Obviously, Brokeback Mountain is not for everyone, as evidenced by how many people were too nervous to go see it in packed theaters during its extended run. It’s not what you expect either, since it has no mincing fairies, no comic-relief limp-wristed lisping queens, and absolutely no preaching, hidden messages or agendas. In fact the main character-Ennis (Heath Ledger) is probably one of the most "manly" men ever seen in a movie.
So let's start with the DVD basics. If you've never seen the movie, watch it first. If you have seen the movie, watch all the extra features BEFORE you see it again. They are all a joy, though I should warn you they take a while to root through, but it's time well spent and definitely forth it.
I found only one fault with the DVD - and that was that it needed a "deleted scenes" section; that I know exists because they’re there taunting you in the trailer I saw online. Heath and Jake are said to have had to shoot the kissing scenes at the bottom of the stairs 13 times, and they also had to shoot and reshoot the lovemaking in the tent, and darn it all, I wanted to see those outtakes! Oh well maybe in the “collector’s” edition.
About the Movie:
First of all, visually it's in crystal clear focus. The many times I saw it in a theater, not once was it completely focused, but on DVD it's an absolute joy. Since this is a very quiet film, you don't have to deal with muffled explosions coming from the theater next to you either.
About the Story:
Two young men, a ranch hand, and a up-and-coming rodeo bull rider (Jake Gyllenhaal), (the very definitions of the word "cowboy") are so down on their luck, that they're forced to do something no cowboy wants to do — herd sheep over the summer on Brokeback Mountain. (Some have criticized this, asking how it could be a cowboy movie if they're herding sheep... read on)
Simply put, straight men who see this movie identify with the main characters, before they realize that they have... and by then it’s too late. There lies the problem. The movie hits a little too close to home. Jack and Ennis regularly go camping in the wilderness, were brought up to own and use guns. They hunt elk and wild game; they fish, carry hunting knives and know how to survive in the forest on their own. They own dogs, love life on horseback, tend cattle, are tough enough to ride bulls in rodeos, live on ranches, date women, drink whiskey and beer, get into bar fights, and own and repair old pick-up trucks.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Jet in Columbus
As this was posted, I forgot the skinny dipping scene, why? There's no contact between them, and even on DVD it's out of focus.
I highly recommend you check out the deals you can get on Amazon.com, just click on the images above. The soundtrack is great too... It won an Emmy!
Jet
2 - Jet in Columbus
Wal-mart has decided to face down all the "pro-family" jerks who plan to phone harrass and picket them by selling this DVD in their stores. I'd suggest a counter attack-if you don't get it on Amazon.com, I'd suggest a quick trip to Wal-mart to pick up a copy!
There seems to be an error in the link, by the way that says it's not available, it comes out tuesday april 4th...
3 - chantal stone
an emmy?? you sure about that Jet?
4 - Jet in Columbus
Thanks so much for pointing that out. It was of course an oscar, the grammy will come later...I hope
Lots of love
Jet
5 - Brian
Bravo for this beautiful film and your honest dvd ****** review, Jet! I'm on my way to Walmart for my copy and to make my purchase count!Thanks for the heads up.
6 - Jet in Columbus
This if my first review and I appreciate the incouragement.
Jet
7 - Jet in Columbus
I checked with a friend of my that works at our local Wal-mart. No protestors. Apparently what they're doing is phone harrassing the managers about how dare they display posters (which are identical to the DVD sleeve) at the front doors where children can see them.
Jeez
8 - Joan
Lovely review!! Well written, balanced, and obviously done by a person who "gets" the film as intended!
Bravo!
9 - Jet in Columbus
Thanks Joan. I've learned an interesting trick. If you order a DVD on line that hasn't been released yet, they ship it so it'll arrive on the release date. Department and video stores aren't allowed to sell it till that date, almost always a tuesday. For this particular DVD the date was April 4th, but they usually over estimate how long it'll take to arrive, so I actually got this DVD last Saturday.
Just a handy hint...
10 - Michael
Oh yes, the whittled horse. I would love to have that. I wonder if it's up for auction. If some clever queen can come up with replicas and sell, it could really go. Think about it.
Thanks for the fine review.
11 - Michael
And thanks Wal-Mart.
12 - Jet in Columbus
You're welcome Mike. Did you spot any protestors there, did you see the posters at the front door?
13 - Jet in Columbus
#10 Micheal, as much as this movie has meant to people, I won't be surprised if memorabilia starts showing up all over the place, I'd just be careful of it's genuiness.
Can you imagine how much the tent would go for?
14 - Jet in Columbus
Let's see...
Can you imagine what the postcard marked DECEASED would go for?
Jack's black hat from the mountain
The fur pelt from the wolf Ennis killed
Ennis' tan hat from the scene when they broke up!
15 - Jet in Columbus
Personally, I'd empty my checking account for the original scripts used by either Heath or Jake! As long as they were autographed.
16 - Hellbreeder
Getting a little cultlike there, Jet.
But I'm impressed that WalMart is selling it. Another case of good business sense winning out over hollow moralizing. Sam Walton is likely spinning in his grave.
HB
17 - Jet in Columbus
Dear Hellbreeder, "Cultlike", hmmm, yeah, I guess you could say that, but then gays get so few entertainment venues that they can relate to, that when one comes along, many grab hold tightly.
We go to straight love stories on film all the time, and can identify with them, and finally one comes along that straights can watch and see our trials and tribulations, and we can proudly point at it and say, "that's us!" "that's our struggle".
Most gays, don't lisp, or mince, or wear dresses, and unless we told someone, you'd never know we were gay, but the religous right, paints us as child molesters, recruiters to keep our "kind" going, and evil, that we can't be allowed to just be loving, caring, people.
The truth is 99% of gays are everyday people, earning livings, paying rents or mortgages, cussing in traffic, and loving or being loved.
If Jack and Ennis had been given that luxury, back in 1963 or today even, they wouldn't have had to marry women they didn't love, and live lies in order not to lose the love of people they cared for.
18 - Jet in Columbus
If I'm to believe everything I read about Sam Walton, I don't think he'd be "spinning in his grave." It seems to me that anything to get a product out that the people want at a reasonable price was his motto, and obviously people want this or they wouldn't be buying it...
19 - Jet in Columbus
See my related article on the AFA vs this DVD!
Jet
20 - Jet in Columbus
John wrote:
Why should it? It looks like a true honest face to me. Wow, ll times. That's great!! I wanted to see it more, but some of my friends wouldn't let me. I will with the DVD though. It definitly was robbed of the academy award for "Best Picture" though. Oh well, it is for me and always will be.
Actually friends kept showing up at my door to take me, to try to cheer me up. I'd just gotten out of my 9th surgery in a year and a half from nearly being beaten to death during a robbery.
After about the 7th time it got too distracting, because I was noticing all the inconsistancies I started noticing because they did it on a shoestring budget like,
Heath's empty pierced ear
The log that Jack puts on the stump to split that disappears
When Jack and Ennis ride to the mountain in his red pick up truck, there's only one person in the truck... unless Ennis is bent over out of sight of the window... hmmmm
Glad you enjoyed it
21 - chantal stone
I noticed the pierced ear too ... LOL
damn details!
22 - chantal stone
btw Jet...you have too many threads going here, I can hardly keep up!
;)
23 - Jet in Columbus
Well exxxxxxxxcuse me.
Should I write less to give everyone else a chance?
24 - chantal stone
Nope, you're doing just fine....it's all good
25 - RogerMDillon
You should certainly comment less on your own posts.