If I make a list of ten of my favorite films this will be in that list. Why?
It's the movie that made us (Revathi & me) cry. We wept, man. We couldn't control.There are scenes in the film, towards the end, I shall not forget.
Consider the scene when Ennis Del Mar (I shall remember the names of the two lovers as long as I live) meets Jack Twist's parents. This scene is terrific. Why? Look at the mom and pop. They never speak their feelings but we know exactly what's on their mind. His mom sends him to Jack's room upstairs and he discovers his shirt. This is so heartwarming, man. A shirt preserved for over twenty years can't be just for a 'few high-altitude fucks', man. They were in love. I honestly believe so.
Did they neglect their families? I can't believe anyone would be saying that, da. When Ennis' grown-up daughter is getting married he is prepared to lose his job to make it to her wedding. In that scene you feel the love Ennis and his daughter have for each other. His daughter respects him and we see that with the way she speaks to him. Jack didn't neglect his family. Didn't he take good care of his son? Jack even died in 'the line of duty', of course exaggerated but you know what I mean. He kept telling Ennis that they can 'settle down' together but they never actually do it. Jack was visiting Ennis twice a year for nearly ten years but he didn't neglect anyone. Jack & his wife just stopped having sex and the reason for it, Jack tells us, is that she got too involved with the business. Am I justifying their marriage? No I am not. The protagonists have flawed characters and we all know that. A good film is not about 'heroes' & 'villains', it's about people.
Last of all it is the final scene that's unforgettable. Ennis opens the cupboard and there is a photo of Jack, Ennis is shown with tears in his eyes and the final shot is a road which Ennis has to travel alone. Jack is no more and there shall never be another lover. We cried as the credits started to roll. We couldn't get Ennis out of our heads for a few minutes after film. Even today Revathi and I speak of Ennis and Jack. This is not a film about sodomy. It's one of the best told lovestories on the big screen.
I have a confession to make. No! No! Revathi and I are not homosexuals! I want to make a film like this. It may not be on homosexuality. Look at this film and other films on homosexuality. All other films dwell on homosexuality as the society sees it. It tries to preach that homosexuality is not wrong. No film has portrayed homosexuality as true love, at least I can't think of one right now maybe you can. 'Brokeback Mountain' takes us into the souls of the two lovers. It made us realize that there is love in homosexuality just as there is love between Revathi and me. Immediately after watching this film I read Roger Ebert's review and there is one sentence that rings in my mind whenever I think of this film. He said (something like this) that some films are so specific in their story-telling that by the end of the film the viewers start to feel that the message in the film is general. Do you see what I am talking about here?
RATING: 5/5
It's the movie that made us (Revathi & me) cry. We wept, man. We couldn't control.There are scenes in the film, towards the end, I shall not forget.
Consider the scene when Ennis Del Mar (I shall remember the names of the two lovers as long as I live) meets Jack Twist's parents. This scene is terrific. Why? Look at the mom and pop. They never speak their feelings but we know exactly what's on their mind. His mom sends him to Jack's room upstairs and he discovers his shirt. This is so heartwarming, man. A shirt preserved for over twenty years can't be just for a 'few high-altitude fucks', man. They were in love. I honestly believe so.
Did they neglect their families? I can't believe anyone would be saying that, da. When Ennis' grown-up daughter is getting married he is prepared to lose his job to make it to her wedding. In that scene you feel the love Ennis and his daughter have for each other. His daughter respects him and we see that with the way she speaks to him. Jack didn't neglect his family. Didn't he take good care of his son? Jack even died in 'the line of duty', of course exaggerated but you know what I mean. He kept telling Ennis that they can 'settle down' together but they never actually do it. Jack was visiting Ennis twice a year for nearly ten years but he didn't neglect anyone. Jack & his wife just stopped having sex and the reason for it, Jack tells us, is that she got too involved with the business. Am I justifying their marriage? No I am not. The protagonists have flawed characters and we all know that. A good film is not about 'heroes' & 'villains', it's about people.
Last of all it is the final scene that's unforgettable. Ennis opens the cupboard and there is a photo of Jack, Ennis is shown with tears in his eyes and the final shot is a road which Ennis has to travel alone. Jack is no more and there shall never be another lover. We cried as the credits started to roll. We couldn't get Ennis out of our heads for a few minutes after film. Even today Revathi and I speak of Ennis and Jack. This is not a film about sodomy. It's one of the best told lovestories on the big screen.
I have a confession to make. No! No! Revathi and I are not homosexuals! I want to make a film like this. It may not be on homosexuality. Look at this film and other films on homosexuality. All other films dwell on homosexuality as the society sees it. It tries to preach that homosexuality is not wrong. No film has portrayed homosexuality as true love, at least I can't think of one right now maybe you can. 'Brokeback Mountain' takes us into the souls of the two lovers. It made us realize that there is love in homosexuality just as there is love between Revathi and me. Immediately after watching this film I read Roger Ebert's review and there is one sentence that rings in my mind whenever I think of this film. He said (something like this) that some films are so specific in their story-telling that by the end of the film the viewers start to feel that the message in the film is general. Do you see what I am talking about here?
RATING: 5/5
1 comment:
Astonishing film. Moving. Pity we still have to issue disclaimers about why we like the film, but in a sense, it's both ironic & fitting.
Have you read the original short story? Do - very sparsely told. Heath Ledger, the silences, the mountains, the place - I can instantly recall the images.
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