It seems as if in the last few weeks of 2005, Hollywood has made its best effort to leave a final, memorable, parting shot. Two movies to note: Steven Spielberg's Munich and the controversial movie Brokeback Mountain. Having personally seen and blogged Munich, I'll copy and paste my opinion here, but not dwell on that movie any further.
It's hard to describe my reaction to this film. Spielberg is a master at his craft, as is John Williams, he wrote the very moving score that accompanies the movie. The story is, essentially, about the revenge mission of the Israeli government after the 1972 Olympic bombings in Munich. However, the movie dives into a much more deeper and psychological level regarding the effects of the mission on the lives of those who carry out the revenge. You really have to see it to get the full effect. The drawback for me? Spielberg holds NOTHING back in bringing each revenge murder to it utmost. The result is a string of horrible, brutal, violent, graphic deaths, all shown in full detail. The movie is rated R and I strongly support the rating. This is not a movie for a younger audience. So my final rating? A FANTASTIC movie, well worth the money. But if you are squeamish (as I am), be prepared to cover your eyes.
That brings me, then, to Brokeback Mountain. This movie is receiving great success with both critics and award committees. Already a winner at the Venice Film Festival and nominated for SEVEN Golden Globes, this movie is not an underground gay film. The cast of Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhal, Michelle Williams and Anne Hathaway contains several of Hollywood's big names. Director Ang Lee has also directed such recent films as Hulk, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, and Sense and Sensibility. Like Munich (though not to the same degree), this movie was not highly promoted before its release. I have to admit, I'm slightly surprised by its success. A major motion picture about a gay relationship is a big jump in a society so strongly divided over homosexuality. What makes this movie a potential award winner and not "another one of those gay movies?"
I haven't yet seen this movie, but my preliminary answer to the above question is that this movie doesn't appear to be about the physical relationship between the two men, but rather their internal struggles. These two men meet and develop a romantic relationship in 1963, spend one summer together, and then go their separate ways, both marrying and having families. They meet again many years later and discover it is as if nothing has changed. Thereafter, they continue to meet secretively, while continuing the facade of their normal lives at home. So what is the movie really about? Gay men and sex? Or being something you're not? And isn't the latter a universal theme to which we can ALL relate in one way or another?
I realize this may open a Pandora's box since, as I said, we are a society still so deeply divided and (opinionated) over homosexuality. But I am intrigued by this movie and I'm interested if anybody has seen it or heard anything about it.
Saturday, December 31, 2005
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I have the same problem with this movie as I would with any movie that promotes adulterous relationships. I think seeing this movie might become a political statement. The last movie-as-statement I saw was Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ". I probably will sit out this movie.
Btw: according to Michael Medved, a reviewer whose opinion I value, there is *a lot* about their physical relationship [hence the "R" rating] and, for many folks, a big "ick factor" to overcome.
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