Brokeback Mountain
Fred and I went last night to see Brokeback Mountain - and I entirely expected to come here today and rave about how brilliant it was agreeing with nearly everyone on the internet and with people I've met. I did like the film but for me it was a little disappointing.
I thought it was a beautiful film and by that I mean the cinematography was so rich and lush - Ang Lee the director certainly picked the most gorgeous backdrop to a film that I've ever seen. It was great to see a film packed with stunning imagery that was (on the face of it) a real setting and not CGI.
Ang Lee the films director has been at pains to purge this film of the "Gay Cowboy Film" tag that it has been given. I'm sorry but in God's name what else would you call it? This film is as gay as it gets, and it's by definition a cowboy film. Granted it's surely the first gay cowboy film to be made. On it's release on DVD, the nice people at HMV are going to have to create a new section - the gay cowboy film section. . .
The film starts out beautifully - we're all getting to know you , two men up a mountain all alone herding sheep and talking big man talk. In a sudden flip (literally) the two male lead characters suddenly turn from baked beans and horses into two arse slapping bottomites in a tent - (as in camp as a row of) and I found it difficult to take it seriously for a very simple reason:- It was too intense too soon - they went straight for it. As their boss in the movie put it "stemming the rose" when they should have been watching sheep. And the "rose stemming" was instant. No touchy feely foreplay - straight for the main event. (spit was used to "oil the wheels")
AND Jake Gillenthal even starts to sport one of those ridiculous cliched moustaches in the second part of the film. Did his wife not see that moustache? Did she not know that older gay married men wear moustaches as their default setting?
I came away feeling desperately sorry for these men who grew up in times when it was not easy let's face it. However I felt even sorrier for the poor women who had to either suffer through finding out that the father of their 3 children was having an affair with a coyboy or in the case of the other woman, never ever realise her husband was chasing an altogether different kind of tackle on his fishing trips.
I was not moved at the end of the film by the bit that was supposed to move me - I'll not give anything away. I felt that the character was deserving of his fate.
However I think the performances were out of this world and they will clean up at the Oscars for them. Show me your Golden Globes Cowboy!! Yee Haah!!
Superman
Anyway as you maybe know, I've been obsessing over "Superman Returns" and the distinct possibility that it will be dreadful.I'm worried about the fact that it's based on the continuity of the first two films. This could be bad. However on the bright side there is the costume. We've seen the pictures. Fabulous.
With thoughts of "Superman Returns" top-of-mind, I decided to list my most anticipated movies for 2006:
1. "X-Men 3." Kelsey Grammer as the Beast should be enough of a reason, to see this one
2. Oliver Stone's 9/11 movie. I'm sure it'll be brutal and harrowing to watch but because it's directed by Stone, it'll also be an impressive representation of that day in history.
3. "The Da Vinci Code." Tom Hanks and Amelie in the movie version of the book that non book readers have read. Filmed in Lincoln Cathedral for the Westminster Abbey scenes as Westminster Abbey thought the film was anti christian value. Look out for Charles Harrison playing the organ - perhaps?? Maybe?? Actually no....
4. "V For Vendetta." Alan Moore's vision will most likely get diluted in this adaptation.Natalie Portman, too.
5. "28 Weeks Later." Zombies, love those zombies
6. "Superman Returns." Nuff said - THAT outfit!! My Freddy has an outfit like that at home. I'm saying no more...
7. "Casino Royale." New Bond, the classic Fleming novel.
8. "The Hills Have Eyes." Here's hoping that the remake stands up to the original.
9. "The Visiting." An alien epidemic and Nicole Kidman.
10. "Mission Impossible 3." I'll like it despite Cruise. Just for the teem-toon alone
posted by Freddy @ Wednesday, January 18, 2006
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