"Why 'Brokeback Mountain' is so Frightening"

[Rowdyboy]

Leonard Pitts says it best (as usual) on "Brokeback Mountain"

"I went to see ''Brokeback Mountain'' last week, mainly to prove to myself that I could." <snip>

"Now look, I say, and suddenly there's this wheedling tone to my voice, some of my best friends are gay. Heck, my own brother's gay. But you know, we are talking about a love story between two guys, and they might be kissing and, you know, touching and . . . stuff.

The little voice falls silent. It is a put-your-money-where-your-mouth-is silence.

So I went to see ''Brokeback.'' And I can report that it was as shattering and powerful as advertised. People were moved. Nobody threw up."

http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_3381236

[radio4progressives]

1. saw it last night - very moving, very powerful & brilliant film making

i hope it wins oscars... it was just stunning.

[leftchick]

3. I wish I had seen it last night

We went to see Munich. That was a disappointment. :(

[Radio_Lady]

14. Check out my thread from last night -- many more opinions on this flick.

On Friday, January 13th, I'm planning to record an audio program about "Brokeback Mountain" and other 2005 films. Internet playback date will be Monday, January 15 at 1PM Pacific Time. (Please adjust for your time zone.) I'll PM other details to those who are interested.

Join either thread with your opinions or observations on films, especially those dealing with sexual identity, conflict, or alternative viewpoint. Particular in the mix will be "Capote" (Philip Seymour Hoffman's performance for Best Actor), "Transamerica" (Felicity Huffman's performance as a man planning sexual reassignment as a woman) and of course "Brokeback Mountain" (two young actors who "put their careers on the line" to play two cowboys in love).

If I use your quote, your DU screen name will be mentioned. Thanks for your participation.

In peace, Radio_Lady in Oregon

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2028369

[Rowdyboy]

24. Your program sounds fascinating....I wish you all the best and will

be happy to help if you need it.

[Radio_Lady]

39. Thanks, Rowdyboy!

I appreciate your comments!

[Radio_Lady]

16. Re: "Munich" -- I couldn't wait for that movie to be over.

***SPOILER AHEAD***



The premise, that the Israelis and others were revenging the deaths of the eleven Palestinian perpetrators of the 1972 Olympic massacre -- gets twiddled and fiddled into the notion that "these people HAD A HAND in planning the 1972 event." (Direct verbiage from the soundtrack.)

Great. This movie should have used the original book title which was "Vengeance."

When that fact was revealed, I felt totally suckered and betrayed. Another revelation is that the movie was filmed on the island of Malta. Nothing was really what it seemed, and at the bottom of it, I can't imagine either the Israelis or the Palestinians would have wanted to cooperate with the filming.

The only interesting character in that movie was Lynn Cohen as Golda Meir. I'm looking forward to seeing Daniel Craig as James Bond. Also, I did like Geoffrey Rush, because I think he is a tremendous actor. There was an especially heart-rendering scene at the end -- when we are looking straight at the World Trade Towers intact as two of the main characters talk. I assume that was a CGI shot with the Towers added in.

Eric Bana is a good looking guy and he did an amazing and sensitive job. I happened to hear him last week on David Letterman's show and I could barely understand his thick Australian accent. I disagree completely with the violent sexual scene where he was supposed to be "reliving" the events while copulating angrily with his wife. That was just so unnecessary and very discomforting.

However, Steven Spielberg might well get some awards for this film. Not from me. "Munich" did not make my top ten films -- and if I had to name twenty films, it still wouldn't be there.

In peace,

Radio_Lady

[leftchick]

21. excellent review

I agree completely with you. Especially the last segment with his wife. WTF was that about? It was awful and unnecessary. :puke:

[Rowdyboy]

22. I also didn't get it....

:shrug:

[LittleClarkie]

71. I thought I heard that one of it's themes was that

"violence begets violence" in that in seeking vengence, the cycle was perpetuated. Seemed like a worthy enough theme.

