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I liked BrokeBack Mountain . It's a movie about a relationship, pure and simple; it just happens to be about two men. But, they had the same difficulties or issues that any couple carrying on an affair would have: not enough time, what are we going to do? can we be together, not together, etc.? They were in love. Thank the Lord for love, it is what makes the world go around, even if it is illusionary.
BrokeBack Mountain, I don't think, is the best movie of the year. It was a little slow in spots, but it had an ethereal feeling which, overall, prevented the movie from dragging. And, let's face it, the movie makes you want to pack up and move to Wyoming with beautiful landscapes and vistas; the scenery is spectacular.
There was a parochial feeling to the movie that suggested the main characters were uneducated cowboys who didn't have lots of opportunities in life, but were trying to survive and eke out an existence. Jack Twist, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, married Lureen Newsome, played by Anne Hathaway, and into "pretend money" with a
father-in-law who hated him. The marriage was a loveless one and Lureen, once lively and vicacious, becomes bitter as the years pass; because, of course, Jack's thoughts were with another.
Gyllenhaal(Anzuoni/Reuters)
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Jack and Ennis Del Mar, played by Heath Ledger, were not too smart, however; they were so excited about seeing each other after four years that they were not discreet and were discovered. As a result, Ennis's marriage to Alma, played by Michelle Williams, unraveled-a shame as it didn't have too. Although Alma knew about the affair between Ennis and Jack, she did not let on to Ennis until long after the divorce.
Gyllenhaal's character, Jack, was a little more complex only because he talked more and revealed himself and was the real gay cowboy whereas Ledger's character, was a switch-hitter, but only with Jack, and that moment in time morphed into twenty years.
Ledger (AFP/DDP/File)
| What gets me is the utter unresponsive fathers in this movie. We never see Ennis's father, but Jack's father was
non- communicative, and emotionally detached. Lack of Education might be the excuse, but a sorry one at that! Do we think that Jack's father knew that he was gay? Makes me appreciate my own Dad so much. As a thirteen year old, I can remember my Dad hugging and kissing me and telling me I was great. What happened with the Dads in this film? Could more love and affection have made a difference in their lives? Who knows(yes, I know it just a movie)
One of the cute scenes is with Ennis's daughter, who was barely communicative just like her dad. The scene takes place after the parental divorce; and yet, obviously, she still loves her Dad. She drives out to his trailer to ask him to come to her wedding. She's just nineteen; and, at first, it looks like he's going to be off doing his cowboy thing, but then says, he'd be there. I kept thinking, why didn't he get more involved and at that point say: "What, you'e getting married? you're just nineteen, forget it, go to college."Well, I guess this would have been out of character with the movie. And, let's face it, just me, a woman pondering. (I know, it's just a movie)
Williams (REUTERS/Phil Klein)
| My favorite actress in the movie, was Michelle Williams. She was always this cute "wild child" in the TV teenage series, that I liked, Dawson's Creek. In fact, in Dawson's Creek she often stole the scenes. Well, she should, as a 25 year old playing a teenager. I also liked how the little nuances in the movie were played out with lots of aplomb and Randy Quaid was great, playing the knowing employer and Mr. Bigot to the max.
Is there an ick factor with this movie which is largely ignored by the male population? I think so, but those who don't see it are the losers. Brokeback Mountain is about life and people living it.
Life is not black and white, people live all sorts of existences that many don't know about. Things go on in families all the time that are unknown to the outside world. BrokeBack Mountain pulls back a curtain and lets us take a look. Instead of avoiding, let's just accept what is.
Two Parachutes
Thanks to Airborne Press for giving me a forum to post my review of this film. I know not everyone will agree, and that's ok, it's a free country, it's just my opinion.
Liz Crosslin
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