This past weekend my friend Darren invited me to attend an advance screening of Brokeback Mountain, mostly because I know my way around New York City quite well. As a condition of the ultra-exclusive ticket I received, I promised Darren that I would write a review of Brokeback Mountain for my blog.
Honestly, I don't really feel like writing a review on Brokeback Mountain and I can't explain why. Brokeback Mountain conveys pure emotions through starkness, so it seems a violation to attempt to use words to express everything that has been evoked inside me since the screening. I could write about my family and how watching Walk the Line, North Country, and now Brokeback Mountain has given me this path to reconnect with my rural childhood. I could write about the moments which play over and over in my head, burned from the screen into my consciousness. I could write about the gut wrenching sorrow that can often accompany pure happiness, as experienced in the film. I could do this, but if I started, I wouldn’t know where to end, and I certainly would not know how to get through the middle.
To be honest, part of me is dying to tell you about the haunting score which sounds like heartstrings being plucked, the awe inspiring camera work, and one of the all-time most powerful performances ever delivered by a leading man on screen, from Heath Ledger. I'll instead urge you and plead with you to see the film yourself. The trailer doesn't even begin to do this film justice. No 2 minute clip could. So, for now, I will leave you with only this concise statement on the matter:
Brokeback Mountain is the most compelling and heart-wrenching love story that I have ever experienced. It is an instant classic. It will be nearly impossible for anyone involved with the film to ever achieve any superior work. To watch it is to be in the shadow of humble greatness.
If you’re dying to see the film, and you should be, there is good news. According to Variety, Focus is moving accelerating the platform release of Brokeback Mountain to take advantage of the record-breaking box office numbers and seven Golden Globe nominations.
Portions of this article were originally posted on The Brain Drain, 12/05/2005.
Article comments
1 - Mary K. Williams
Mitch
- this 'non-review' was great! In your hesitation to try to label, describe or convey what you experienced - you still managed to let us know that the movie affected you in ways you are still trying to understand.
Not bad!
2 - Chantal Stone
It's so f-ing annoying that I live in Ohio and I can't see this film!
3 - Chris Evans
You will be able to see it. It goes into wide release in early January.
4 - Mitch Crumrine
I understand your viewing frustration. I live in central PA in a one multiplex town. I still haven't had the opportunity to see The Squid and the Whale, Capote, or Shopgirl.
5 - Brandon Valentine
Mitch,
Ditto on Mary K. Williams' opening statement. The material in bold really makes me consider driving a vast distance to catch a showing.
Also, lucky for you, all three of the films you mentioned are playing at the Midtown cinema in Harrisburg--just a tip from a fellow Central Pennsylvanian!
6 - Honestly
Go ahead leave Ohio to see the movie and stay. This is a feeble attempt for Hollywood to try to spread their liberal ideals to all of society. Today Liberals are trying to get everyone to embrace change. This will lead to a degraded society with absolutely no sense of right and wrong. Right now someone is saying "EXACTLY", without taking time to ponder the implications. One day this will be right and that will be wrong then that will be right and that will be wrong. Then someone will say follow me because I am right and they are wrong and then BIG TROUBLE.
7 - Don
Why is everyone so fired up about this movie? It really hasn't done all that well in the theaters anyways. The numbers I've seen say its only made about 76 million pre oscar And most people I've talked to say they have not and will not see it. According to the powers that be, a movie needs to make at least 100 million to be considered a blockbuster. So my question is why was BBM even nominated? And for that matter, why was any of the movies? CRASH, CAPOTE, etc. None of these movies made over 100 million but the Chronicles of Narnia made 300 million and was not nominated for best picture. The Passion of the Christ made 400 million and wasn't nominated at all last year. HMMMMMMM, makes you think don't it? Man I'm sick of Hollywood.
This is a clear cut case of the liberal agenda trying to force their homosexual opinions on us. And I for one am sick of it. I'm sick of seeing it on TV, in politics (gay marriage) and now in the movies. Homosexuality goes against nature and God. You ever see two bucks doin it in the woods? Leviticus 18:22 says: Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. I mean really, how much more proof do you need?
Go ahead and call me anything you want, personally I don't care. I don't have to answer to you. I have to answer to God and you will to. I don't claim to be perfect by any means. I'm a sinner just like the rest of you but I know what sin is and homosexuality is a sin plain and simple. Get over it, accept it for what it is and move on. One more thing. People are not born gay. There is no gay gene no matter what they tell you, it is a choice GET OVER IT!!!!!!!
8 - Cathy Morales
Poor Don wants us to call him names... Okay try self-righteous bigoted fool. A lot of good your bible's going to do you when you meet your maker, and you forgot the part in Leviticus about gays deserving to be put to death! Oh and how Jews can't go to heaven because they don't worship Christ!!!
As for your Chronicles-it wasn't nominated because it was plagerized right out of the new testament, using renamed cartoon characters. Talk about pushing an agenda-Didn't Hollywood produce that too? What homosexual Hollywood agenda was pushed on us in the "Passion"-a gay bondage and discipline flick if ever I saw one.
Truth is, you have no idea what you're talking about and are hiding behind your Bible to distract us from your ignorance!
Look at Iran and Afganastan if you want to see what happens when religion rules a country and sets its laws.
Get over yourself-that "good book" you're quoting was written 2000 years ago and has nothing to do with today's times.
9 - Calmer Voices
Okay kids, this is a movie review, not a bible or anti bible class, take that somewhere else.
I agree about religion taking over politics though Cathy. I saw a thing about "I wasn't a jew so they took me away" on another discussion, does anyone know where that came from or what blog it's on-it was very profound?
As for Brokeback Mountain-I and my wife loved it.
10 - Don
LOL Cathy please, you're making yourself look foolish. Maybe just maybe you should try reading the Bible before you say it has nothing to do with todays world. When in fact, everything that is happening in todays world is written about in Revelation "that would be the last book in the Bible for those of you that don't know"
I'm sorry if I'm not "poitically correct" but I stand on the truth and I'm afraid you can't handle the truth.
11 - Meghan
Dear Don:
It does not matter how much money a movie makes, that does not detract from the quality of the film. Chronicles of Narnia, for example, was a childrens movie. It is not up to the standards set by Brokeback Mountain, Crash, or Capote.
Second, all right, you are Christian. Thank you. I, for one, am not, and our country does not have a set religion either. So if it is against your religion, fine, don't see the movie. But please do not preach to me. It brings Christianity down just another notch in my book.
Oh, and "You ever see two bucks doin it in the woods?" Actually, yes I have. And many other animals exhibit homosexual behavior as well.
Brokeback Mountain was a beautiful film. Amazing.
12 - Tan The Man
Side note: See "Kinsey"