[joeybee12]

18. It's Steven Spielberg, and TIME loved it...has to be bad...

...I don't think Steven can do emotion at all--even in the ones he won Oscars for--every emotion was forced. It's a DVD pick for me, since it's probably something I should see because of the topic.

[radio4progressives]

42. really??? hmm.. i was looking forward to seeing that film too..

can you say why you were disappointed with Munich in a few words?

[leftchick]

44. too long for one....

perhaps my expectations were too high but I found it not compelling at all, I actually fell asleep! I haven't done that at a movie since "the longest yard"!

I wanted to see Syriana but was outvoted. I will see brokeback with my girlfriends.

[Radio_Lady]

55. You may not like "Syriana" either. I just gave it a "C" because of

the excellent work of the various actors. However, I found the exposition muddled and confusing, with four plots running simultaneously. The director has maintained, with a very cavalier attitude, if you don't understand it, it's YOUR problem. Go see it again. (Huh?)

Check out some of the reviews at www.metacritic.com before you go.

The Hollywood Reporter
Kirk Honeycutt
The character and geographical jumps leave you in a muddle with thinly sketched personalities and confusing plot points. Worse, dialogue dense with nuance and shaded meaning flies by too quickly.

Baltimore Sun
Michael Sragow
The movie comes together like a nihilistic jigsaw puzzle - with a few pieces removed for that special, indefinable dash of pseudo-density.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer
William Arnold
It's simply not a very good movie. Its story line is populated with so many characters and meaningless names that it's nearly impossible to follow, and its author's message doesn't amount to much more than a cry of despair.

The Onion (A.V. Club)
Keith Phipps
Gaghan brings in many more players, but edits the film into the lean, propulsive shape of a thriller. That ends up being something of a problem; some sub-plots never fully untangle and characters get lost as Gaghan rushes toward a conclusion that, taken on its own, is the stuff of a slightly hysterical leftie pamphlet.

Miami Herald
Rene Rodriguez
Gaghan is attempting to cover so much ground in Syriana that the movie at times feels a little suffocating.

Slate
David Edelstein
A grim, twisty international conspiracy picture that challenges the audience on every level, political and aesthetic. The aesthetic part is a bit of an obstacle, though. I can't remember a time I had as much trouble--at a movie I admired--just figuring out what the hell was going on.

The New Yorker
David Denby
A major film without being a great film. It's a strange movie, and a stunningly pessimistic one, and the strangeness and pessimism connect it to other recent American films in ways that suggest that something unhappy in the national mood has crept into the movies.

Christian Science Monitor
Peter Rainer
Syriana falls down at the most basic storytelling level, and this incoherence damages even the good parts.

[Rowdyboy]

17. We haven't had a chance to see it yet but are waiting to drive to .....

Birmingham, Memphis, Little Rock, or whereever the hell we have to go to see it.

[Radio_Lady]

36. I predict if the Golden Globes give it one or more nods on Jan. 16,

the film will increase its number of screens markedly. Hopefully, your area will be included in that number as the movie exhibitors decide it's in their best financial interest to open this film.

Live Telecast on NBC Television on January 16, 2006 at 8:00 pm EST

Remember, this is the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, a limited membership organization not without its own unusual membership issues, and a real precursor to the Academy Award event nominations on January 31, with the TV show on March 5, 2006.

http://www.hfpa.org/

http://www.forbes.com/2006/01/06/golden-globes-oscars-cx_gl_0106autofacescan10.html

[savemefromdumbya]

2. what would be frightening about men kissing?

goes on all the time
:evilgrin:

[1620rock]

5. Umm, well there was that photo of ...

Shrub kissing his Saudi buddy....looked pretty frightening to me. :wow:

[SPKrazy]

11. Who knows?

It isn't frightening, and I plan to see the movie.

I won't be seeing it to watch men kiss, I'll be seeing it because it has gotten good ratings and I want to see movies like that.

[Radio_Lady]

59. I like your reasoning, Southpawkicker! Exceptional ratings for a

small film that had a great deal of difficulty being made for years.

[hlthe2b]

4. well here's one straight woman, who finds all this hysteria

among the "manly men" to be absolutely gut-bustingly funny.

