Comments | celandineb: Brokeback Mountain

celandineb

Brokeback Mountain

Jan 15, 2006 22:08

Went and saw this, finally, with SO today. I enjoyed it a great deal - in part because of the scenery, which is perhaps odd, but I spent enough of my childhood summers in the Rockies that I love these vistas. Not going to write a proper review of it. But have a few related thoughts to put down, mostly on the aspect of sexuality at this time.

( Miscellaneous ideas... some spoilers )

reviews, deep thoughts

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just_ann_now January 16 2006, 10:40:49 UTC

I'm going to see it today and will hopefully be able to discuss it with some coherency this evening! I'll have lots of driving time to digest and process.

celandineb January 16 2006, 14:06:21 UTC

I'll be interested to hear what you think!

Back with thoughts..... just_ann_now January 17 2006, 00:28:47 UTC

...coherent or not remains to be seen.

My first thought on leaving the theater was: this is too painful for me to see again. I know now, after a bit of a dissection with thrihyrne and lots of time for digestion on the way home, that I will need to see it several times to catch all the nuances I missed today ( ... )

celandineb January 17 2006, 03:11:52 UTC

I'd say that was very coherent!

Now, I didn't read Jack as a sexual predator, and I definitely didn't think that he felt he was certain to have Ennis. But I'm also terrible at noticing flirtation (if/when I see the film again I will be looking for that more specifically).

Then: The Kiss - wow. Does Ennis realize at that moment what Jack means to him

When he sees Jack drive away, at the end of the first summer - when he's throwing up and crying - that's when Ennis realizes, I think. Although he hasn't yet put himself into the completely hopeless situation he'll be in when next he sees Jack, and which perhaps makes him actually conscious in a more significant way ( ... )

just_ann_now January 17 2006, 03:29:55 UTC

I didn't read Jack as a sexual predator Oh, I didn't mean it in a bad way! *grin* Just that he was used to thinking, I want that, and having the looks and charm to be able to get it.

I can totally see Lureen coming up with it as a way of saving face. Absolutely - I remember thinking, very distinctly, she's lying.

I wanted to like it a lot more than I did; maybe (as EL says) I'm just in emotional overload and need a bit more processing time (and a few more viewings.)

celandineb January 17 2006, 03:45:00 UTC

I didn't think you meant "sexual predator" in a bad way - I just didn't read him the way you did. *g*

I wanted to like it a lot more than I did

There's no reason you have to like it a lot, either. There are films and books out there that are widely acclaimed that I don't particularly enjoy. But it is a tough film, it's not easy on the viewer, and you're right that more thinking/watching might change your opinion, too. As I said in my opening post, one of the reasons I liked it and connected with it was quite simply the physical setting, which is a comfortable one for me.

Where'd you find that icon? It's lovely. *considers poaching it*

just_ann_now January 17 2006, 03:55:41 UTC

Where'd you find that icon? It's lovely. *considers poaching it*
It's by signe, but she must have posted it in a comm somewhere, since I just checked her lj, and didn't see any icons there. I'm sure she wouldn't mind your poaching with proper credit.

I was going to save it for Boromir and Theodred, but it's too pretty to keep keep tucked away.

I'm such a philistine - I could have done with a bit more sex.

celandineb January 17 2006, 04:05:02 UTC

Thanks for the info - duly poached. Though when it'll get into the rotation is anyone's guess! (It is Ennis and Jack, isn't it? I think so, but then I look again and am less certain.)

I'm such a philistine - I could have done with a bit more sex.

Me too. Actually a lot more would've been okay. *g* Teh hawt. But OTOH then I get into the mindset of "but sex doesn't equal emotion" and get annoyed if there's gratuitous sex. Never satisfied, me...

just_ann_now January 17 2006, 10:48:33 UTC

Hmmmm, this comment didn't show up in my email. Are we going to have to go through that crap again? *cries*

celandineb January 17 2006, 16:20:59 UTC

I've missed a few in the last week, but only a few. At least it's nowhere near as bad as before.

edoraslass January 18 2006, 04:44:19 UTC

I can totally see Lureen coming up with it as a way of saving face. Absolutely - I remember thinking, very distinctly, she's lying.

Ah, see, and I thought that Lureen would have told Ennis flat-out if Jack had been beaten, simply to strike out him, a way of saying, "Look what happened to him because of you." She'd already acted as if she had no earthly idea who Ennis was, other than "that guy Jack goes fishing with all the damn time", when I believe she knew who Ennis was and what he was to Jack the second he said his name. And frankly - it's Texas, Jack's a cocky guy - if he'd been beaten, people could easily buy that Jack just got a little too cocky with the wrong drunken redneck. IMO, of course.

Though I don't think Ennis would have believed any story of "it was an accident."

celandineb January 18 2006, 11:54:00 UTC

She'd already acted as if she had no earthly idea who Ennis was

But then I also see that as perhaps a way to hurt Ennis... *shrug*

edoraslass January 18 2006, 13:44:03 UTC

Oh, yes, I agree completely. Which leads me to think that she'd have been more than willing to tell Ennis if it had been something other than an accident, to twist the knife, so to speak. "See what happens to men like you?", that sort of flat-out hurtfulness.

I didn't care much for Lureen, as you can tell. :)

celandineb January 19 2006, 03:10:26 UTC

Gee, really? ;-)

(The comment has been removed)

Re: Back with thoughts..... just_ann_now January 18 2006, 01:18:29 UTC

I had not read the story before I saw the film; just finished reading it a few minutes ago, in fact. Some elements of the film are much clearer now; some powerful visuals now are in context for me.

I felt like they put that stuff in the movie to make their first coupling more understandable or palatable...
Good point! Jake Jack comes rolling up like Sex-On-A-Stick; gives poor Ennis one long look, and next thing you know, he's ditchin' the stubble! I don't think he was doing it to impress the boss with his hygiene.

...in the written story, there is nothing about Jack acting in that sort of manner.

Very true! In the story, that first coupling comes out of nowhere(other than Jack warming his hand on Ennis). The film had a bit of boyish flirtyness, as I recall. I had always imagined that Jake Jack would have been the top, at least the first time; I was completely stunned by what I saw, and had to do some quick work on my preconcieved ideas.

why else was he puking after they left one another? Shame? Guilt? I didn't feel at point, as a ( ... )

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