Brokeback Mountain

[Rod Hagen]

I'm absolutely too definsive where this story is concerned. Plus I just don't like Gary.

[Luv2play]

Taht's all right. If I ever get together with you, I'll never breathe Gary Indiana's name. You're still a sweetheart!

[doctordoctor]

http://s44.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1KOUJ5M0HWD1Y3O120G8M848ST

 

found this link to a twenty-minute "preview" of the movie with interviews with all and several scenes of interest...big download of 47 MB...broadband will help...gee, too afraid to go see the movie because of all the talk of crying, emotionally-draining, etc...coming out of a movie all distressed really bothers me

[Rod Hagen]

I recommend not watching this download, which was on LOGO last night, until after you've seen the film. It shows a lot of the most intimate moments which are much much better left alone until you see the whole thing in its entirety so that it will have lots more punch. If you're on the coasts you only have to wait a couple more days.

[Guest rohale]

This weekend could be a tough choice for most movie-goers. Besides Brokeback Mountain which opens in limited release. Chronicles Of Narnia and offcourse the political drama Syriana both respectively will be in wide release.

 

With all this talk about whether "Brokeback Mountain" will receive an Oscar consideration come early next year. That still remains to be seen. For supposition sake, if for some reason "Brokeback Mountain" does get the Oscar nod for best picture. This will make matters very interesting cause there will be some serious competition coming from films like " Memiors Of A Geisha ", definitely " Syriana " ( if the Academy voters have the stomach for a controversial political drama ) and just maybe " Mrs Henderson Presents ( starring Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins ), " Pride And Prejudice " and " Cinderella Man " and " Crash ". To be fair, the list for best picture could be quite long to choose from.

 

Let's look at individual performances. If Heath Ledger is taken into consideration for an Oscar nod for mest male perfomer. The current conventional thinking is Phillip Seymour Hoffman will be the actor that not only generates the most buzz come Oscar night, but also the odds on favorite to win for his role in Capote. Therefore Heath may not have much of a chance. Within the same token, I dont necessarily believe that the Oscar for mest male performance is Mr Hoffman's for the taking. There is the possibility that he could be facing some serious competition from actors like Sir Anthony Hopkins ( Proof ), Nicholas Cage ( Lord Of War ), Ralph Feinnes ( The Constant Gardener ). Right now the curent buzz seems to be centered on Jeffrey Wright ( Syriana ). Offcourse let's not forget Russel Crowe ( Cinderella Man ). Russell delivered a very powerful emotional punch in playing Jim Braddock. As usual there are the dark horses from actors like Bob Hoskins ( Mrs Henderson Presents ) and Sir Michael Caine ( The Weatherman ).

 

I thought Mr Hoffman did a wonderful job in Capote, there is no doubt about that what so ever. For me Russell Crowe provided the best performance of the year followed very closely by Sir Anthony Hopkins and then Hoffman himself. We'll find out next year of who gets the nod and who doesn't.

 

Ro

[Rod Hagen]

Brokeback received very positive reviews tonight in both the LA and NY times, as well as in this week's New Yorker.

 

http://www.RodHagen.com

310.360.9890

Fun, Fit, Friendly Fucker in West Hollywood.

-Rod Hagen

[uwsman2]

New York Magazine also gave it a very positive review. I'm off to see an early matinee. It's snowing like crazy here in NYC (I'm writing this at 7:40 am local time), so there may be a bigger turnout than one might expect for an early morning show. I'm surprised that only three theaters in Manhattan are showing it, and at that only one major theater (the big Loewes in Lincoln Square, which I think will have it on two screens). The Times review this morning is above the fold on the first page of the Weekend Section and features a big color photograph from the movie, so clearly they think it's the most important thing opening today, not Narnia!

[Epigonos]

In today's (Friday, 12/09) Los Angeles Times reviewer Kenneth Turan couldn't say enough good things about "Brokenback Mountain" I found his opening paragraph particularly interesting:

 

"Brokenback Mountain" is a groundbreaking film because it isn't.

It's a deeply felt, emotional love story that deals with the un-

charted, mysterious ways of the human heart just as so many

mainstream films have before it. The two lovers here just

happen to be men.

