Brokeback Mountain - An Informal Review
I just saw Brokeback Mountain yesterday (yeah, I'm really late) and finished all the special features a few hours ago. So I have a bit to say on the movie:
IT ROCKS. REALLY.
It is one of the best movies to come out of the States...in fact, ANYWHERE. Jake Gyllenhaal, in particular, gave an affecting performance. His eyes just practically express his love for Ennis and God, his lines: "I wish I knew how to quit you!" and "I'm not like you, Ennis, I can't just survive on a couple of high-altitude fucks once or twice a year!" will always be my favorite BBM quotes.
And the cimenatography...Now, I'm not one to be awed by nature, having lived in the city all my life but Goddamit, even without the man-on-man action and the angst, the movie just exuded teh pretty! (I'm sounding quite valley girl right about now...) Ang Lee was certainly in his element when he was directing BBM. (And thank God, for what if BBM had turned into a flop like the Hulk? * shivers *) The views of the wilderness, of sheep climbing up the mountains, the trees...they just served to further highlight Ennis' and Jack's torrid love affair. And the ending was so touching: "Jack, I swear..."
I read the short story before watching the movie. I have to admit, I liked both equally. The book was more explicit and expounded further on the two men's feelings for each other. It also cleared up the potential confusion I might have had during the movie when older!Jack and older!Ennis were arguing about their next meeting being in November and when it skips to a flashback of the two at Brokeback, Ennis hugging Jack from behind. However, the movie included so much more on society's crushing impact on them as well as the views of their relationship from their wives' point of view (Michelle Williams is an especially good actor). Plus the movie included moving, breathing characters (and Jake Gyllenhaal)!
All in all, BBM easily became one of my top movies of all time. It had angst (I am an angst junkie) and teh gay. It was realistic and didn't utilized any of those gays-are-femmy-and-giggly cliches. The acting was excellent: actors and actresses alike didn't just recited their lines - they took advantage of body language to bring more depth and meaning to a movie that relies heavily on charged silences and symbolism whether it manifested itself in the characters' actions or in the surrounding scenery. The cinematography was top-notch. And the background score, while quite low and - yes, I'm repeating myself - in the background, it just hits you in the gut in the movie's more poignant moments.
Thus ends my informal review of Brokeback Mountain. And like Annie Proulx and thousands of other fans, I'm going to say the following: WHY THE HELL DIDN'T BBM WIN BEST PICTURE??!!
Ja ne for now.
IT ROCKS. REALLY.
It is one of the best movies to come out of the States...in fact, ANYWHERE. Jake Gyllenhaal, in particular, gave an affecting performance. His eyes just practically express his love for Ennis and God, his lines: "I wish I knew how to quit you!" and "I'm not like you, Ennis, I can't just survive on a couple of high-altitude fucks once or twice a year!" will always be my favorite BBM quotes.
And the cimenatography...Now, I'm not one to be awed by nature, having lived in the city all my life but Goddamit, even without the man-on-man action and the angst, the movie just exuded teh pretty! (I'm sounding quite valley girl right about now...) Ang Lee was certainly in his element when he was directing BBM. (And thank God, for what if BBM had turned into a flop like the Hulk? * shivers *) The views of the wilderness, of sheep climbing up the mountains, the trees...they just served to further highlight Ennis' and Jack's torrid love affair. And the ending was so touching: "Jack, I swear..."
I read the short story before watching the movie. I have to admit, I liked both equally. The book was more explicit and expounded further on the two men's feelings for each other. It also cleared up the potential confusion I might have had during the movie when older!Jack and older!Ennis were arguing about their next meeting being in November and when it skips to a flashback of the two at Brokeback, Ennis hugging Jack from behind. However, the movie included so much more on society's crushing impact on them as well as the views of their relationship from their wives' point of view (Michelle Williams is an especially good actor). Plus the movie included moving, breathing characters (and Jake Gyllenhaal)!
All in all, BBM easily became one of my top movies of all time. It had angst (I am an angst junkie) and teh gay. It was realistic and didn't utilized any of those gays-are-femmy-and-giggly cliches. The acting was excellent: actors and actresses alike didn't just recited their lines - they took advantage of body language to bring more depth and meaning to a movie that relies heavily on charged silences and symbolism whether it manifested itself in the characters' actions or in the surrounding scenery. The cinematography was top-notch. And the background score, while quite low and - yes, I'm repeating myself - in the background, it just hits you in the gut in the movie's more poignant moments.
Thus ends my informal review of Brokeback Mountain. And like Annie Proulx and thousands of other fans, I'm going to say the following: WHY THE HELL DIDN'T BBM WIN BEST PICTURE??!!
Ja ne for now.