Brokeback Mountain

[The Little Merman]

As some of you may have noticed, I am extremely excited for the upcoming Brokeback Mountain, which is being released on December 9, 2005.

Mountain tells the story of forbidden love in the form of two male ranch-hands - Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal). The two meet while sheepherding on the majestic mountain of the title, and delve into a love affair with both in denial of their sexuality. Eventually they part ways. Four years later, both men are married and have children. Jack then goes to see Ennis and they cannot help but rekindle their intense fire for each other...

I'm not going to reveal any further the plot, however I can tell you that this film based on Annie Proulx's masterpiece short-story, is going to be one of the best movies this year. This story is undeniably beautiful and heartbreaking, and I cannot wait to see how it unfolds on the big screen.

For one, the cast is brilliant. Ledger has been recieving absolutley rave reviews and is a front runner in the Academy Awards for Best Actor. Gyllenhaal is getting just as equal praise, as well as Michelle Williams who portrays Ennis's wife, Alma.

I would like to say is that regardless of your sexual preferences, you should try to see this film. I am not a homosexual, but, I am a movie-goer and cannot express how wonderful this story is. It is not a "gay cowboy flick", it is a love story.

**Note - Brokeback Mountain has been rated R by the Motion Picture Association of American for "Sexuality, Nudity, Language, and Some Violence"

*tlm

[MadonnasManOne]

I can't wait to see this!

It looks very good, and I love to see love stories.

[Prince Eric]

This movie is actually considered a frontrunner for the Best Picture Academy Award. It has had absolutely nothing but wonderful comments from all the festivals it has played at since Toronto way back in September. I already know in my heart that it will be a great movie, because who's the director? The great Ang Lee, of course. He's one of the best director alive in my opinion, and the Academy has already proven that they love him. (He's had two of his movies garner Best Picture nominations in the past 10 years - Sense and Sensibility and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - a rarity for someone whose name isn't Clint Eastwood or Martin Scorcese.)

I just about gag at Brokeback Mountain's unique production values every time I see the trailer. It's not everyday that you see gorgeous ranch landscape (art direction) caught in a sweeping, epic lens (cinematography) with the major players dolled up in awesome cowboy gear (costume design).

If Steven Spielberg wins Best Director again for Munich, I'll gag. He's won two times already for war related movies. THere should be a limit on stuff like that. Give it to Ang Lee who produces wonderful film after wonderful film. That's my FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION shout-out of 2006 after Memoirs of a Geisha.

[Luke]

I already know in my heart that it will be a great movie, because who's the director? The great Ang Lee, of course. He's one of the best director alive in my opinion, and the Academy has already proven that they love him.

That <i>Hulk</i> was pretty amazing!

[PatrickvD]

I already know in my heart that it will be a great movie, because who's the director? The great Ang Lee, of course. He's one of the best director alive in my opinion, and the Academy has already proven that they love him.

That <i>Hulk</i> was pretty amazing!

lol, let's just say every great director has to make at least one really bad movie. Ang Lee is forgiven for the craptasticness that was The Hulk

[Prince Eric]

That <i>Hulk</i> was pretty amazing!

lol, let's just say every great director has to make at least one really bad movie. Ang Lee is forgiven for the craptasticness that was The Hulk

I don't know if Luke's comment is meant to be ironic, but I think The Hulk was simply misunderstood by critics and audiences. The Hulk is a unique comic book series in that it's completely psychological. He's not a hero, but he's not the bad guy, either. Ang Lee did a commendable job trying to make the comic book-movie genre artsy and intelligent. He should have played by the genre rules, though, in regards to pacing and special effects: in other words, make sure it goes 100 mph and all you see is the work of FX team. The Hulk was very resonant and deeply invested in its characters and the special effects were good in my opinion. I was sold for good two hours of fun. Is Hulk a great film? No, but I think it terms of summer blockbusters, it's really good.

[The Little Merman]

lol, let's just say every great director has to make at least one really bad movie. Ang Lee is forgiven for the craptasticness that was The Hulk

I don't know if Luke's comment is meant to be ironic, but I think The Hulk was simply misunderstood by critics and audiences. The Hulk is a unique comic book series in that it's completely psychological. He's not a hero, but he's not the bad guy, either. Ang Lee did a commendable job trying to make the comic book-movie genre artsy and intelligent. He should have played by the genre rules, though, in regards to pacing and special effects: in other words, make sure it goes 100 mph and all you see is the work of FX team. The Hulk was very resonant and deeply invested in its characters and the special effects were good in my opinion. I was sold for good two hours of fun. Is Hulk a great film? No, but I think it terms of summer blockbusters, it's really good.

