Brokeback Mountain -- Not a review.

Films/DVD Asylum

Movies from comedy to drama to your favorite Hollyweird Star.

What can one say about a movie -- or TV show -- where a character
leaves his beer unfinished on the table? Seriously, does anyone in
Real Life (as opposed to reel life) ever engage in that sad bit of
business? Yet one sees this all the time, on screen. Where do these
people come from? What point is their director trying to make?
Leaving a paid-for brewski??
Similar instances populate Brokeback Mountain. In another scene the
paterfamilias obviously doesn't know how to carve a turkey, despite
having claimed the privilege, and when the son-in-law takes over --
well, he's no better. A later instance elsewhere with an electric
knife displays further boobery, in the hunting country of Wyoming.
Why do directors and writers so often do that? I mean, this low sort
of humor?
The photography of the West is gorgeous, but the director fails to
ever let our gaze rest on the magnificence; it's MTV western.
The music is mostly minimal -- a few well-placed guitar chords --
but in the Big Scene the strings swell up to underline -- I would
say "obscure" -- the dramatic effect already achieved by the actors.
On the other hand, the soundtrack has some convincing storm effects
and I'm glad to say the sound system of the indie theatre I went to
yesterday was fully capable of conveying them. Very impressive, as
the loudest part of the film by far. Dynamic range trumps open
range!
Also the crowd scenes are magnificently handled.
The biggest problem is Jake Gyllenhaal. Loved him in October Sky.
Donnie Darko. Jarhead. Still a fine actor, but way too good
looking. In the Annie Proulx short story, which I read in 1997,
both men were specifically described as towards the homely side.
Not our Jake. Still, the look in his eyes when he realizes... well,
I'll leave that for later audiences.
The main flaw in the movie (the long slow pitch, now the fast
curve) is the lack of chemistry between Jake and Heath Ledger. One
hears that said of the normal heterosexual couple on screen and one
knows exactly what is meant by it. Plain and simple, these two
actors didn't have sexual chemistry -- well, what do you expect? --
and so I never believed for a moment in their affair.
And there's where a writer has the upper hand; she can gaze into
her characters' interiority and bring it off. In fact the story
wastes little time in getting around to the guys' first bit in the
tent and it seems very natural; Ang Lee dwells on the idyllic for
perhaps half an hour while the audience, fully clued in already,
shouts to themselves, "So get it on, guys!"
Yet I highly enjoyed the movie overall. Why? Because Heath Ledger
turns in one of the greatest acting jobs in recent memory. He is
totally convincing, and moving. His finale may break your heart.
I'll give him the academy award right now.
clark
PS These guys, by the way, are neither "gay" nor "cowboys". Banish
those thoughts.

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Topic - Brokeback Mountain -- Not a review. - clarkjohnsen 10:19:59 12/27/05 (6)

Re: Brokeback Mountain -- Not a review. - Revolver66 07:57:25 01/02/06 (1)

I still think it was an ill-chosen attempt at low humor. nt - clarkjohnsen 16:37:53 01/03/06 (0)

But does it validate everything we've been told about sheepherders? nt - DWPC 11:49:09 12/28/05 (1)

It was all news to me! nt - clarkjohnsen 12:36:46 12/28/05 (0)

I'm relieved that they do not have a "chemistry" between them. * - mr grits 13:48:04 12/27/05 (1)

But aren't you supposed to *act* that stuff?... nt - clarkjohnsen 14:10:47 12/27/05 (0)

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