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I SAW IT!!!
And no, I didn't cry. I did get quite choked up, but not after Jack died. I got sniffly before Jack died, in the "I wish I knew how to quit you" scene. I also got sniffly when Wings started playing.
But let's start at the beginning, shall we?
The opening surprised me. It was so dark and quiet. I actually thought we'd open with Ennis, but we opened with Brokeback - it makes more sense, but I just didn't expect it. There was also a lot more humour in it than I was expecting, or maybe I just find things funny that nobody else laughs at.
Brokeback itself was gorgeous and the cinematography was completely amazing. I love how Lee uses wide open spaces and blue skies to emphasise the happiness Jack and Ennis feel up on Brokeback - later on the place they go to for theirsexin' fishin' trips is darker and closed-in, surrounded by mountains, so that they're sort of trapped. Up on Brokeback the grass goes for miles and they're free.
The whole flirting/sexual tension part was completely adorable - Jack's attempts to get Ennis interested (showing off on the horse, acting crazy after the rodeo comment, etc.) and Ennis's cautious interest in Jack and his wellbeing - and the scene where Ennis got drunk was so funny. Didn't anybody else think so? Anyway, first night was OMGWTFOWWWWW but the second night was very sweet and really, REALLY hot. I love how Jack's just back there in the tent getting ready to get sexed and Ennis is all "Do I go or not?" Then he finally does and Jack's achingly lovely and cuddly. The entire audience (comprised, oddly, largely of older straight couples as well as the mandatory gay boys and fag hags) who hadn't read the story (most of them) gasped collectively when Aguirre spotted them rasslin' (heh Xander quote!) through his binoculars. Couple girls actually cried out "No!" It made me LOL.
I love how the weather starts to close in on them and Brokeback becomes less welcoming after Aguirre sees them. The symbolism in the movie's amazing, particularly as it's probably the quietest movie I've ever seen. I think part of that is getting into Ennis's lonely head. The scene where Ennis turns on Jack and punches him is scary and powerful and reminds us of just how hard this all is for Ennis.
Anyway, there's a bit in the Ennis/Alma montage when Ennis puts snow on her head that's straight out of 10 Things I Hate About You, I swear. Blah de blah, boobs, and oh, JACK'S BACK!
And wow, what a welcome back he got. That kiss was - I mean, I've seen it around a lot, but the pics and gifs didn't match up to the lust and fire on screen. Holy hell. And another collective gasp as Alma saw them. The scene in the motel was by far the most loving scene in the movie between the two boys, I think.
I didn't like Alma as much as Lureen, who had some balls (I kept thinking about the whole "Texas women don't get older, they get blonder" deal.) I didn't think Michelle Williams was as good as all that either - I thought she was good but not enough to warrant all the attention she's getting. The brief moments Jack and Ennis get together are heartbreaking in themselves to me, because as Jack says, there's never enough time.
Jack driving across the country for Ennis when he got divorced was really the moment my heart broke in the movie. I could just see Jack breaking down inside when Ennis looked worriedly at that car and he knew things were never going to change, and the difference in his demeanor between when he's singing and smiling on the way down and then crying the whole way to Mexico to find an Ennis lookalike because Ennis will never, ever love Jack the way he wants...I died. (Remind me again why Jake isn't receiving the attention he DESERVES for this film?!) After that I was just broken for the rest of the movie, and Jack definitely took a bitter turn that made me :( Meanwhile, since Ennis just couldn't express himself, he ended up getting violent and even more reticent, which was also sad, but not quite as sad as the way Jack was shattered.
I LOVED Jack smacking down Lureen's dad, though, that was very cool. Not so much the ugly caterpillar that grew on his lip as he got older, though. Ennis, on the other hand, looked better as he got older. Why exactly was Cassie there? Bleurgh. I didn't mind Randall, Jack's newsexin' fishin' buddy (and I liked LaShawn because she cracked me up) but I felt like they really sort of dragged it out until that last confrontational scene between Jack and Ennis ("I wish I knew how to quit you") and the beautiful snuggly moment when Jack was falling asleep on his feet 'like a horse.' DEAD. Jack holding Ennis...augh. And then Jack watching Ennis drive away, particularly if you knew Jack was not long for this world - that was a really, really sad part for me.
