This might be of some interest to some folks around here. A film critic who I respect and admire very much as a critic and writer, by the name of David Ehrenstein, unfortunately has expressed nothing but distaste for
Brokeback Mountain; he even trivialized the literary quality of Annie Proulx's original story. So there's no secret here that Mr. Ehrenstein was not moved in any way by the extraordinary kisses we see between Jack and Ennis on the screen.
Mr. Ehrenstein is an active member of an online discussion group devoted to discourse on film from an auteurist perspective, called A_Film_By, whose message boards are accessible to non-members as well. This last June 16th, Ehrenstein responded to a fellow member's invitation to cite one's ten favorite screen kisses from old films. I found his list quite interesting, and others might enjoy seeing it as well. I copy it here as it appears in Mr. Ehrenstein's original post (
note: The discussion group in which this post appears can be accessed at the following URL:
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/a_film_by/):
'1. Alain Delon and Alain Delon in "Plein Soleil"
2. Luke and Harry Treadaway in "Brothers of the Head"
3. Peter Finch and Murray Head in "Sunday Bloody Sunday"
4. Allen Midgette and Dingham in "****(Four Stars)"
5. Tom Dillow and (unidentified) in "Amphetamine"
6. James Stewart and Kim Novak in "Vertigo"
7. Adriana Asti and the actor who played the younger brother in the last scene of "Before the Revolution"
8. Jane Birkin and Marushka Detmers in "La Pirate."
9. Rupert Everett and Carey Elwes in "Another Country."
10. Steven Waddington and Andrew Tiernan in "Edward II."'
Scott