 

There is also a great article by Steven Barrie-Anthony on page E8. The article is based on his interview of author E. Annie Prouix.

If any of you get the opportunity to read these two articles they are well worth the time

[Epigonos]

By the way if there is anyone out there who hasn't read the original short story here is the New Yorker website where one can do do:

 

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/content/articles/051212fr_archive01

[Guest Tristan]

I was just watching CNN with Paula Zahn. She was listing some new films in the theater. When she got to Brokeback Mountain, she said it was a love story. Then came the warning: "It's not about a man and a woman." Can't CNN even say it's a gay love story, or a love story between two men?

[Guest HonkingGoose]

>I saw this film tonight. I won't say much more than it does

>NOT disappoint on any level. December 9 it hits the coasts

>(NYC, LA, SF) and I think the producer, charming funny guy who

>did Q/A afterward, said it goes slightly wider 12/16, and then

>country-wide 1/8.

>

>It's devastating, gorgeous, and entirely faithful to the

>story. What about the love and sex? As I said....

 

 

Today's Wall Street Jouranl gave it a great review!

[uwsman2]

So I saw it today, and when I got home, pulled out the short story collection in which it was republished after the initial appearance in the New Yorker, and read it again. It is truly amazing how faithful to the original literary source this movie is. Almost all of the dialogue comes directly from the story, sometimes from original dialogue, sometimes dialogue created from the third-person narration. Some extra scenes had to be imagined to lengthen the story for a full-length movie, but they are all true to the original, and many were clearly developed from passing mentions of incidents in the story. Usually, when I see a movie based on a book I know, I am upset that the filmmaker has taken great liberties with the story in ways that change it, and usually in my opinion for the worse. Not this time. Ang Lee has been totally faithful, but has brought great imagination to the dramatization.

As for the acting - I don't think anyone takes a false step anywhere. And Heath Ledger is amazing here. Nothing in his prior work prepared me for his accomplishment in this film. He gets totally inside this taciturn, tightly-wound closet case of a man, in a way that is thoroughly convincing and involving. Jake Gyllenhaal is really superb as well, but I don't think the character was such a stretch for him. But for Ledger, the character is so different from his prior roles! Everybody is superb here, but these two, and especially Ledger, are really special.

So - what about the sex? Maybe less overt sex than in the short story, but enough. Not a lot of nudity, only what fits with the story and no full-frontal stuff - suitable for the mass (and mainly straight) audience, but enough to show that our male leads are nicely put together. (Actually, on rereading the story, this may be the one slight deviation, as both men are more handsome and well put-together than the characters described by Ms. Proulx at the beginning of her tale.)

So - see it. See it with someone you love! Bring handkerchiefs!!

[Guest zipperzone]

>By the way if there is anyone out there who hasn't read the

>original short story here is the New Yorker website where one

>can do do:

>

>http://www.newyorker.com/archive/content/articles/051212fr_archive01

>

I had not read it - that was very helpful - I printed it off and will read it on going to bed tonight. Many thanks.

[Luv2play]

Thanks for that. Just read the story. Annie Proulx wrote a book called The Shipping News based on her experience in Newfoundland, which was a great hit here in Canada. I now intend to read it. Her story Brokeback Mountain has just left a small tear in my eye.

[Guest zipperzone]

>Thanks for that. Just read the story. Annie Proulx wrote a

>book called The Shipping News based on her experience in

>Newfoundland, which was a great hit here in Canada. I now

>intend to read it. Her story Brokeback Mountain has just left

>a small tear in my eye.

 

Did you get the feeling that the story could have been even better if it had been written as a novella rather than a short story? I think I would have liked more detail and description (and I don't mean the sex scenes).

[Luv2play]

I agree. As a short story it works well but it could have been more moving if it had been a novella along the lines of Breakfast at Tiffanys by Truman Capote. Now there was a story that really got to you, so much better than the movie IMO.

 

Perhaps today, if Breakfast were remade, it could deal with " the seamier" aspects of the story, which Hollywood glossed over. But one drawback would be trying to find a soundscore to outdo Moon River by Henry Mancini, which will forever be associated with that film.