The end was amazing and masterful and definitely made up for the slight drag I felt leading up to that point. Ennis's call to Lureen where both of them were nearly falling apart and Lureen makes that pivotal decision to let Ennis into Jack's life, Ennis's visit to the Twist house, Jack's mother (Jack's mother!!!) and the shirts. I love the significance of Ennis deciding to support his daughter because he knows she's in love and he could never be with Jack, and the shirts and postcard in the doorway...Also, the significance of the postcard making way for the little, grimy window of Ennis's caravan was not lost on me. Brokeback was the wolrd he could never get back, and the window was his new reality.
Does anybody really believe that Jack died by accident? There've been a few arguments about this on![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
wranglers but I just can't see how it could be anything but murder. That brief flash of Jack's face was really horrible, and it really just confirmed all of Ennis's fears. For me, in the end, what Ennis comes to realise is that the more he fought his true feelings the more trapped he became, and in the end he didn't save himself or Jack.
Finally: no, I didn't catch Rufus's cameo. I'll look out for it when I go to the movie this Saturday in Sydney.
10 out of 10
Old brokeback got us good, huh?
Green Queen
And no, I didn't cry. I did get quite choked up, but not after Jack died. I got sniffly before Jack died, in the "I wish I knew how to quit you" scene. I also got sniffly when Wings started playing.
But let's start at the beginning, shall we?
The opening surprised me. It was so dark and quiet. I actually thought we'd open with Ennis, but we opened with Brokeback - it makes more sense, but I just didn't expect it. There was also a lot more humour in it than I was expecting, or maybe I just find things funny that nobody else laughs at.
Brokeback itself was gorgeous and the cinematography was completely amazing. I love how Lee uses wide open spaces and blue skies to emphasise the happiness Jack and Ennis feel up on Brokeback - later on the place they go to for their
The whole flirting/sexual tension part was completely adorable - Jack's attempts to get Ennis interested (showing off on the horse, acting crazy after the rodeo comment, etc.) and Ennis's cautious interest in Jack and his wellbeing - and the scene where Ennis got drunk was so funny. Didn't anybody else think so? Anyway, first night was OMGWTFOWWWWW but the second night was very sweet and really, REALLY hot. I love how Jack's just back there in the tent getting ready to get sexed and Ennis is all "Do I go or not?" Then he finally does and Jack's achingly lovely and cuddly. The entire audience (comprised, oddly, largely of older straight couples as well as the mandatory gay boys and fag hags) who hadn't read the story (most of them) gasped collectively when Aguirre spotted them rasslin' (heh Xander quote!) through his binoculars. Couple girls actually cried out "No!" It made me LOL.
I love how the weather starts to close in on them and Brokeback becomes less welcoming after Aguirre sees them. The symbolism in the movie's amazing, particularly as it's probably the quietest movie I've ever seen. I think part of that is getting into Ennis's lonely head. The scene where Ennis turns on Jack and punches him is scary and powerful and reminds us of just how hard this all is for Ennis.
Anyway, there's a bit in the Ennis/Alma montage when Ennis puts snow on her head that's straight out of 10 Things I Hate About You, I swear. Blah de blah, boobs, and oh, JACK'S BACK!
And wow, what a welcome back he got. That kiss was - I mean, I've seen it around a lot, but the pics and gifs didn't match up to the lust and fire on screen. Holy hell. And another collective gasp as Alma saw them. The scene in the motel was by far the most loving scene in the movie between the two boys, I think.
