of it. But, like I said earlier. Movies aren't about perfect people and happy endings. They are about portraying reality. You really have to keep in mind the place and time that this movie took place. I brought up Jack's death in response to something entirely different, not to Ennis' feelings for Jack, but again, you only posted part of the quote. I realize that you would like to connect with the characters, but that doesn't always mean agreeing with their actions. If it did, how boring would movies be?? Sometimes it's realizing that people get into situations where they honestly believe they are doing the best thing they can, and it's not always what you would have done. As mushie18 said, Ennis couldn't see his children because of custody agreements and financial issues. It seemed like he genuinely wanted what was best for them and believed he was giving them just that. I also agree with Mushie18 on the timeline discrepancy. Sometimes alchohol and hormones can cause situations like that to happen. I've seen it happen. Trust me, it's not that unlikely.

The other point is that people look at it as being gay or not. I think it's possible for people to just be either or. It's no confusion. It's not greed. It's people being attracted to people and people falling in love with people. I don't know why people find it that hard to understand and accept. It's not an issue of whether it's religion, biology, hormones, or just good or bad decisions. The issue is why the hell do people even CARE. It doesn't affect you at all who other people choose to love, so get over yourselves and let people do what makes them happy.

This movie was a well-told story of love, struggle, oppression, depression, flaws in social standard, and grieving. It's not supposed to be about perfect people. It's not supposed to be about storybook families. It's not about religion, Satanl, or God. I just think that everyone expects it to be so much more than what it is, and that's simply a very good story.

 

I take out what is relevant and what I want to comment on specifically. Sorry if you don't like it.

Haha, that's funny. I don't know ANY movie that portrays reality. Movies are for entertainment...that's what sells tickets and DVD's. I'm not looking for perfect people or happy endings...I, personally, look for connections to main characters (like I said earlier) and learning about different kinds of people...I, personally, thought Ennis was a selfish, prick...specifically to his children. I felt for those kids...

Maybe so...but you have to look at it from the perspective of...is it EVER OK to cheat on a spouse? Is it ever OK to abandon your child? Those are moral decisions that span ANY decade...and in my opinion...Ennis's values and priorities were really fucked up.

Then I guess you need to be more clear, because I didn't delete anything I thought wasn't important...that's what I got from your response...and if I'm wrong then you need to be more clear and concise with your arguments.

I feeling a connection with the characters because it gives the movie more meaning to me...other than just the entertainment factor...something I can learn from and take with me. It's how I, personally, watch movies...doesn't mean everyone else does that.

I don't believe that...but it's just differences in opinion. Seemed to me, Ennis was really stuck on Jack...and not worrying about his children...but that's what I, personally, saw.

The MAJORITY of straight men...wouldn't do it...that's not reality. Two women? Possibly. Two men...unlikely.

So it wasn't selfish for him to cheat on his wife? If he wanted to have this thing with Jack, he shouldn't have married his wife. Simple as that. Cheating is NEVER OK...I'm sorry, it's just not. Like I said, homosexual or heterosexual, cheating is unacceptable to me. I don't understand people that do it...and call me narrowminded, but I just don't care to associate with people who do cheat and lie...they aren't trustworthy or loyal two of the many characteristics that must be present in order for a relationship to be healthy. I don't really care if the two characters were gay or not...put two heterosexuals as the two main characters....NOW how do you feel?

That's your opinon...and thank goodness I'm allowed to disagree.

And on an ending note...I didn't delete anything that you said and replied to everything...that should please you this time.

 

How are you to know that they wern't gay..?

I agree with what you're saying, but it's a movie, cheating exists. No one deserves to be cheated on, but the point was to show how his homosexuality affected everyone. Agree with it or Don't agree with.

On a side note, Personally I would never dislike a movie because I don't agree with of the actions of the characters.. For example, Requiem for A Dream, amazing movie, but all of their actions were stupid from the beginning. Just because I would never sell my body for drugs, and I don't agree with other actions in the movie doesn't mean it's bad. It's the theme, and what you get out of the movie in my opinion.

However, I did think Brokeback was going to be much better than it was. With all of the awards and whatnot, I figured it was going to blow me away.

 

I don't think you realize that I'm not trying to argue you out of liking or disliking the movie. I'm just saying the reasons you presented weren't very valid, and might mislead people who are considering going to the movie. And I never accused you of deleting anything, but when you quoted me you left out what came before and after, which explained my statements. When I said "Look at Jack's death..." right before that I referred to how it was nearly impossible at that time to be honest about a thing like homosexuality. I wasn't saying it in relation to his feelings for Jack. That was pretty clear. Also, I never claimed to condone cheating. In fact, when you agree to a monogomous relationship, cheating is pretty damn bad. I'd never do it and I'd never take someone back who cheated on me. My point is very simply that the characters don't have to do all the right things. And no one is ever going to agree what the "right" things are, so it's impossible to please everyone in that respect. But if you choose one path for the character, you must follow it closely in every aspect. I think they did an excellent job in creating Ennis' character. They showed how most men would handle that exact situation during that time period, and that was their intent. It wasn't to show someone who went against the odds, did everything "right" and lived happily ever after. This movie is supposed to be a tragedy. It's supposed to be a mixture of society, circumstance, love, and misfortune, and decisions that cause things to happen the way they happen. Sure he could have chosen a different path, and that might have made you happy because then you would have liked the character more. But that wasn't the goal. The goal wasn't likeable people and overcoming obstacles. It was supposed to show struggle. It was supposed to show hardship. It was supposed to show how people react in situations like that. Jack reacted one way, Ennis reacted another way. You know it's funny too because Jack was also married with kids. How come you haven't brought him up at all?

Oh and I don't appreciate your comment on the likeliness of that happening between two men as opposed to two women. That's completely baseless.

Also, you're acting as if homosexuality has nothing to do with it, but it has EVERYTHING to do with it. That's the whole point. When society opresses gay people, this is what happens. Jack did not go to as great of lengths to hide his preference and he wound up dead in a ditch. Ennis wanted to live, so he kept his mouth shut and tried to hide it. People will do unbelievable things to survive just as much as to be near their soulmate.

 

I wholeheartedly agree.