Brokeback Mountain

[motorcityboy]

Disclaimer, (under all the present day BS, I'm a romantic.) I'm sure this has been covered countless times on this site, but , Brokeback Mountain was on TV again tonight ,and that movie ALWAYS effects, for a different reason every time.
I'm sure everyone knows of the moving performance by Health ledger, which was amazing, but this time , Jake Gyllenhaal's performance was heartbreaking . If you watch it from Jack's/ Jake's point of view and the underlining male bonding between Jake and Health , it is was really one of the sadest love stories , in years.
If only ???? :-( Seems like my life story :frown1
The movie speaks volumes , if you really take the time and are honest with ourselves .In this current day and time ,
It's just a deep , honest look at A LOT of untold stories , many from this site . I guess it's just me??
Any way back to the hot porn and hot chat :biggrin1:

 

[NoH8]

So true motorcityboy, I feel the same and have watched it a couple of times. I need to be in the right mood, as you say, but it always affects me each time. Unlike other movies the repeat viewings are even more powerful, because I see the deeper meaning in the story.

Jack's story was one of the saddest love stories I have ever seen, but so beautiful. I got a crush on Jake G from this movie and I still adore him. Also I feel very strongly for the two women in their lives as well. This is another thing that became more evident on later viewings. The lead actresses performances were brilliant as well.

Thanks for reminding me of a beautiful movie. I first saw it with two lesbian friends who both really enjoyed it, I wonder how straight men and women feel about it? Is the love story universal?

 

[D_Rosalind Mussell]

I cry every time I see the movie, and I've seen it plenty. Ennis putting Jack's shirt to his face at the end is my undoing, it never fails. One of my favorite movies of all time.

 

[flame boy]

I don't want to be "that guy" but the short story the movie is based on really conveys Jack's desperation for them to be together. It's only about 40 pages, worth a read if you enjoyed the movie.

Whenever I watch Brokeback I tend to end up feeling the same way, a mixture of sadness and happiness. I'm sad that Enis and Jack could/would never allow themselves to be together properly. Camping trips and short fishing holidays were all they would allow themselves as they thought/knew they would face problems if they lived together and started a life with eachother. That part always makes me sad that two people who loved each other wouldn't permit themselves to be together. Yet at the same time I am also happy because they did find each other and they both knew they were truly loved. It's bittersweet.

It's a great movie, I'm going to re-watch it.

 

[BigDallasDick8x6]

Anyone familiar with the movie Making Love? A similar story at a high level. Married guy starts having sex with other guys and tell his wife he wants a divorce. She tries to save the marriage but he won't go for it so she cannot be with the man she wants. They had a great marriage and you hate to see them break up.

 

[midlifebear]

The short story, Brokeback Mountain, is only about 13 pages (maybe a few more). The author is Annie Proulx (pronounced "prool"). Do all of yourselves a favor and buy the paperback Close Range: Wyoming Stories a collection of fine work in which Brokeback Mountain appears.

She's an astonishingly good American Author and there is more packed into those 13+ pages than in two hours of film. It's amazing how closely the film reflects the actual prose in the short story.

 

[Bbucko]

As well produced and acted as Brokeback Mountain was, it is yet another in a long line of "gay stories" in which the plot hinges on death. Seriously: why is it that very nearly every piece of gay cinema requires a martyr/sacrificial lamb?

I've only seen it once, and that was in a theater; I cried and cringed on cue as required. It's a great film and believe that it's essentially required viewing, but I sit here in the hopes that some day I'll enjoy a film of that quality of production and acting about a serious topic without the need to kill someone off to turn a profit.

 

[NoH8]

Bravo Bbucko, take a bow!

 

[flame boy]

There are plenty of gay or gay themed movies which don't end in tragedy it's just that they don't tend to go mainstream. Also when these type of movies do come around they are quickly dismissed as being so idealistic and not a reflection of true gay life. Gay cinema is vast and very diverse, you just have to be willing to scratch more than the surface.

Mainstream hollywood does seem to have the idea that gay themed films are fine and dandy as long as it's a heartbreaking story. Brokeback for me remains one of my favourite movies both visually and for the wonderful writing, acting and production.

 

[tim36]

This movie is one of the most heartwrenching movies of lovers in my opinion, each time I watch it even though I know the ending, I hope they could get together, but of course they dont. This and the movie Love Story depending on the mood im in, I could feel my eyes welling with tears or a lump in my throat each time.

 

[B_VinylBoy]

As well produced and acted as Brokeback Mountain was, it is yet another in a long line of "gay stories" in which the plot hinges on death. Seriously: why is it that very nearly every piece of gay cinema requires a martyr/sacrificial lamb?

I've only seen it once, and that was in a theater; I cried and cringed on cue as required. It's a great film and believe that it's essentially required viewing, but I sit here in the hopes that some day I'll enjoy a film of that quality of production and acting about a serious topic without the need to kill someone off to turn a profit.

I remember seeing this in the theatre, completely understanding the message, and still not be able to get terribly emotional. The story of "forbidden love" has been told many times, but this was one of the first major films to do it with gay characters and receive such critical success. I can't knock on the quality of the film, but in some ways I still found it hard to connect with it. My partner was crying at the end and thought I was being senseless since I couldn't find myself to shed one tear. In fact, he was a little put off that many people in the audience (most were gay since this was in a theatre right in the middle of Chelsea) were giggling at certain points of the film. I tried to tell him that it wasn't ridicule more than it was a "nervous laughter" since many gay men have had to live through similar scenarios with past relationships, coming to terms that at some time they were once the guy falling in love with the other man who is either married or in another "committed" relationship, most likely without the death scene at the end.

