It's no longer enough just to have seen it, though I certainly rate people who at least gave it a shot over those who refuse/aren't interested. You have to have seen it and been moved by it. I don't care if you're a bonafide Brokie or not - even just one viewing, as long as it haunts you, is good enough.
Am I a sick puppy, or what?
Well, from another sick puppy, the answer has to be no!
I am somewhat like you, I cannot feel
really close to people (even my formerly close friends) if they haven't given it a shot, or if they didn't like the film, or thought it was "ok".
I remember a similar thread on IMDb in the heyday of the BBM boards there, and mormojo (Scott) and I posted things along these lines:
"I am still processing, still trying to understand what I am going through; it feels like a spiritual experience, a spiritual awakening " (and this is from one agnostic bordering on atheism!). I am still not sure why we are like this, but our very souls certainly have been touched in a quasi spiritual way.
Someone earlier in this thread said maybe we were "chosen", in order to meet on these boards. This atheist gone barmy tends to think this theory is perfectly plausible!
All I know is that 10 months later (to the day), I am still utterly in love with the movie, with Jack and Ennis, and wondering whether this feeling will ever change; it might be altered somewhat once I have finally done what Annie said we were supposed to do (finish the story in our own real lives), but I do not think I will ever fall out of love with BBM. I have indeed been "awakened" from a boring slumber mixed with a lack of truthfulness about what I want in life and who I am (Ennis-style), and for that I will always cherish Brokeback Mountain.
God that was pretty intense and serious stuff, (hope it didn't sound too pompous) but it felt good to say it: I LOVE THIS FILM.