I finally got tired of reading the debates and the diatribes. I sat myself down and watched the film twice in one week. And I wrote a review that was ten pages long.
Then, deciding that I wanted at least one person to read it, I did a severe edit.
Here’s my in-depth… but hopefully not insufferable… review of Brokeback Mountain.
From the review: If we decide that morality and natural urges are equal, we justify all manner of destructive behavior, from pedophilia to bestiality to murder.
It strikes me that the postmodern “discovery” that all things are permissible because they are all natural–and because we have just now finally progressed to this knowledge through millennia of religion-imposed ignorance–is, quite literally, the oldest lie in the book (“…when you taste it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil”). And the attitude of our contemporary culture implies a belief that the story of the Fall (humanity’s seizing of forbidden knowledge) isn’t the story to point to as the blueprint for where our troubles began–no, we want to blame it on Babel, and thus on the way God has frustrated humanity’s attempts to dominate the sphere of meaning. We want not only to know good and evil but to define it to our liking.
Nice review, Jeff.
This movie garnered so much uncritical praise and uncritical condemnation because it has a gay sex scene in it. It is as simple as that. Did Tom Hanks and his lover have a sex scene in “Philadelphia”? Did Robin Williams and his lover have a sex scene in “The Bird Cage”?
Fantastic review, as always…
Thanks so much for the post + link, Jeffrey.
Love the “rich young ruler” analogy. For once, I can nod along and agree with something Barbara says. 🙂
Hahaha Peter I came to post the exact same thing. I really did like the comparison there.
My only contention is that I believe there is coming a day where technology is slowing making the ability to make films far more accessible. Still requires the enormous passion and grunt work to get it done but I believe it’s only a matter of time before people don’t have to sit like dogs at the table of Hollywood producers and studios waiting for the crumbs. The only thing is is it is going to take not only a love for the cinematic art but also a strong sense of business and ideas to be able to market such things. So until someone comes around and literally revolutionizes the way to approach making a film outside the studios….we’re stuck.
>At 4:08 PM, Peter T Chattaway said…
Love the “rich young ruler” analogy. For once, I can nod along and >agree with something Barbara says. 🙂
Oh, wow. Now, I can die….
🙂 backatcha Peter –
🙂