Goodness gracious. If they go see a movie about a serial killer, are they secretly terrified they might go out and axe the old lady at the corner bus stop? Do these guys never watch Will and Grace? Did they never see the Birdcage or any other movie, play, or tv show that touched on homosexuality? ....:shrug: Well, all rightee, then...

[0007]

29. The Bridcage was excellent!

[FreedomAngel82]

35. It is sad and funny and I betcha

all these guys grossing out about it would be in the theatre in a flash if it was lesbians. :eyes:

[Radio_Lady]

61. Some straight men have expressed the feeling that the only thing a

lesbian woman needs to "straighten her out" is a well-endowed man with good sexual technique!

On the other hand, I am a straight woman who worked with homosexual men in two career fields (theater arts and hairdressing). I always felt a great kinship with them because they were interested in the things that I was and they were usually very kind and considerate on a personal level. Funny and sweet and incorporating into their personalities lots of "feminine" qualities, which was in no way bad!

[Karenina]

67. Yurbud posted this last year.

I cached it cuz I laughed SO HARD and if you missed it, get ready for another belly-laugh...

yurbud Donating member (1000+ posts) Sat Apr-23-05 06:50 PM
Response to Original message
15. The real reason men oppose gay marriage


By Les Veeryl


Legalizing gay marriage will undermine marriage and family for one simple reason: most men find it extremely difficult remaining heterosexual.

Only cultural pressure forces us to seek the company of women and competition with other men drives us to find the most attractive women, just as it drives us to buy the biggest SUV.

This is also why once we have gone to all the trouble seduce a woman, our sexual encounters are so brutal, brief, and disappointing for the woman. As much as we try not to think about it, it’s just not a man.

Most women become unconsciously aware of this over the course of their marriage, which is why they cut their hair progressively shorter and cultivate the physique of John Madden, hoping the resemblance will catch our eye and rekindle our original feigned passion.

The cultural norm of heterosexuality forces us to channel our desires into sports, so we have the excuse to touch each other in violence that society would not allow in love. As we grow older, this pattern continues with male exclusive outings like golf, hunting, and fishing. Wealthy men feel less of a necessity to preserve the façade of woman lovers and have male only clubs, where than can merrily chat naked in steam rooms and smoke cigars.

It is torture enough to be forced by our wives to watch Will & Grace and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and see the care-free life of abandoning society’s blind devotion to procreation. I have to remind myself that it’s just a TV show, that there aren’t really people like that in the world.

But what if men were allowed to marry?

That could be enough to push many of us over the edge.

If I knew society would tolerate my true orientation, what would stop me from telling that blonde guy at the club that he looks good in the shower, and then asking him out for more than a beer? And unlike a woman, who requires months of pleading and showering with gifts before sex, another man would gladly give it up in the parking lot on the way to get the beer.

What would make my son, a handsome running back who just started shaving his chest, strive to achieve at school and establish a career if he knew instead he could simply find an older sugar daddy to marry who will shower him with gifts and pedicures?

President Bush has proposed banning gay marriage not out of ignorance prejudice or spite, but personal necessity. On a trip to Canada a while back, he said to the Prime Minister’s press secretary:

Well, you got a pretty face. You got a pretty face. You're a good-looking guy. Better looking than my Scott anyway.Text


More recently, he actually had a gay prostitute pretend to be a reporter in White House press conferences as some sort of role-playing fetish.

If even our president can barely restrain his homosexual impulses, isn’t obvious that a constitutional amendment banning marriage is all that stands between us and a fashion-conscious, color-coordinated, poodle-walking Armageddon?

[leftofthedial]

6. eeeewwwww! guys kissing and touching each other, you know,

*that* way . . .

-shudder-

what if it turns me queer?

[EuroObserver]

13. Anyone, I mean anyone, male or female

Touches you there: you know what's gonna happen.

Love,

EuroObserver.

[Blue_In_AK]

15. My husband always covered his eyes

whenever Keith and David would kiss on Six Feet Under. Cracked me up.

