While I liked the film, there's a LOT that could be improved - pacing (it sometimes really plodded), character development (especially on the mountain - I totally don't buy their "love" initially), the "older" makeup is atrocious, and how in the book there's room for guessing about Jack at the end, but the film makes it WAY too obvious. But mostly, it felt like Sense & Sensiblity with cowboys - in other words, too classical and rather dated. As stated before, I still gave the film a 7/10 and still think it'll win Best Picture, but it's definitely not near my Top Ten of the year.

I meant how would more "eroticism" have improved the film. I agree with you about character development- the film could have spent a bit more time with them after "the night". I didn't think the makeup was bad, nor did I think it plodded, but I can see how someone could criticize the film for that.

It seems to me that you just wanted to see Jake get explicitly plowed- and really, who can blame you? ;) :lol:

It's not "eroticism" I want (that was only an example from MULHOLLAND DRIVE). I want more *intimacy* between the characters - real signs that they truly became affectionate and in love with each other. Especially Jack's character - I would have expected him to take the lead and establish more intimacy, and Ennis would relent, but they both played the chaste stoic role until the end. It really connects back to my problem with what happened after "that night" - it seems Ang Lee was too afraid to REALLY show intimacy between the two - be it sexual or non-sexual.

From the crassly commercial standpoint it's important to realize that the slow-paced, beautifully-photographed, low-key love story is niche market to begin with--after all, the critically acclaimed and multi-Oscar-nominated Sense and Sensibility "only" grossed $43 million. Something to keep in mind when judging the movie's financial fortunes (as well as the fact that it only needs to make $25 million or so to be profitable.)

I repeat, the film is already in profit.

I saw this yesterday at one of the sold out showings. As suspected lots of gay men and straight women (some with their boyfriends), a couple lesbians. I thought it was a very good movie A- for me. I agree the aging was a bit off, they looked about the same age throughout with a bit more facial/sideburn hair. It is a bit slow, but I think it's fitting as it's a movie of a time past and setting (rural Wyoming). As such, the cinematography was magnificent.

As for character development, I think some are projecting their 'modern' thinking into it. I know I did because I felt really frustrated and even angry that Ennis was so negative about being together. I had to remind myself that even though they could of gone to CA and joined the summer of love/sexual revolution, they are from an area/time where California is like another planet. I went to college in Colorado and there were kids who thought everyone in SF was a crazy hippie if not gay.

The intimacy they show to each other on the mountain were so forbidden in their mind and society, it was a miracle they even show some of it on top of a mountain. Especially with Ennis being such a silent and bottled up person, I dont think it was easy for Jack to be more forward even if he wanted to. There is always the potential of violence or being used as a target of self directed anger.

As for the day after the first time, I just figured they had lots of hot sex and rolled over dead to sleep until the next day. Then avoided talking about it for a few days, using the 'if we don't talk about it maybe it didn't happen' excuse. Or am I projecting the sterotype of hetro sex? lol

How is that?

It made $545,000 this weekend- which is excellent for how many screens it was on, but it hasn't turned a profit yet.

Simple. The film was presold already to foreign markets, clearing much more than it cost to make and market.

Schamus confirmed this in a recent EW.

I look foward to seeing it, not sure when it will be opening here, although after the good turn out this past weekend, I'm guessing that will be sooner than later.

If I had to gripe about one thing, it would probably be the pacing but other than that there isnt much negative for me.
In terms of mood and pacing I can definitely see a simularity with Lee's other movie, Ice Storm and if I had to pick other movies that it reminded me of, I would mention A River Run's Through it and maybe a bit of Urban Cowboy.

Some people here have become "That Guy" about stuff like this (just writing stuff to appear out of the mainstream, but probably ran out in sunglasses and a fake gottee to see the first showing), so I disregard their opinions mostly.

Brokeback DID get 7 Golden Globe noms this morning including Best Picture and Best Actor (Ledger)

I think a lot of people are writing it off because of legitimate reasons other than homophobia, which is nice. The trailer just doesn't make it look that good.

Regardless, it's on my list of movies to see. This weekend I have Kong, Gremlins and Raiders of the Lost Ark playing near me and those hold more importance ;)

And it appears that it may be going to as many as 300 screens now.
Wasn't someone earlier saying this movie would be forgotten soon? I guess that was before all the award nominations.

That's pretty damn cool.

I have to admit, there's a part of me that feels bad for those places where it might not actually be "safe" to go see a movie like this (i.e. the "flyover states"). There might be people discriminating or acting stupid about movie-goers buying tickets for it...or who knows...assholes sneaking in to heckle. I wouldn't put it past anyone.

