Yes I'm watching 20 to 1 again
And this week they're doing Big Screen Buddies; "a celebration of mateship", Bert said.
And amongst the Ben Afflect & Mat Damons, Bill & Teds, Shrek & Donkies, etc, they have Jack and Ennis.
What?
Seriously, what?
They have When Harry met Sally too (which has to be an excuse to play that bloody cafe scene again. I am so sick of that frigging scene), but the friendship phase of their relationship lasted most of the entire film. Jack and Ennis are an on-screen couple, as in, engaged in a romantic and sexual relationship for the majority of the film. It's a very masculine relationship, with much in common with a regular blokey friendship ON THE SURFACE, and not at all the traditional big-screen romance, but, come on, buddies? Brokeback Mountain is not a buddy film! The whole point of the film was the repression of feelings and the stiffling nature of their time and place and society. It's about the inability to show emotion, the difficulties of individuality, about how place can mould who you are so thoroughly that the very idea of exhibiting any sign of anything out of the ordinary is terrifying. It also works as a metaphor for the problems still faced by people, especially men, including gay men, today.
If they were talking about the short story, maybe, I could see where scenes like the singing and drinking until the early hours might make a strong impression of a friendship forming. The book is certainly more clear than the film in terms of relationship development. But that scene is followed by the line, Ennis... thought he'd never had such a good time, felt he could paw the white out of the moon, which is honestly one of the most heartwrenching and tender lines I've ever encountered (Annie Proulx is full of those lines, those little moments that are so simple but so exquisite and that just hit so hard). There is an element of friendship there, borne from two very lonely people finding mutal acceptance, but at a very basic level, it's still a love story. And not a bromance.
Expect ETAs when they actually get to discussing the film on air.
ETA: WHY ARE THEY PLAYING SNOW PATROL over the second tent scene?? Can we just... get over using Chasing Cars? Please? Surely it's been done enough for a while.
But that's not the point.
Look. 20 to 1. They do, as you say, "pose as fishing buddies", and they do indeed speak to one another at times more as mates than as typical romcom lovers, and yes, it is a film about male relationships, which, while not madatory with friendship and buddy duo films, is a big part of it. But. There are layers. There's a lot more going on in addition to, and underneath, the friendship.
Even the audiences are different. It's not a movie like Starsky and Hutch or Lord of the Rings that people are going to go see with their mates for a heart-warming laugh or a rollicking adventure. It wasn't even a film about two peole overcoming their differences to form a bond of mutal respect and affection. It's not even a friendship overcoming the odds, or driving over a cliff together.
Genres. I think there's where we're not agreeing. You have a thing on your list that is, I think, not like the others. It's nice that you're working with a broader definition of "buddy movie", and acknowledging a range of types of friendship, but, this one being there just makes me think you were watching a different film to me.
RELATED: How did I never notice the epic gay of Sam and Frodo before? I suppose anything can seem a bit subtexty with Nothing Compares 2 U playing over top, but nonetheless those were some pretty damn longing looks.
My subtext-dar is so weird sometimes. I mean, I only even noticed the massive, massive ho-yay in Smallville after it was pointed out to me.
OH! OH! THELMA AND LOUSIE IN NUMBER ONE FTW! But good lord, how many times have they played the Brad Pitt clips on this show, already.
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By the way, thanks for the hugs and the kindness on my last post, guys. ♥ *hugs you all back* It means a lot. I've not replied yet as I'm taking a bit of a break from the net. I've been letting things get on top of me a bit, so have been spending time relaxing by cooking, getting my work organised, and playing my Sony and things. Will be back properly soon, when I feel a bit calmer.