[Radio_Lady]

62. Cute. We didn't watch that show, but the promos were always intriguing!

[Cocoa]

7. because of that study about homophobes and gay porn

deep down they're asking themselves, what if I go and end up getting a woody?

[Scurrilous]

8. LOL

Reminds me of that Seinfeld episode where George is uneasy about getting a massage from a guy and later remarks "I think it moved."

[LizW]

19. LOL! I was just thinking about that episode!

That's why some straight men are so afraid of seeing "Brokeback". They are literally terrified that "it" might move, and what would that mean?

Nothing, by the way. In my opinion. Haven't most adult men figured out by now that "it" has a mind of "its" own and you can read anything into every twitch?

[hlthe2b]

9. Snarf....

Do they think there are sensors in the theater? :rofl:

Denial is not just a river in Egypt...!

[I Have A Dream]

10. Yep, you hit the nail on the head. n/t

[leftchick]

12. that is the truth!

sad isn't it?

[Radio_Lady]

63. Y'know something? As a female, sometimes I get excited when I

see animals getting it on -- in documentaries on PBS and "Animal Planet." Last night, A&E had a show on "Young Swingers" getting together in NYC. I don't and didn't become a swinger, maybe more out of fear than desire. However, the idea is intriguing...

C'mon, folks. Sexual arousal is a basic instinct. I embrace it rather than denying it. It has gotten me into some difficult situations through my life, but it's still there.

In peace,

Radio_Lady

[karlrschneider]

20. Speaking of "ick factor", can anybody explain to me why the image of

a guy nailed to a couple of boards, bleeding from all orifices (and places where no orifices pre-existed) is in some way inspiring or uplifting?

[Radio_Lady]

23. Very interesting comment, Karl. That's why I elected not to see...

"The Passion of the Christ," Mel Gibson's movie with subtitled English over Aramaic. Just not my cup of tea at this point in my life.

[karlrschneider]

26. I wouldn't pay money to see POTC either but then I don't go to movies

anyway...I think they last one we went was about 19 years ago. :D but I'll give most any of them at least a trial when they're free (well, as part of our middle-tier Dish package anyhoo)

[Rowdyboy]

25. I don't have a clue to explaining the success of "Passion of the Christ"

But millions paid money to see it and, in America, what else matters? :shrug:

[karlrschneider]

27. Not much else matters apparently to most people. I've had many chances

to be a LOT richer than I am but the means to the end have generally left me a bit cold. I have everything I need, if not everything I want ;-)
but I can live with that.

[Radio_Lady]

33. The Passion of the Christ currently is at #10 in the Top Movie Domestic...

DOMESTIC GROSSES of all time, according to Box Office Mojo

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/domestic.htm

DOMESTIC GROSSES OF ALL TIME

#1–100
Data as of: Today

Rank Title(click to view) Studio Lifetime Gross Year
1 Titanic Par. $600,788,188 1997
2 Star Wars Fox $460,998,007 1977^
3 Shrek 2 DW $441,226,247 2004
4 E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial Uni. $435,110,554 1982^
5 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace Fox $431,088,301 1999
6 Spider-Man Sony $403,706,375 2002
7 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith Fox $380,270,577 2005
8 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King NL $377,027,325 2003
9 Spider-Man 2 Sony $373,585,825 2004
10 The Passion of the Christ NM $370,782,930 2004^

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/domestic.htm

Interestingly enough, I think James Caviezel is a good actor and have given him some high marks in other films.

[GliderGuider]

40. top 10 as per Zip.ca

FYI
This site makes adjustments for inflation. Taking this into
account, POTC has a ways to go to catch up.

(subscription only)
http://www.zip.ca/Browse/index.aspx

TOP BOX OFFICE OF ALL-TIME

Adjusted to the estimated 2005 average ticket price of $6.40.
Inflation-adjustment is mostly done by multiplying estimated
admissions by the latest average ticket price. Where
admissions are unavailable, adjustment is based on the average
ticket price for when each movie was released (taking in to
account re-releases where applicable). Year is the first year
of initial release.


