Brokeback Mountain
itunes: Bjork, The Music From Matthew Barney's Drawing Restraint 9 (2005)
YL called from a Virgin Megastore in New York and said that Brokeback Mountain DVD has been released, selling at US$19.99. And I asked him to bring one back for me. Later, we realised that Amazon is offering the DVD at US$16.99. So I ordered it from Amazon and have it delivered to YL's hotel instead. Hehe
I would vote Brokeback Mountain as absolutely the best in 2006 despite it missed the Best Picture from conservative Academy. It has been haunting me ever since I watched it.
Ang Lee said that everyone has his/her own Brokeback Mountain in heart. Or rather, in everyone, there is always someone that you love most but can never end up together. Just like the Brokeback Mountain, it's there but no one can ever own or have it to himself. To me, this is the inspiration of this movie.
Ang Lee has shown us his view of a gay relationship. He did not 'intend' it to be a gay movie unlike most of the gay films which advocates beautiful boys and their stereotype glamorous party lifestyle. Gay relationship can be so normal and down to earth. Gay people live and fall in love; there is nothing queer or abnormal and it’s just like any other heterosexual relationships. Indeed, Ang Lee put forward a more realistic approach, focusing on the social and emotional effects have on gay relationships, in the conservative 60s America. Nevertheless, this is quite true even in this era that we are living in as well. In Singapore, with the media propagating only the promiscuousness and high life of gay people, it’s hard to have the mass to change this misrepresented perception and their discrimination after all.
The love between Ennis and Jack was intense and real. Ang Lee has created it in a subtle, understated manner, with no outpouring of passion in stormy nights, no vanity, no flirtation or meaningless skin-deep attraction (all these particularly obvious in most gay movies). The connection was developed in such a slow plateau manner that causes this intensity to grow into powerful shots of emotions charging at me, strong enough to suffocate me repeatedly, leaving me breathless throughout the show. And the amazing thing is what Ang Lee has done to make this possible is just merely through two cowboys in the span of time (through the harsh changing seasons and weather) of herding sheep together in the beautiful wild.
The thunderstorm night scene....
Jack asked Ennis to stay on instead of going back to the sheep. Ennis reckoned if he does not go back, the sheep will wonder off during the storm. Indeed, at the height of passion (which is the storm) it leads one (the sheep as well as the 2 cowboys) to go lost and astray. The subsequent scene (which is the next morning when the storm is over) we see them having to sort out the sheep from the other cowboy's herd clearly predicts that the love affair between these two men can be so entangled and binding that it's hard to draw a clear line in between anymore. What a good implicit comparison…
Heath Ledger put up a very good performance in the sense that he brings out the torment in Ennis, a cautious lover who was torn in between subduing to the 'forbidden' love and having to accustom to the social pressure has on him. On the other hand, Jack was the daring lover who was willing to risk it all to pursue this forbidden love he yearned for. Isn't this the reality of gays in the conservative Asian society? We see on the streets some who like to flaunt and project a distinctive gay look (or rather I would say a stereotype gay image, fashionably good, particularly in tight tees) and of cos we may not even able to tell some who are gay and yet dress and look like anyone else walking on the street.
Personally I feel watching this movie is a great experience to appreciate the beauty of finding a true soul mate in life, despite of the fact nothing is permanent. As long as one has the courage to secure the essence of love and treasures it, any obstacles (be it gender boundaries or social pressures) will just automatically disintegrate. In addition, the 'quiet' tone and setting that movie was made, send chills to one as it reflects adequately the loneliness and helplessness of being gay (in terms of life, love and social aspects) even though ironically gay means happy.
It has been haunting me ever since I watched it. Absolutely the best in 2006 despite it missed the Best Picture from Academy.
Hail to Ang Lee.
I would vote Brokeback Mountain as absolutely the best in 2006 despite it missed the Best Picture from conservative Academy. It has been haunting me ever since I watched it.
Ang Lee said that everyone has his/her own Brokeback Mountain in heart. Or rather, in everyone, there is always someone that you love most but can never end up together. Just like the Brokeback Mountain, it's there but no one can ever own or have it to himself. To me, this is the inspiration of this movie.
Ang Lee has shown us his view of a gay relationship. He did not 'intend' it to be a gay movie unlike most of the gay films which advocates beautiful boys and their stereotype glamorous party lifestyle. Gay relationship can be so normal and down to earth. Gay people live and fall in love; there is nothing queer or abnormal and it’s just like any other heterosexual relationships. Indeed, Ang Lee put forward a more realistic approach, focusing on the social and emotional effects have on gay relationships, in the conservative 60s America. Nevertheless, this is quite true even in this era that we are living in as well. In Singapore, with the media propagating only the promiscuousness and high life of gay people, it’s hard to have the mass to change this misrepresented perception and their discrimination after all.
The love between Ennis and Jack was intense and real. Ang Lee has created it in a subtle, understated manner, with no outpouring of passion in stormy nights, no vanity, no flirtation or meaningless skin-deep attraction (all these particularly obvious in most gay movies). The connection was developed in such a slow plateau manner that causes this intensity to grow into powerful shots of emotions charging at me, strong enough to suffocate me repeatedly, leaving me breathless throughout the show. And the amazing thing is what Ang Lee has done to make this possible is just merely through two cowboys in the span of time (through the harsh changing seasons and weather) of herding sheep together in the beautiful wild.
The thunderstorm night scene....
Jack asked Ennis to stay on instead of going back to the sheep. Ennis reckoned if he does not go back, the sheep will wonder off during the storm. Indeed, at the height of passion (which is the storm) it leads one (the sheep as well as the 2 cowboys) to go lost and astray. The subsequent scene (which is the next morning when the storm is over) we see them having to sort out the sheep from the other cowboy's herd clearly predicts that the love affair between these two men can be so entangled and binding that it's hard to draw a clear line in between anymore. What a good implicit comparison…
Heath Ledger put up a very good performance in the sense that he brings out the torment in Ennis, a cautious lover who was torn in between subduing to the 'forbidden' love and having to accustom to the social pressure has on him. On the other hand, Jack was the daring lover who was willing to risk it all to pursue this forbidden love he yearned for. Isn't this the reality of gays in the conservative Asian society? We see on the streets some who like to flaunt and project a distinctive gay look (or rather I would say a stereotype gay image, fashionably good, particularly in tight tees) and of cos we may not even able to tell some who are gay and yet dress and look like anyone else walking on the street.
Personally I feel watching this movie is a great experience to appreciate the beauty of finding a true soul mate in life, despite of the fact nothing is permanent. As long as one has the courage to secure the essence of love and treasures it, any obstacles (be it gender boundaries or social pressures) will just automatically disintegrate. In addition, the 'quiet' tone and setting that movie was made, send chills to one as it reflects adequately the loneliness and helplessness of being gay (in terms of life, love and social aspects) even though ironically gay means happy.
It has been haunting me ever since I watched it. Absolutely the best in 2006 despite it missed the Best Picture from Academy.
Hail to Ang Lee.
posted by music-nazi ~ musik mit uns at 08:22
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