I didn't like Alma as much as Lureen, who had some balls (I kept thinking about the whole "Texas women don't get older, they get blonder" deal.) I didn't think Michelle Williams was as good as all that either - I thought she was good but not enough to warrant all the attention she's getting. The brief moments Jack and Ennis get together are heartbreaking in themselves to me, because as Jack says, there's never enough time.
Jack driving across the country for Ennis when he got divorced was really the moment my heart broke in the movie. I could just see Jack breaking down inside when Ennis looked worriedly at that car and he knew things were never going to change, and the difference in his demeanor between when he's singing and smiling on the way down and then crying the whole way to Mexico to find an Ennis lookalike because Ennis will never, ever love Jack the way he wants...I died. (Remind me again why Jake isn't receiving the attention he DESERVES for this film?!) After that I was just broken for the rest of the movie, and Jack definitely took a bitter turn that made me :( Meanwhile, since Ennis just couldn't express himself, he ended up getting violent and even more reticent, which was also sad, but not quite as sad as the way Jack was shattered.
I LOVED Jack smacking down Lureen's dad, though, that was very cool. Not so much the ugly caterpillar that grew on his lip as he got older, though. Ennis, on the other hand, looked better as he got older. Why exactly was Cassie there? Bleurgh. I didn't mind Randall, Jack's new
The end was amazing and masterful and definitely made up for the slight drag I felt leading up to that point. Ennis's call to Lureen where both of them were nearly falling apart and Lureen makes that pivotal decision to let Ennis into Jack's life, Ennis's visit to the Twist house, Jack's mother (Jack's mother!!!) and the shirts. I love the significance of Ennis deciding to support his daughter because he knows she's in love and he could never be with Jack, and the shirts and postcard in the doorway...Also, the significance of the postcard making way for the little, grimy window of Ennis's caravan was not lost on me. Brokeback was the wolrd he could never get back, and the window was his new reality.
Does anybody really believe that Jack died by accident? There've been a few arguments about this on
wranglers but I just can't see how it could be anything but murder. That brief flash of Jack's face was really horrible, and it really just confirmed all of Ennis's fears. For me, in the end, what Ennis comes to realise is that the more he fought his true feelings the more trapped he became, and in the end he didn't save himself or Jack.Finally: no, I didn't catch Rufus's cameo. I'll look out for it when I go to the movie this Saturday in Sydney.
10 out of 10
Old brokeback got us good, huh?
Green Queen
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From:
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But yeah, I think it was murder too. It had to have been... And I agree with you about Jake needing to get more attention for his part.
And the silences and the cinematography... just wow.
And nothing is better than the really version of that kiss. ♥
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sexin'fishin' buddy, and he dances with Randall's wife. There's a cap here (http://community.livejournal.com/wranglers/507447.html?thread=6605879#t6605879).From:
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I can't understand why Jake isn't getting more praise either, I think his acting was awesome. Someone said that we're just used to Jake being so good :)
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I think part of it is that Ennis is a more showy, meaty role.
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One thing I noticed this tme around was that Jack seemed to be more aware of his sexuality from the beginning. You can see him giving Ennis looks that I'd not noticed before. I agree though that Jake should be more recognised for this flim, he is outstanding, especially the raw emotion he shows that Ennis can't express.
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Very sad.
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Sorry.
Sun
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Sorry.
Sun
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I'm adding you btw, hope that's cool xx
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Guess it would help if I read the short story!
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Also, by that stage it was actually the 80's. I reckon it was the police that fed Lureen that story - I don't think she bought it either, personally.
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Anyway I thought Michelle was excellent. Her expressions were truly worth a thousand words.
And yes... it got us good.
Sun
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The part where Jack catches Ennis with his lasso totally killed me. Almost as much as the 'like a horse' though I had some REAL difficulty even *understanding* most of the things that were said during that scene as well as then motel one. (Transcripts, anyone?)
And oh yes, definitely murder. I took it as murder when I read the story and I felt confirmed when I saw that part of the movie. 'Accident' might have been the official ruling, but I most definitely think it mas murder, especially after that whole part where Ennis talked about the man that was murdered when he was still a kid.