Adjusted Gross    Unadjusted Gross
1. Gone With The Wind (1939)                      
$1,293,085,600    $198,676,459

2. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)      
$1,139,965,400    $460,998,007

3. The Sound of Music (1965)                        
$911,458,400    $158,671,368

4. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)                
$907,867,700    $435,110,554

5. The Ten Commandments (1956)                      
$838,400,000    $650,500,000

6. Titanic (1997)                                   
$821,413,700    $600,788,188

7. Jaws (1975)                                      
$819,704,400    $260,000,000

8. Doctor Zhivago (1965)                            
$794,466,900    $111,721,910

9. The Exorcist (1973)                              
$707,639,500    $232,671,011

10. Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs (1937)          
$697,600,000    $184,925,486


BTW (and completely off-topic), my MIL, the theologian, says
that Hotel Rwanda tells a much more accurate story of
sacrifice and redemption and last year used it at Easter to
get the point accross to her Sunday school classes. 

[Radio_Lady]

41. Welcome, Glider Guider! Thanks for the information!

I hate for anyone to think that I'm not in touch with film
finances, but I'm not. I'm not even in touch with my own
finances, ever since my husband took over banking on the
Internet. Thank goodness he's a whiz in math. If anything
happens to him, I'll be in deep SH**! 

I'm terrible in math and still remember what my college
entrance counselor said after testing me, "Ellen's low
ranking -- below 50% compared with other freshmen in
mathematics capabilities -- is correlated with her lack of
interest in the subject."  Luckily, I was over 99% in
spelling, English and natural science.  I manage to keep
myself reasonably straight with the help of calculators and my
fingers... sometimes, my toes.  :sarcasm:  
Fortunately, I graduated cum laude from the University of
Miami, Coral Gables, Florida (otherwise known as "Suntan
U." in those days) with a B.A. degree in Television,
Radio and Film, and minors in Psychology and English. 

If you are still reading this and even vaguely interested, my
husband and I were among the first persons to purchase a Texas
Instruments calculator (BIG deal when they first came out). 
The device cost $81.00 at the time, not adjusted for 2005
prices, of course!  I was very happy to get it! 

Must admit, also, that I've never heard of zip.ca, but glad to
know it exists. 

Good night and good luck! 

Radio_Lady

[GliderGuider]

51. Is there a smiley for "giggle out loud"?

(I'm not GliderGuider, I'm his partner using his logon and I couldn't resist answering.)

That list from Zip.ca wasn't a criticism. It was just another list with different numbers for comparison. (And I agree with my Mum that POTC is a lousy way to tell the story of Christ's sacrifice.)

"Ellen's low ranking -- below 50% compared with other freshmen in mathematics capabilities -- is correlated with her lack of interest in the subject."
THAT'S funny! I can relate! I studied 17th century French lit part-time at Wilfrid Laurier U while doing Grade 13. The first thing I did when I got out of high school was enroll in a Baccalaureate programme for French with a minor in Linguistics. Buh-bye Math forever!

I flunked Math so badly in Grade 13. Calculators had only just come out for regular people (1979) and I remember they were prohibitively expensive. Trouble is, the Math teacher thought we should all have one and wrote tests accordingly. People with a calculator completed tests while we poor kids calculated square roots and matrices by hand and didn't have a prayer.

Compare with GliderGuider... last night he obsessed over where to place his speakers and stereo and chair, measuring and shifting furniture about to within millimeters to comply with some wave thingy to arrange his room so that sound bounces into his ears more smoothly. *yawn* As someone whose business is sound, perhaps you can relate. Me, I'm lost.

