Published Reviews -- Discuss

[mountain boy]

widje.  that sig line always makes me feel lonelier

jack

I'm thorry Jack... you are one of a handful of wonderful people that I had in mind when I looked it up.

Thanks Jack, adamblast, alex, Andrew, BillN, Carissa, Dave, ImEnnisshesJack, ImJackshesEnnis, lynn, Meli, michaelflanagansf, ottoblom, peteinportland, PetterG, Spunout, TulseyJoe, WLAGuy and all of youse for some of the most enjoyable conversations I've had in years.

Oh and adamblast c'mere and let me beat the crap out of you for what you said.      

They were respectful of each other’s opinions, each glad to have a companion where none had been expected. Riding back in the treacherous, drunken light, he thought he’d never had such a good time, felt he could paw the white out of the moon.

[lynn]

Oh, that's nice WDJ, thanks! 

[Carissa]

Thanks Jack, adamblast, alex, Andrew, BillN, Carissa, Dave, ImEnnisshesJack, ImJackshesEnnis, lynn, Meli, michaelflanagansf, ottoblom, peteinportland, PetterG, Spunout, TulseyJoe, WLAGuy and all of youse for some of the most enjoyable conversations I've had in years.

...thanks wdj! 

[Al***]

Dear Folks-  Earlier this afternoon I received a short thankyou email from one of the reviewers that I dropped a private thankyou note to.  I was surprised to hear from him and it was nice to get it and I really did feel that his review warranted a little extra effort to let him know.  I am just suggesting that if you are so moved it might be nice to send a quick note to any and all reviewers that are giving this movie a fair shake.  They all live in the shadow that there are people out there that don't like some of the subject matter in BBM, so showing them a bit of support couldn't hurt.

[lynn]

Nice write-up in today's USA TODAY on the phenomenom of straight couples seeing the movie. For those who don't know, this is the largest national newspaper in the US. And handed out free at virtually all major hotels. (Think of all the businessmen reading this with their morning cofee!)

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2006-01-09-brokeback-date-movie-main_x.htm

It's a date: 'Brokeback' romance draws couples
By Marco R. della Cava, USA TODAY

In four weeks, Brokeback has recouped its modest budget (south of $20 million) and is now in 120 diverse markets. "We're doing huge grosses in places like Fort Worth and Cleveland," hardly gay capitals, says James Shamus, chief of distributor Focus Features.

He says exit polls indicate that the longer the movie remains in a city, "the number of women attending with their (male) significant others goes up dramatically."

Still, the film's subject matter can be a tough sell. Comedian Larry David joked in a New York Times commentary that "cowboys would have to lasso" him into the theater, because he's sure the voice in his head would say, " 'You like those cowboys, don't you? They're kind of cute.' "

David Fone of San Diego had "no desire to see the film," but, like many men, was lured by Brokeback's stellar reviews celebrating characters whose sexual orientation takes a back seat to their humanity. Fone acknowledges he "grimaced" during the love scenes but "enjoyed (the film) thoroughly."

So did Linda Rodriguez of Los Gatos, Calif.: "Somewhere during the movie I forgot that it was about two gay cowboys and found it to be a very tragic and touching love story, and my boyfriend agreed."

Anna-Marie Ganje of Minneapolis went with her husband; the film "haunted" them for days. "If you're open-minded, you know that love between two people is love," she says. (Related story: Brokeback selling well in the heartland)

The movie has emerged as a test of hipness for straight men, says Andrea Miller, founder of relationship magazine Tango: "The coffee dates after this movie surely are filled with intense conversations that get into areas of vulnerability, and women love that in a man."

And, some men insist, they're up for the challenge.

"Give us straight guys some credit. Not all of us are homophobic and turned off by films that deal with relationships," says Adam Robinson of Washington, D.C. "Occasionally I love to see things blow up, but we're not all 13-year-old boys anymore. Plus, there's nothing wrong with a non-sexual crush on (Brokeback co-star) Heath Ledger. He makes being a cowboy look awesome once again."

During filming of the cowboys' final meeting, there was evidence the story would appeal to a broad audience. "Ang suddenly noticed everyone was crying," Shamus says. "This was the crew, folks who are just there to do a day's work. Right then, we thought, 'We have something here.' "

[Jack Nasty]

Not a review but a comment on young "heterosexual" men not wanting to see Brokeback Mountain.

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/01-06/01-08-06/c01li454.htm

Nice!

[mountain boy]

Not a review but a comment on young "heterosexual" men not wanting to see Brokeback Mountain.

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/01-06/01-08-06/c01li454.htm

Nice!

P.S. in the review he says For me, the term "gay" defines someone with pride in that identity. Hmmm - now I'm gonna have to rethink how I voted on the "Were Jack and Ennis gay?" poll...

[Charlie]

Here is a comment from the SF Chronicle's Mick Lasalle.  Blew me away because he gave the movie a sterling review.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/01/08/PKGQIF68QG1.DTL&hw=lasalle&sn=001&sc=1000

[mountain boy]

Here's a fresh perspective from a heterosexual man!

Cowboys whose friendship, anal sex is misinterpreted as "gay"

When Jack Twist (Gyllenhaal) grabs the hand of Ennis Del Mar (Ledger) and places it on his aroused and throbbing member ...     :-[

“Brokeback Mountain” is the perfect viewing experience for men who, like me, live perfectly normal lives with a wife and kids despite several dozen experiences that bigots might label “homosexual.”

[Scott88]

Wow, this guy basically missed the entire point of the film.  Somehow he didn't catch on to the fact that Jack & Ennis had a 20-year long *love affair* (unless he thinks a "couple of high-altitude fucks" is also part of a normal heterosexual friendship).

Alma and Lureen were the loves of their lives?  Wow.  Just...wow.

[Al***]

Here's a fresh perspective from a heterosexual man!

Cowboys whose friendship, anal sex is misinterpreted as "gay"

This is certainly one of the strangest things I have yet read on BBM.  Either this man is: has not seen the film, is lost in the woods, or is attempting some journalist style I can't get!  I could argue against each of his points but I think everyone on this blog already knows what I would write.  In one sense though it does seem to be trying to make it OK for straight men to go and see it so that is good!

(funny that the spell checker thinks something is wrong with 'blog')

[lynn]

GUYS! Come on, doesn't anyone else see this is sarcasm?    You don't REALLY think this writer believes this....

[lauren]

Wow, this guy basically missed the entire point of the film.  Somehow he didn't catch on to the fact that Jack & Ennis had a 20-year long *love affair* (unless he thinks a "couple of high-altitude fucks" is also part of a normal heterosexual friendship).

Alma and Lureen were the loves of their lives?  Wow.  Just...wow.

Boy, how he gets to these places I haven't a clue. He's had to put on those alternate/upside down universe glasses.  Second the Wows...

[waynerman]

OK, I can see this review as being an attempt at satire. I'm just not sure it's a very good attempt. Does anyone know if this website frequently posts reviews of a satirical nature? Or perhaps it's a trademark of this particular reviewer?

[jack]

guys, ladies...

calm down.  this is a joke.  a singularly bad joke, but meant as tongue in cheek humor (see "throbbing member".. lauren, that should be a familiar phrase, no?).

if this were to be the very worst joke that BBM has to endure, i would be grateful.  i had nearly the same quandary seeing nathan lanes parody, brokeback mountain, the musical, on letterman.  and i have already seen a bareback moutain parody, linked from here, about a man and his horse.  lynn, you are gonna have to look that one up, lol.