Jeff, I think Heath, and every one associated with BBM would feel honored that the work inspires such passion. A lesser work would be ignored!
I'm not quite sure how to take this comment.
I don't want to read too much into it, but quite frankly I feel vaguely like I'm being accused of something, but I'm not exactly sure what. That I don't know that the film makers, cast included, know that
Brokeback Mountain has inspired passion in its fans?
Nobody, me included, said anything about ignoring the film, nor about no longer discussing it. And I certainly didn't say that there was anything wrong with the passion the film has inspired. Nor would I say there is anything wrong with continuing to discuss Heath's artistry or his performance. But in light of the sobering slap of reality of Heath's death, some of the things that have been discussed--argued--about the characters of this film over the past two years no longer seem to matter to me. And to continue to argue over issues such as as the old debate over whether Ennis and Jack were gay or bisexual, for example, just doesn't seem right to me. It just seems somehow disrespectful and maybe even a bit vulgar.
But by all means we should honor Heath by continuing to admire his performance and his artistry. I never said we shouldn't.