1.16.2006

The Brokeback thing

So, we went to see this movie yesterday. My first thought, upon entering the theater, was, "aren't all you people supposed to be in church??!"

We ended up sitting on the second row, off to the side. Bummer.

Anyway, as for the film... I can't really see what all the hub-bub is about it. It's a good movie, and it's getting unwarranted press because of its supposed subject matter. But in reality, this is a film about people, and their flaws, and their reactions (given their flaws) to the stumbling blocks one encounters... (isn't that what all valuable literature is about? It's a classic theme. THE classic theme.)

It's about not being able to get past something, about being so striken with something and not being able to let go, even when you know it's the best thing. It's about holding onto the best thing that ever came along for you, even if it's not perfect.

Ledger steals every scene from Gylenhaal (or however you spell it!). I found him a bit one-dimensional, especially juxtaposed with Ledger's character.

The scene with Ledger at the end, with the 19 year-old daughter, at the trailer... haunting.

As far as the press goes, or at least the "conscientious objectors", they've missed the point entirely. But then again, that's almost always the case, isn't it?

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