As for Zip.ca, it's a DVD rental service that I LOVE. They mail you the movies and provide a stamped, self-addressed envelope for returning it. The turn-around rate is usually less than 2 days.
You create a list of movies you want to see. When you return one, they select a new one from your list. You never know what you're going to get, but you know you're going to get something you want to see. I like the surprises.
You pay a flat fee every month no matter how many movies you rent. You can have up to 4 out at any time. There's no such thing as late fees. If I want to keep a movie for 6 months because the kids watch it over and over (and over and over...) then I can. There are search tools to find movies, even if all you know is one word in the title or you want to see everything by a particular actor or director.
Currently, I have The Merchant of Venice (with Al Pacino as Shylock, to help my 14-yr-old who HATES reading and who's studying the play in English. She was only mildly shocked by all the jiggly boobies.), The Celluloid Closet (a documentary about homosexuality in Hollywood), Finding Neverland (with Johnny Depp ~~swoon~~). I just returned Gaudi Afternoon (a chick-flick set in Barcelona) and they've sent me Philadelphia.

[Radio_Lady]

54. Zip.ca sounds like a winner. Netflix gets rave from those who use it.

I am doing film reviewing in Portland, OR for Oregon Public Broadcasting's service called "Golden Hours." I get to see most of the big US studio films at theaters, prior to release. I don't go to all of them -- that would be a killer, so I just pick and choose. The yearly choice is a huge number -- I have seen more than 200 films each year since I began doing this in 2001. Earlier on, I did film and book reviewing for major market radio stations in Miami and Boston; now I'm retired and doing it more for fun. My engineer husband also helps "ghost write" the reviews, or I ad-lib them during my weekly audio show, heard on the Internet and through Channel 10's secondary audio service here in Oregon and southern Washington.

Sometimes I hunger for small, independent films that don't get the marketing push, and regrettably, the main publicist for these kinds of films will not put me on his Portland press list (!). So there are always films that get past me and move to DVD or video. We pick them up later at about five VHS tapes for $20.00 US. Then, we watch them and sometimes trade them for others at a local second-hand store. It's not a bad deal.

Comcast.net, our Internet and cable provider, also has an on-demand service for many TV shows and films (watch, pause, rewind or record or do what you want for aroound $3.99. The show continues to be available for 24 hours after you purchase it.) There have been some nice surprises there.

Also, we have gravitated to films at www.FilmMovement.com. It's a subscription service out of New York, NY, where they supply a monthly DVD which is yours too keep. These are chosen from the output of the various worldwide film festivals. They distribute to a few theaters, but most of their business is from subscription. Larry Meistrich thought up the idea. He was a single father in New Jersey who figured it was too expensive to go out to dinner and a movie, plus parking, etc., in the NY Metropolitan area. So he charges a nominal figure to get you very interesting movies that you may otherwise never hear aboutl. I try my best to support his efforts.

Re: how my mate is aptituded. He blows me away with his engineering and math brain. He is exact almost to a fault -- you should see how he decides to hang a picture -- he has a whole kit to decide the proper hook, position, level, etc. etc. Perhaps I should say that I generally feel he is less spontaneous and spiritual than I am - but his way is very purpose driven and effective in his own right. I've learn to live with it and love it.

He just spent three months researching the best digital camera and finally purchased it. He dived into learning about all the features of the camera. (I took one look at the direction booklet and my eyes crossed forever. I've got the old Olympus 35mm and I'll be happy to use it.) Over the past two weeks, he went to many different stores to find the best table radio with AM/FM/CD player capabilities. I think we've finally arrived at a decision, but it was arduous for me. I wanted to browse the mall and have some lunch; he headed for the electronic stores and stayed there for 45 minutes or more at a shot!

I love to decorate, paint, and wallpaper rooms, and am more musically aptituded than he is. We both share superior verbal and written aptitudes, although my spelling is a bit better than his. We are both very dominant people -- he is the firstborn son with two younger sisters, I am an only child. Sometimes we struggle for control, and I have very strong opinions. However, we do less arguing than we used to earlier on, which is good.

Anyway, we are all so different and we change so much during a lifetime that it's amazing we make the decision to be with someone for life, certainly not like most of the "lower" animals. We have to adapt all along the way!

I agree with you that Johnny Depp is a a beautiful man. The thing that happens to you as you get older (I'll be 67 in May, 2006) is that most young people you might have been attracted to romantically in earlier years -- start looking like your sons (or daughters).

I hope you are having a good week. It's nice to get to know you on the DU!

Make peace a worldwide priority in 2006!