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Your review was wonderful, I couldn't get my thoughts in order to write anything that made sense. I agree, I get why everyone is praising Heath because he was perfect as Ennis but Jake managed to steal every scene and completely broke my heart.
I'm going to have to watch it again to pick up on the little moments, now I've seen it once I think I can rewatch again without bursting into tears =D
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The scene in the motel was by far the most loving scene in the movie between the two boys, I think.
haha that's what I said after seeing the movie... it was like, one of the best kiss ever of the history of cinema (I haven't seen all the movies of the history of cinema so... lol)
And I also said that the only thing I didn't like was Jack's moustache. Ugly ugly. He didn't need it to look older, come on!
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I was under the impression that what Lureen told Ennis about Jack's death was what she thought was the truth according to what the police told her, but that she had her doubts, especially in that moment of telling Ennis about it and realizing that Brokeback Mountain wasn't just a place, but a person Jack would go to. And that, while the tire iron scene was Ennis' imagination of the truth, that it was probably the real truth of Jack's death. I never thought it was anything other than murder, which is what makes it all the more sad.
I really should go see it again. Sara and Josh haven't seen it yet; I should see if they're planning on seeing it this weekend.
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I also agree that Jack was killed with the tire iron, but I don't think that what we're shown in that scene is what happened, I still think that was provided by Ennis's imagination. I appreciate that my view is coloured by reading the short story, though.
I'm seeing it with
And pudding.
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AMEN TO THAT. He was so ... ::incoherent hand motions::
Great big WORD to everything you said here. I hadn't noticed that about the mountain becoming more hostile after Aguirre intrudes on their idyll! Ooh. Such a good, good film. And I agree with you about Jack's death; I'm with Ennis when he thinks 'So it was the tire iron'. And just. Yes. What you said.
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Jake deserves a lot more than what he's gotten for this. Also, the gratuitous male nudity = HOT.
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Definitely!
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The whole flirting/sexual tension part was completely adorable - Jack's attempts to get Ennis interested (showing off on the horse, acting crazy after the rodeo comment, etc.) and Ennis's cautious interest in Jack and his wellbeing - and the scene where Ennis got drunk was so funny. Didn't anybody else think so?
LOL about the drunk scene. Yep, check out my icon by scary_lullabies (I'm no good at direct linking to other LJs. I loved the flirting stuff as well and can never understand when people say they didn't see any attraction between the two before the sex.
Anyway, first night was OMGWTFOWWWWW but the second night was very sweet and really, REALLY hot. I love how Jack's just back there in the tent getting ready to get sexed and Ennis is all "Do I go or not?" Then he finally does and Jack's achingly lovely and cuddly.
I agree. Though I'd add that I love the way Jake started thumping his hand on the ground during the sex scene because from what Ang has said, that wasn't one of his directions. I really adored the second tent scene especially the way Jack softly says "it's alright" a few times (and it's been said that Ennis says "I'm sorry" before that but I can't quite make it out.) Then the gently kissing while Jack's on top. I love the lighting in that scene. And just of interest is the slight string of spit that is between their mouths when they're pulling away from the first bit of kissing while sitting up. ;)
The scene where Ennis turns on Jack and punches him is scary and powerful and reminds us of just how hard this all is for Ennis.
I love that. Funnily enough my cousin couldn't figure out why Ennis was acting like that or why he was heaving/sobbing in the alley later and I had to explain it to him. I thought his pain at parting with Jack was pretty obvious anyway.
And wow, what a welcome back he got. That kiss was - I mean, I've seen it around a lot, but the pics and gifs didn't match up to the lust and fire on screen. Holy hell.
YES! Jack was so not expecting that kind of welcome. He probably thought they'd have to work up to that kind of touching but once he saw Ennis' eagerness, he definitely matched it.
The scene in the motel was by far the most loving scene in the movie between the two boys, I think.
