Brokeback Mountain again
Went to see Brokeback Mountain with greek_amazon tonight. It was just as good the second time. *<3* And I'd still love to see it again. I'm worried I'm going over the edge like those crazy people who saw Titanic 11 times. Except I can't afford to see Brokeback Mountain 11 times in theatres.
I noticed so many more details this time, partially because I could see the whole screen at once and because I already had a sense of what each scene was about, so I could look around the edges for little things. And I can think about things a bit more the second time through. Here's what I noticed this time:
-The scenery is just so beautiful and beautifully filmed. It really made me proud of the wild, natural beauty of this continent. I don't think it gets used artistically in a lot in most movies, and it should.
-Even though I've been so fixated on owning the soundtrack, I love how silent the movie is. Running water, footsteps, the wind, just the sounds of nature, make up most of the sounds in the movie. And that's such a great change for me from movies with a constant undercurrent of music. The music in most movies I've seen recently is incredibly moving and exciting and adds to the film, but it just gets to be too much if it never stops. Emotion can be conveyed by great acting and the use of camera angles and movement. It just takes some talented people to pull it off. And, for me watching Brokeback, it works. I have been moved a million times more by the silence of Brokeback Mountain than by the violins of any movie I can think of at the moment. If I feel emotional while watching Brokeback I know it's because of my engagement in the story and the believability of the acting, and not because of a composer manipulating me into thinking I should feel sad at that moment. A minimalist scored soundtrack makes it feel more realistic.
-I adore the script so much. Every word is so carefully crafted and very true to the original story. And the actors give the script such life and depth; each of their gestures is so well thought out and tells us a bit more about the character (especially on Heath Leger's part since Ennis doesn't talk much).
-I'm impressed by the way that the costumes, makeup, props, and sets convey the passage of time. A date isn't even needed to figure out about how much time has passed between the scenes (even though there are dates scattered around in the background that I didn't notice the first time through.)
And best of all, the audience at the Globe theatre was mature -- except for the guy Maureen heard say "eew" when Jack & Ennis kissed, and the girls beside me loudly whispering predictions about Jack taking the shirt and about how adorable the sheep were. *eyeroll* At least it was better than nervous giggling.
It's funny -- I didn't think this movie would have such an effect on me, but I just can't seem to shake it. And it's not because of the attractive actors, or the variation on the usual storyline, although I'm sure those help. It's a standard unrequited/impossible love story exploring how people hurt and love one another. It's about life and how people deal with it. But it's told so honestly and with so much attention to detail, I have no choice but to adore it.
I noticed so many more details this time, partially because I could see the whole screen at once and because I already had a sense of what each scene was about, so I could look around the edges for little things. And I can think about things a bit more the second time through. Here's what I noticed this time:
-The scenery is just so beautiful and beautifully filmed. It really made me proud of the wild, natural beauty of this continent. I don't think it gets used artistically in a lot in most movies, and it should.
-Even though I've been so fixated on owning the soundtrack, I love how silent the movie is. Running water, footsteps, the wind, just the sounds of nature, make up most of the sounds in the movie. And that's such a great change for me from movies with a constant undercurrent of music. The music in most movies I've seen recently is incredibly moving and exciting and adds to the film, but it just gets to be too much if it never stops. Emotion can be conveyed by great acting and the use of camera angles and movement. It just takes some talented people to pull it off. And, for me watching Brokeback, it works. I have been moved a million times more by the silence of Brokeback Mountain than by the violins of any movie I can think of at the moment. If I feel emotional while watching Brokeback I know it's because of my engagement in the story and the believability of the acting, and not because of a composer manipulating me into thinking I should feel sad at that moment. A minimalist scored soundtrack makes it feel more realistic.
-I adore the script so much. Every word is so carefully crafted and very true to the original story. And the actors give the script such life and depth; each of their gestures is so well thought out and tells us a bit more about the character (especially on Heath Leger's part since Ennis doesn't talk much).
-I'm impressed by the way that the costumes, makeup, props, and sets convey the passage of time. A date isn't even needed to figure out about how much time has passed between the scenes (even though there are dates scattered around in the background that I didn't notice the first time through.)
And best of all, the audience at the Globe theatre was mature -- except for the guy Maureen heard say "eew" when Jack & Ennis kissed, and the girls beside me loudly whispering predictions about Jack taking the shirt and about how adorable the sheep were. *eyeroll* At least it was better than nervous giggling.
It's funny -- I didn't think this movie would have such an effect on me, but I just can't seem to shake it. And it's not because of the attractive actors, or the variation on the usual storyline, although I'm sure those help. It's a standard unrequited/impossible love story exploring how people hurt and love one another. It's about life and how people deal with it. But it's told so honestly and with so much attention to detail, I have no choice but to adore it.