Brokeback ... Finally!

Well call off the posse, we finally saw Brokeback Mountain this past weekend.

It has been a long time coming.  As you may remember, I wasn't terribly enthusiastic about seing it in the first place.  I have been reading about this movie for what seems like years and it just seemed as if the hype was somewhere in the stratosphere... even far beyond the soaring heights of the very peak that gives this story its title.  I knew the gay community would embrace it regardless, but beyond this peer pressure when it started getting all kind of critical praise and winning awards it was clear that this was something beyond the run-of-the-mill gay genre film.  That said, I still had some trepidation, worrying how I would come back on some Monday morning and write that it was "just alright" or "okay." 

Fortunate for me, I don't have to worry about that now.  I thought it was just incredible and beautiful film that far far exceeded my lowered expectations.  The movie has been reviewed to death in blogland, so I am really left without a whole lot to say that has not been said before over and over and over again... subtle, powerful, emotional, aching, haunting... it just washes right over you... I can't remember a film in recent years where the visuals so accurately captured the mood of the film... which was only further enhanced by the film's spare and heart-breaking score.  So, all in all, I hope there is still some room on the Brokeback bandwagon for me! (Though we'll have to wait and see if I get as obsessed by it as some others).

As Scott mentions, the movie has been out for at least a month here in the Phoenix metro area... and this was its second week of wider release and I would still guess that our Saturday night showing was sold-out.  I expected a sparse crowd and certainly not primarily hetero.  In our politically conservative state, Phoenix may be an island of "blue" but this particular theater was definitely in one of the "redder" suburbs. 

I have been cynical about this film being groundbreaking or a watershed... but now I am thinking it may create a subtle shift in people's attitudes, while certainly not those far off to the right (who probably avoid a 5-mile radius of any theater showing it for fear of catching something) it may affect those "undecideds"... and while I am certainly biased, I can't help but think that anyone walking out of the theater can not just come to the conclusion that love is love, no matter who or what we are.

While we on our leather reclines and watching something on TiVo on Sunday, I said one of the more memorable lines from the film "You know it could always be like this, just like this, always" ...

Of course I was saying this for comic effect since we were doing something quite mundane... but still it is incredible (and encouraging) to be living in time that is really not that far removed from Jack and Ennis... but eons away in so many other ways.  Sure there may be (and likely are) those whispers in the neighborhood about two guys shacking up, but we can and do do it.. and for that I am very thankful.

Comments

[Scott-O-Rama]

I am so glad that you enjoyed the film. I was worried that the hype would ruin it for you.

[Scott C]

I am glad you enjoyed the film. Manny and I certainly did. I was surprised at the make up of the audience when we saw it as well. There were probably only about 10 gay men and 4 lesbians in the audience. The rest was straight, middle aged on up. No one left, and there were tears on more than just our faces as we left the theatre. Hopefully, it might make some people think that love is just love, and you can't help who you love.

[Kenna]

I thought it was a great movie - the scenery was stunning.