Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Why not read the original short story by Annie Proulx?
Jack_ME:
--- Quote from: donnaread on March 18, 2006, 12:07:10 pm ---
--- Quote from: iristarr on March 18, 2006, 03:48:59 am ---Jack, so much appreciated your posts on BBM - the film, vs. the story. Many good points raised. I have surely enjoyed the process in which this film engaged me -- the symbols and metaphors, the analyses, the comparisons, the studies of the tiniest, most subtle gestures, glances, words. All of this has been entirely new to me, this intense interest in one particular film, to which I return again and again. Never ever happened before in my life. This afternoon I saw it for the eleventh time, not to check out any particular detail or effect, but just to bask in it, to revel its beauty and sadness. I likened the experience to having a really excellent meal, or a wonderful deep massage, or totally gratifying sex, something one is called back to revisit time after time after time. What a gift it is! And I thank you for contributing to my deepening understanding. Iris
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Iris, I know what you mean about never feeling like this about a movie before. It is the same for me. Never have I wanted to sit and just absorb every sound, word, gesture, facial expression....EVERYTHING about his beautiful movie. It is in my heart and has affected my whole being. I almost never buy movies. One I can't afford many, and two I live in a small place, and don't have room for a lot of "stuff", lol, and most of mu stuff is furniture and books! The only two movies I ever bought are AS GOOD AS IT GETS (some homosexual characters, starring Jack Nicholson & Helen Hunt), and FINDING FORRESTER (friendship between a black teenager and a middle aged man played by Sean Connery). Awesome movies that I've watched so much that I know the dialogue, lol. But NOTHING has ever touched me the way BBM has. It haunts my every waking moment...just wish I could dream about it, too, ha ha. I've really enjoyed your posts. Donna
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Iris, Donna, and all,
I too know just what you mean.
It is truly amazing how there has been such interest in and intense analysis of every aspect of this film's characters' lives and motivations. And what is the most amazing part, and the indication that this film is a real masterpiece, is that the film STANDS UP to this intense examination! Too many films I've seen don't bear close examination. There is either nothing there worthwhile to learn, or what one learns is that the film actually lacks any cohesive integrity of character. Not BBM! A real work or art.
Jack in Maine
PS: Donna, I just have to ask, is your user ID, actually your name, or does it mean something else, or is it possibly a trbute to another Donna Reed? The TV show was great, but several of her film roles were truly wonderful...I love D.R.! SHE would have been great in a film like BBM. She had that "genuine human" quality. (Way off topic again! sorry)
juneaux:
--- Quote from: Jack_ME on March 17, 2006, 10:28:08 pm ---
--- Quote from: juneaux on March 09, 2006, 08:49:47 pm ---
(By the way, the expression on her face when he agrees to attend her wedding makes my heart soar. Not just for the characters either. I see it as a testament to the ability of humans to learn from our mistakes and to make a conscious effort NOT to repeat them.)
--- End quote ---
Juneaux, this scene is so great!
I love the change in Junior's face from sadness to joy, and how that actress acomplished that so wonderfully with barely even moving her head, just changing her facial expression. It's great!
It had real resonance for me, because I saw that same wonderful change of expression on my Dad's face when I finally had my first REAL talk with him face to face. We had had a difficult relationship, and though I do have some small isolated pleasant moments from my childhood with him, in general we never spoke and I tried to avoid him. I left home at age 13 for school, and finally for good at age 17, and over the next decade analyzed and examined my relationship with Dad and gradually understood why and how it was that way, and finally realized I needed to speak to him, and so I did. After many aborted attempts. When I was 27 years old I sat across the table from him and I told him for the first time in my life that I loved him and that I was proud to be his son. I will never forget the change in his expression. (he had been a bit nervous as I had announced I was coming and needed to speak to him privately) But when I said that I loved him.....his face grew such an enormous wide smile from ear to ear. His faced changed just like Junior's did when Ennis told her he would go to her wedding. It's my greatest memory of Dad.
I also "reminded" my Dad at that talk that I was homosexual and I asked him if he knew what that meant. For me it was just important to say that to him, especially in the context of telling him I loved him and was proud to be his son. He and I only had about 10 years left, and only about 7 of those to communicate, as he got ill with Parkinson's and deteriorated badly over the last 3 years. But I have my memory, and I know I gave him something wonderful too. If I had to pick one accomplishment from my life that I was proudest of, it would be that moment and giving to my Dad the love he deserved, and opening up to him, so I could receive from him the love I deserved.
(this is way off topic! Sorry! Phillip feel free to move it to a Personal Blog space if you feel it should be)
Jack in Maine
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Jack, It is wonderful that you have shared these times with your father. Mom passed 5 1/2 years ago and it amazes me that the memories that mean the most are the ones in which we genuinely share with each other. True emotional connections are rare for me~ maybe that is why this movie and short story have so much of my attention.
iristarr:
Donna, I really enjoyed hearing from you. I have to say this will be the first time in my life I've ever bought a DVD/Video. Although I've always loved going to the movies, I've never studied one in the way I am doing with BBM, and it makes me curious now about other films that I liked at the time and what several viewings might reveal about them. Also I'm hoping to find a class or group that exists to view and discuss films. To that end I just last night signed up with Netflix, so I could view Ang Lee's previous work, and see Jake and Heath in other roles. Looking forward to seeing TransAmerica tomorrow. Peace, Iris
donnaread:
--- Quote from: iristarr on March 20, 2006, 02:57:59 am ---Donna, I really enjoyed hearing from you. I have to say this will be the first time in my life I've ever bought a DVD/Video. Although I've always loved going to the movies, I've never studied one in the way I am doing with BBM, and it makes me curious now about other films that I liked at the time and what several viewings might reveal about them. Also I'm hoping to find a class or group that exists to view and discuss films. To that end I just last night signed up with Netflix, so I could view Ang Lee's previous work, and see Jake and Heath in other roles. Looking forward to seeing TransAmerica tomorrow. Peace, Iris
--- End quote ---
Hi Iris, thanks for the kind words. I used to be a movie fanatic. Love them to death, but since BBM I'm obsessed with it and ONLY it. I saw it in the theater yesterday evening for the 9th time. I am wondering how long it will be before the glow wears off and I'll be able to enjoy other movies again. BUT, "There ain't no reins on this one" and I'm going to ride it as long as I can ;D. I've been trying to see Jake and Heath's previous movies too. Heath was really good (so sad, again) in Monster's Ball, and been trying to rent Jarhead, but it is always out, lol. The only other obsession I've ever had is the Beatles and that was a long, long time ago. Donna
iristarr:
Donna, I know what you mean about not wanting to see any other movies right now -- it seems almost sacreligious, in a way; as though doing so would pollute the pure emotions we've all been having on BBM.(Although I must confess I took a couple of my grandkids to see Shaggy Dog a couple of weekends ago!) That said, I'm at the same time getting excited about seeing particular films now, like TransAmerica, that deal with gender issues, and other gay-themed films. Things that thread off from the BBM experience. Have you seen Angels in America, BTW? Another magnificent ground-breaker.
Nice to be getting to know you, Donna. Peace, Iris
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