[Luv2play]

In reading a biography of Truman Capote (I can't remember which one as there have been several), I recall reading his personal letters at the time of his writing In Cold Blood and they are a devastating glimpse into his nature. He was truly despicable in how he treated Perry and he openly longed for his execution so he could get his book published. I truly love so much of Capote's writing but In Cold Blood is not one of them. x(

[uwsman2]

The first weekend of theatrical release of Brokeback is quite a success. According to the charts I saw, it played in only 5 theaters this weekend but brought in something like $545,000, which on a per screen basis put it right up there with the leaders for the week. And, amazingly, playing on only 5 screens it came in something like no. 12 in the country for box office revenue this weekend. It goes into wider release later this week, and full release in January. They figured this was one that would build on word of mouth and favorable reviews - and would generate "think pieces" in the Sunday papers and special news reports that would stimulate more viewers. Also, if it gets Academy nominations, that would goose the attendance and bring early viewers back for a second look. Of course, I imagine the producers were also hoping for some controversy, which also pushes attendance, but they don't seem to be getting it. The anti-gay organizations seem to be laying low on this one.

 

Given the rather modest cost of making the film, it seems certain to be a financial success. I definitely plan to see it a second time, and I definitely plan to get the DVD as soon as it becomes available.

[Guest firem66803]

i just read that brokeback mountain was voted best picture by the LA critics as well as best director for ang lee. hopefully more kudos and critical acclaim will bring this much deserving film a large audience.

[poiuyt]

Hope you got to see the movie. It's playing in SF at one theater, with two screens. I got my ticket online Friday for Sunday afternoon, which is a good thing cause apparently all Sunday shows except at 10:30pm were sold out yesterday.

 

Heath Ledger was just amazing. I never thought he had it in him, it's levels above anything he's done before. It's like watching a documentary, you don't get the feeling it's someone acting.

[SAdler]

I can't even begin to say how amazing it was. Just got back.

 

All I have to say is that across Middle America, husbands everywhere dropped their tackle boxes and let out a resounding .... "shit."

..... you'll get it when you see it.

 

Astounding!

[Guest zipperzone]

>I agree. As a short story it works well but it could have

>been more moving if it had been a novella along the lines of

>Breakfast at Tiffanys by Truman Capote. Now there was a story

>that really got to you, so much better than the movie IMO.

>

>Perhaps today, if Breakfast were remade, it could deal with "

>the seamier" aspects of the story, which Hollywood glossed

>over. But one drawback would be trying to find a soundscore to

>outdo Moon River by Henry Mancini, which will forever be

>associated with that film.

 

B at T is probably my favorite film of all time. Funny but I never thought of a remake but now that you mention it - why not? The casting could be problematical - off hand I can't think of anyone that could hold a candle to Audrey. And it would be less of a film without the Givenchy wardrobe. I also especially like the supporting players - George Peppard was such a classy hunk as the kept boy (what a shame he had to die so young) and Patricia Neat was perfect as his sugar mommy.

 

I don't think there is a need to find a new soundscore. Moon River will forever be associated with the movie and although Mancini is no longer with us, the score must be around somewhere.

 

Now that you've planted the thought in my mind of a remake, I'll be checking the movie news weekly!

[Luv2play]

I know this is off topic but what the heck, I haven't seen Brokeback yet so can't really add to what I've already stated. On BAT, my understanding is that Audrey was not the first choice but I can't remember who was the unlucky lady who passed up the role. The problem with Hepburn, IMO, was that she was totally unconvincing as an Appalachian hick who had remade herself into a femme fatale. Also, as Truman Capote wrote himself into the novella as a main character, I would have liked to see his role somehow portrayed although obviously not as the romantic lead!! Hollygolightly's relationship to the Mafia could be better expressed today given the Sopranos' success. In general, the tale was just so much grittier than what came across in Breakfast the movie. BTW, Truman himself is said to have hated the movie.

[+ Oliver]

>All I have to say is that across Middle America, ....<

 

Who knows how long it will take take to get to Columbus x( .... Nothing in the local papers yet. So Middle America will just have to wait - like I am with bated breath (and no tackle box ).

[bigjake8]

Saw it, hated it. Anyone that grew up in the country (deep south, mid-west, whatever) will understand why.

 

I'm ready to move on from tragic dead fag stories. Had enough of it.