Agreed.

Anyways..back on the subject of Brokeback, I really hope it takes the Oscar home. I suddenly cannot stand all of this crap about it's controversy - "Oh, it won't win because the Academy is too conservative" If that is so true, I would love for them to grow a pair and let a movie win because it is an amazing film, not because Spielberg got "snubbed" for Saving Private Ryan. The one thing that I hate is pity votes. "Oh Jamie Foxx will win because Ray Charles just died" I don't care who died and who lived! If Foxx gave a tremendous performance, than that justifies the win, if not, pitying a dead musician and giving an actor playing that musician who gave a craptastic performance is just total b-s.

Sorry..I just needed to rant

*tlm

[SofaKing381222]

Hey! I loved HULK. I kept wondering why everyone said it was terrible. I thought it was one of the better movies of 2003.

[Prince Eric]

I don't think the controversial aspects will affect it that much this year. All the big Oscar movies up to this point have failed or floundered at the box-office. (Kingdom of Heaven, Elizabethtown, Cinderella Man, Broken Flowers, Rent)

[The Little Merman]

Well, I opened my mailbox today and recieved the new copy of 'Entertainment Weekly'. But, it was not just any, it was with Brokeback Mountain featured on the cover! The article is entitled "Western Union" and is quite lengthy, and informative. To anyone who would like to learn more about the film, I highly recommend going out and getting a copy!

*tlm

[castleinthesky]

I don't think the controversial aspects will affect it that much this year. All the big Oscar movies up to this point have failed or floundered at the box-office. (Kingdom of Heaven, Elizabethtown, Cinderella Man, Broken Flowers, Rent)

And you can add Jarhead and possibly Geisha on that list.

[The Little Merman]

And you can add Jarhead and possibly Geisha on that list.

Sadly, I must agree that Jarhead will not be nominated for any major cats . However, I wouldn't be so quick to assume Memoirs of a Geisha will fail as horribly at the B.O.

*tlm

[castleinthesky]

And you can add Jarhead and possibly Geisha on that list.

Sadly, I must agree that Jarhead will not be nominated for any major cats . However, I wouldn't be so quick to assume Memoirs of a Geisha will fail as horribly at the B.O.

*tlm

But right now Geisha isn't getting the best reviews at rottentomatoes, but that can always change.

[The Little Merman]

Sadly, I must agree that Jarhead will not be nominated for any major cats . However, I wouldn't be so quick to assume Memoirs of a Geisha will fail as horribly at the B.O.

*tlm

But right now Geisha isn't getting the best reviews at rottentomatoes, but that can always change.

Agreed. However, one thing we all know is that Geisha is a solid for many of the techies- Makeup, Costume Design, Score etc.

*tlm

[Disney-Fan]

Well, I haven't heard about it up until now, but it sounds really good! I'll check out the trailer. This sounds like my kind of movie! I'll probably go see it thanks to your post.

[The Little Merman]

Well, I haven't heard about it up until now, but it sounds really good! I'll check out the trailer. This sounds like my kind of movie! I'll probably go see it thanks to your post.

Huzzah! I highly recommend reading Annie Proulx's short-story first, just to get the feel of the film. It is available in Close Range, her collection of Western stories, and it is also in a hard-cover (Original cover) and soft-cover (Movie Tie-In cover)...

*tlm

[Disney-Fan]

If I get my hands on the book, I'll most definetely read before seeing it.
On a related note, I saw the trailer, and I must say it looks amazing. Can't believe I overlooked a gem like this!

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

I already know in my heart that it will be a great movie, because who's the director? The great Ang Lee, of course. He's one of the best director alive in my opinion, and the Academy has already proven that they love him.

That <i>Hulk</i> was pretty amazing!

I like you!

Yeah the Hulk was pretty bad! It's the worst adapted Marvel film to date! (Yes, that includes Howard the Duck )

As for this film, I actually never heard of it until now, but the fact that it was directed by Ang Lee tuned me out because, well, am I the only one who thought <i>Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon</i> was overhyped!

[Prince Eric]

That <i>Hulk</i> was pretty amazing!

I like you!

Yeah the Hulk was pretty bad! It's the worst adapted Marvel film to date! (Yes, that includes Howard the Duck )

As for this film, I actually never heard of it until now, but the fact that it was directed by Ang Lee tuned me out because, well, am I the only one who thought <i>Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon</i> was overhyped!

You're also the only person on this board I can truly say has bad taste in movies.

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

You're also the only person on this board I can truly say has bad taste in movies.

Fine you can diss me all you like, you're not the first one, I just didn't like all those people flying around, just not my taste!