Personally, I think movies like "Gypsy 83", "Transamerica" and even "The Kids Are Alright" manage to touch on sensitive LGBT subjects without going to such emotional extremes to spark reactions. If given a choice of flick to show someone who is contemplating their sexuality, I'd be more inclined to show him or her any of these three flicks before going to Brokeback Mountain. But if we did movie night, I'm sure you could come up with some really good ones. :wink:

 

[august86]

Brokeback for me remains one of my favourite movies both visually and for the wonderful writing, acting and production.

The scenery had me totally captivated thoughout. A commendable performance, indeed. I actually forgot it was a "gay" film, because that's really not what it was about for me. :love:

 

[silvertriumph2]

Yeah, I saw it the other night also...for the umpteenth time. Every time I see it I see and take something new away from it. I am always deeply affected. But then, I am a very emotional guy and don't hide it...

I have to agree that even thought the movie has so much to offer....beautiful scenery as well as the over lapping plots and feelings of all the characters (including the heartbreak and disillusionment of the wives, to the relationships of Jack and his daughter, to that of Ennis and his parents...the short story is quite powerful in itself. Everyone should read it if they have the chance, for they will come away with a slightly different, but complimentary attitude.

I love the film, even though it is one that has that unhappy ending. I have great empathy for Ennis, but probably more so for Jack because I feel he was BI and believe I personally know of those feeling he seemed to have.

I hope some day m/m relationships will be treated in all ways, as are staight one and it will be reflected in the movies....not just those Indy ones that are very seldom seen or easily available in movie houses and on tv..

 

[NCbear]

The first time I saw it, I cried. Really, I felt so sorry for the characters.

But then I moved toward Bbucko's reaction with a smattering of "This isn't the 1950s! Why does every good gay love affair have to end in tragedy??"

What I'd like to see is a romance between two men or two women (or even both in the same movie; wouldn't that be remarkable??) that shows them feeling the freedom to hold hands, hug each other, and canoodle (not to the point where you'd shout "Get a room!" but to the point where you'd say "Aw, isn't that sweet?") in public. That would truly be revolutionary--and it's long past overdue, IMHO.

The closest thing to it that I've seen is Big Eden, where everyone in the small Western country town knows the big-city artist who's come home to care for his ailing father is gay--and everyone soon learns that the owner/manager of the local general store is also gay, and very interested in the artist. They all treat the two the same as they would any couple falling in love in public.

But yes, I want more movies like that. Not--forgive me, but NOT--Brokeback Mountain.

NCbear (who hopes y'all understand that I'm not anti-Brokeback; I just want more positive images of LGBTITQ people being loving with each other in public--and I want those stories to work out positively, sort of "and they lived happily ever after" :smile

 

[silvertriumph2]

I agree with NC Bear that...Big Eden is the closest pic and the best example of what can be done by the movie industry, where real life
situations (with a mixture of ALL emotions), is shown.
Big Eden is one of my favorite pics and one I have on cd and watch 3 or 4 times a year. I want more like it....:yup: It's a "Feel Good Movie."

 

[B_Hung Jon]

Thanks so much for creating this thread. I would say that the whole film moved me beyond words. I don't think it's about gay guys who don't get to live a happy life together. For me it's about how deeply profound and life-altering a love between two people can be. "Love is a force of nature". And personally, BBM enabled me to understand my own feelings for my closest male friend. It got me in touch with how vulnerable and open guys can be toward each other, and that loving is the most natural thing in the world. Heath Ledger is so beautiful in the film. I've never seen any other guy in a movie express those feelings before in such an honest way. He was really breath-taking to watch. This film changed my life.

 

[DavidXL]

Brokeback Mountain had a profound affect on me. I saw it 3 times in the theater, and it really just haunted me. I had had crushes on guys before, but very little sexual experience and no same-sex emotional connections, since my primary focus and interests were in women. As ignorant as it sounds, it was really the first time it had occurred to me that love between 2 men could really be powerful and beautiful and meaningful. It opened up my mind, lead me to seek out other gay-themed films and, eventually, books.

Seeing Brokeback Mountain was probably the first of a number of steps that ultimately made me greatly value the 1/4 of me I consider gay rather than thinking it a troublesome distraction, which I did for many years.

 

[silvertriumph2]

Brokeback Mountain had a profound affect on me. I saw it 3 times in the theater, and it really just haunted me. I had had crushes on guys before, but very little sexual experience and no same-sex emotional connections, since my primary focus and interests were in women. As ignorant as it sounds, it was really the first time it had occurred to me that love between 2 men could really be powerful and beautiful and meaningful. It opened up my mind, lead me to seek out other gay-themed films and, eventually, books.

Seeing Brokeback Mountain was probably the first of a number of steps that ultimately made me greatly value the 1/4 of me I consider gay rather than thinking it a troublesome distraction, which I did for many years.

Your last sentence was so powerful....and is exactly what I think the movie was trying to say...thank you for putting it into words...