I really had no idea if Brokeback would be within the AFI Top 100 Movies of All Time. Quite honestly, I did not think it would be, but all the way up to number 1 I did keep watching and hoping. Of course, I would have thought I had landed on another planet if Brokeback would have been announced the #1 movie. Although, in my mind, and I know in so many other people's minds there is no other movie that has ever had this type of impact. If I am wrong about that someone please correct me. The quote from loneleeb3 cannot be better expressed by me. That quote is:
"BBM is ....I don't know, almost magical. It slapped me in the face and showed me what my life is, what it could have been and what I can now make of it. It took away any excuses that I have been hiding behind all these years. For me, it is so much more than just a movie,a work of art or fiction. For me it is a signpost in life pointing me in the direction i need to be going."
I think so many of us feel this same exact way. There are other movies I like, but more in an entertainment way, not in a life awakening and changing way like Brokeback. I never meant for Brokeback to leave that kind of impression on me. When I first saw it, I had no idea that I would be a different person at the end of the movie. I had no idea that the movie would bring out emotions in me that I never knew I had. I had no idea that words, music or anything else from the move would continue to this day to bring tears to me. I thought it was just going to be a movie and that was all. I had no idea that suddenly I would be out buying everything Brokeback, reading about everything Brokeback, finding out everything I could about Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal as well as Annie and everyone else involved in the book and movie, and the list goes on.
I certainly had no idea I would end up with friends from all over the United States and the World who felt the same impact as I did from Brokeback. What then becomes amazing is that the people who I have met and talked with are really not the same type of people who I have known as friends before. There is a distinct quality to all of the Brokies I know of and that is regardless of what forum they happen to belong to. There is an acceptance of people for who they are regardless of what that may be. There is an openness to thoughts and to other people's ideas. There is not hostility when someone expresses a differing viewpoint. Even if there is a misunderstanding of some type it seems that whatever that was just drifts away quickly with the type of feeling of whatever caused it is not worth thinking about anymore. Those types of bonds and friendships are quite unusual. At least in my life they are and I would be willing to bet there are several people reading this right now who feel the same. There certainly is not a certain sexual orientation that is the main part of this group since we are well represented male and female, gay and straight. I am well aware that we do not have a lot of straight male open Brokies, but that may be more of a societal issue. Closet Brokies, what a concept
I don't know really know about that one. It does not appear that we have a lot of gay female Brokies; however, I am completely uncertain about that and if that is the case I have no idea why that would be.
Something that comes to mind is the roadtrip at the BBQ. We had 18 people (I think that is the number) all embarked on a two day non stop journey through Wyoming. The round trip mileage from what I remember Fritz saying was over 1200 miles. All 18 of us completely and totally had to be around each other and put up with each other constantly. You sure don't want to get lost in Wyoming
All kinds of things happened to us, but we had fun and nobody choked anyone even during the bed hoping
Anything that would fray anyone's nerves, which did happen a couple of times I know, all seemed to become just part of the memories and fun. The bond we had only became stronger and as far as I know we are all close friends. I'm sure of that and that goes for everyone who was at the BBQ. We became two groups for a couple of days, but that sure was a good reunion at the Double Tree when the entire group came back together. For those on the roadtrip, I'm not so sure how we would do on Survivor since I don't know of anyone I would want to vote off the island (road)
So it appears I have drifted from my original topic, but in reality I am presenting how this movie has affected so many of us and what this movie has also brought into our lives such as the many good times and friendships. So now we have to look at the AFI List and find what other movies did this. Can anyone think of any?
Oh no, Jack's first long post on Bettermost............