I agree. The lighting was once again beautiful and the way they were just sitting together in post-sex tenderness and comfort really showed how much they loved each other. I don't know if you saw this interview with a producer but he agrees as well: http://towleroad.typepad.com/towleroad/2006/01/interview_with_.html
This is the direct quote he says: And not just the sex by the way. I really think the fixation on the sex part is kind of silly. For me, what is just as moving about the representation is the tenderness, you know, when they're cuddling in bed naked, and it's not even the sex, it's their physical comfort with each other. It's a lot easier to simulate sex than to have actors be in love and physically comfortable together. I know that I'm off the cultural radar in this way — nobody focuses on that — but to me when they're in the motel together and Jake's got his arm around Heath and they're just hanging out, I think that's a much more radical image than any kind of sexual situation.
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It really is ridiculous that Jake isn't getting the attention that Heath is. I mean Heath was perfect but Jake was just as perfect IMO. This part really struck me as well for all the reasons you mentioned especially the transition between happy singing and destroyed crying. This is so consistent throughout the movie as you mentioned. Jack as a younger man was so bouncy and full of life (something that first attracted the more closed Ennis to him) but then as we go further in the story, his whole way of holding himself is changed.
I didn't mind Randall, Jack's new sexin' buddy (and I liked LaShawn because she cracked me up)
I agree though the sad expression on Jack's face when Randall mentioned the cabin and "fishing" killed me. Especially because later in their standoff Ennis mentions having fun once in a cabin and I right away remembered Randall's comment and how it was most likely the same one.
that last confrontational scene between Jack and Ennis ("I wish I knew how to quit you") and the beautiful snuggly moment when Jack was falling asleep on his feet 'like a horse.' DEAD. Jack holding Ennis...augh. And then Jack watching Ennis drive away, particularly if you knew Jack was not long for this world - that was a really, really sad part for me.
Just reading about it gives me a lump in my throat. I love Jack's whole speech and I love how when Ennis breaks down and Jack holds him, Jack says "damn you Ennis" in a tone that is so frustrated but at the same time so emotional and loving. Ennis has been the one to say "if you can't fix it, you gotta stand it" and as he's on the ground with Jack, he says "I can't stand this anymore". Powerful stuff. Not to mention Jack saying the night before that "sometimes he misses Ennis so much he can hardly stand it". There's a lot of talk about how much each of them can "stand". I love the flashback. Ennis humming a lullaby from his youth is strangly intimate. The transition between the look on Jack's face in the flashback to present time is heartbreaking. This is what one reviewer says: "When the scene returns to the present, you see in this man's face a lifetime of hope blur together with a lifetime of disappointment, as well as the beginning of the lovers' end." In the flashback, Jack watches Ennis leave knowing that he was going to see Ennis later that night and he felt loved and hopeful for the future. Then later Jack is again watching Ennis leave but he has no idea what's going to happen anymore and 20 years of love and let down combining hasn't given him much hope anymore.
Ennis's call to Lureen where both of them were nearly falling apart and Lureen makes that pivotal decision to let Ennis into Jack's life, Ennis's visit to the Twist house, Jack's mother (Jack's mother!!!) and the shirts.
Just YES to all of this. The entire ending was really well done.
I'll just add one other bit, I love how so much is in what they don't say rather than in what they do. Like when they're sitting by the fire during their four year reunion and Jack asks what's so interesting up there and Ennis says he's just sending up a prayer of thanks. When Jack asks what for, Ennis pauses and says for Jack forgetting his harmonica, but the way he'd been so at home, it seemed obvious to me at least that he was talking about so much more than that.
Anyway, hope you don't mind my long ramble. This movie really hit me hard.
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I appreciate the subtlety in the unspoken subtext of the film as well - it was a movie that the audience has to really *watch* and appreciate. With the music and the performances, as well as with the use of scenery, you almost don't need words to get into the heads of the characters. Beautiful.