I think right now Brokeback Mountain could be up for at least four major Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director and Best Cinematography. Most everyone agrees that the general storytelling is quite good, the cinematography is extremely well-done and Heath Ledger has done an excellent acting performance worthy of an Best Actor Oscar. It's the type of movie some people would derisively call Oscar bait, but I think the movie faces some serious competition, especially from the much-better-than-anticipated King Kong, possibly Syriana, and several others.

Golden Globes are usually an indication what will be nominated. Of course there are exceptions but Kong was shut out of G.G nods.

Wow... and in 2005! This kind of crap is AMAZING to me that there would be people that would heckle someone for going to see a movie -- but God knows you're right! I read somewhere last week that the major advertising was going to be in the red states ("flyovers"), so it should be interesting to see what happens in those states. There doesn't appear to be any protests YET, but we'll see after it opens a little wider.

The trailer DOES seem a bit sappy, but it seems like the focus of the advertising is that the movie is a love story and not a "gay cowboy" movie. I'm thinking that this film will be remembered in the same way "My Own Private Idaho" is thought of. I don't think "Brokeback" will break any box office records, but the GG nominations (and probable Oscar noms) will propel it into the national consciousness, increase box office and make it a film that people can't just dismiss.

Oh, and I can't WAIT to see it!

Had dinner with a friend tonight (gay) who said this was the best movie he's seen all year.

Oh yeah...and he (is in and) HATED The Producers.

Oh, I wasn't thinking so much about profit or loss as I was the total gross and how to interpret it when the media starts its inevitable editorializing about How America Reacts to a Gay Move. My point it that if by chance Brokeback Mountain comes out and makes $40m, that might perhaps say more about How America Reacts to Slow-Paced Love Stories Without Explosions or Sinking Ships than anything else.

Having received a bunch of Golden Globe nominations, Brokeback Mountain is now virtually guaranteed to make a nice profit overall--it only cost $14m to make. However, the fact that the producers have managed to sell the foreign rights in advance for more than $14m doesn't mean that the project as a whole is already profitable, only that the producers have managed to shift their financial risk to other people.

Remember Battlefield Earth? In that case the producer had presold the distribution rights for more than the cost of the movie, so even before the movie opened he could correctly say he had made money off the deal.

Does that mean Battlefield Earth was considered a rousing financial success? Nope, it just meant that when the movie bombed the people who took the financial beating were the people who bought the distribution rights, not the producer.

It does indeed mean that. The producing company has a responsibility to make a profit - this is, after all, a business. They played their cards very smartly, and now whatever the film brings in at the US box office is gravy. They've passed the burden of coin to others, but following that argument is like chasing your own tail.

Your points are valid, but you're bending the overall logic here to suit your needs. The bottom line is this: BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN is in the black. That's a major achievement. And it was also a great shield for Schamus and Lee to wield when the nitpickers came calling to bitch over the absurdity of making a "gay cowboy movie."

You want to argue the fine lines of the distribution game, I can't stop you. All I care about is North America at this point, and the future is looking rosy for this grand, lovely motion picture.

<b><u>"Brokeback Mountain" sweeps NY film critics awards</u></b>
Mon Dec 12, 2005 2:03 PM ET

<i>NEW YORK (Reuters)</i> - Gay cowboy romance "Brokeback Mountain" won three of the top four awards from the New York Film Critics Circle on Monday, gaining momentum as a critics' favorite for the Oscars.
The awards are among the second-tier prizes leading up to the March 5 Academy Awards.
Director Ang Lee's film is shaping up to be an Oscar contender despite concerns that its plot -- the relationship between two cowboys in Wyoming -- may offend conservative audiences.
The New York Film Critics Circle gave the movie awards for best film, best director and best actor, for Heath Ledger.

Wasnt it the whole point that they didnt know how to show their feelings?


I can't blame him.

I'm not a big Nathan Lane fan. He seems to always be "on" like some of the drama students I went to college with. Annoying.

************

I figure "Brokeback" will not play in Nashville until January. A friend of mine saw the poster up....so it will be here eventually.

I keep checking my theater listings to see if it's going to open anywhere here this Friday. So far, no dice. :(

Did anybody catch the Brokeback Mountain reference in the cartoon strip The Boondocks?

http://www.ucomics.com/boondocks/

Click on Monday, Dec. 5 and go through Saturday, Dec. 10.