Radio_Lady in Oregon

[liberalhistorian]

28. I'm so anxious to see it,

especially since I read the Annie Proulx short story it's based on several years ago and loved it. I reread it this past weekend and found it even more moving than I remembered.

The problem is, I live in Rapid City, SD, and I don't think it'll be coming here anytime soon; I'll probably have to wait for the DVD. SIGH. I get so tired of other people thinking they have the right to make decisions for me and others as to what we'll see, read, watch, listen to, etc. If you don't like it, there's a simple solution: AVOID IT! But don't demand that everyone else do the same thing. And if you're so afraid of your kids seeing or hearing or reading it, then you must not have that much faith in them or that great a relationship.

[Rowdyboy]

31. Just curious, are you familiar with Kinky Friedman's tearjerker.....

"Rapid City South Dakota"

(kinky friedman)

Just a ragged kid in overalls, he thumbed a ride one day
He told me, ¡°anywhere you’re going’s on my way.¡±
But as we passed by big al’s drive-in his eyes began to flash
He was leavin’ rapid city mighty fast.

He said, ¡°i hope to God she finds the good-bye letter that I wrote her
But the mail don’t move so fast in rapid city, south dakota.¡±

Well, he left her just a blanket of snow upon the farm
And that don’t keep your conscience very warm.
He said his friends were too durn country and his pa was too damn mean
And there weren’t no money pumpin’ gasoline.

And her gentle eyes, the merchandise of dreams the peddler sold her
Who left her there alone in rapid city, south dakota.

Now the reason he was goin’, I ain’t sure I could say,
Might’ve been the rodeo in santa fé.
¡°there’s a doctor in chicago, I know she’ll be all right ¡±
He told himself as he stared into the night.

And he said, ¡°i hope to God she finds the good-bye letter that I wrote her
But the mail don’t move so fast in rapid city, south dakota.¡±

And all her people treatin’ her just like they never knowed her
Lord, the winter’s passin’ slow in rapid city, south dakota.


kinky friedman lyrics

* Cotton-eyed Joe
* Get Your Biscuits in The Oven & Your Buns in The Bed
* Put Another Log on The Fire
* They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore
* Luckenbach, Texas
* Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way ?
* Miss Nickelodeon

[liberalhistorian]

32. LOL,

no I've never heard that, but I've heard some of his other stuff. I just moved here from Cleveland this past summer. I love it here, so much better than OH, frankly. It's much less conservative than I thought it would be, and most of the conservatism comes from those at the Ellsworth AFB here.

And at least I have one Dem senator and the state's lone congressional rep is a Dem, whereas in OH both senators, the governor, the entire statewide leadership, most of the state senators and reps, and a good majority of the congress critters are all repub. And most are the crazy caveman kind of repub, too, and they're all running the state straight into the ground and getting nuttier all the time. At least here in SD, the repubs are, for the most part, much more moderate and there's a lot less partisan rancor and a lot more bipartisan cooperation in state politics.

[Liberal Veteran]

30. I saw it tonight.

It's really very simple why Brokeback Mountain frightens people. It shatters stereotypes. People like the funny stereotypical gay ala "The Birdcage" or "Wil and Grace", but a story about two people desperately in love with one another and yet their circumstance and environment keep them from just being together, that just isn't done. It's a movie that forces people to empathize with the main characters.

The most powerful message that comes from this film is that homophobia really does hurt people in so many different ways. And none of the characters in the movie was totally unscarred by it. Jacks parents struck me as particularly moving. The bottom line is everyone around them would have been much happier if Ennis and Jack could just be together.

[Radio_Lady]

37. Your review strikes a chord with me, Liberal Veteran.

At its heart, it's a fascinating and profound story. Annie Proulx touched a nerve in so many ways with her story, and it has been translated to the screen with the message intact.

[FreedomAngel82]

34. No throwing up?

No standing up and shaking fists at the screen or protesting in the theatre room? :shrug:

[Radio_Lady]

38. The only "protest" we saw was during the preview prior to opening

here in Portland.

The film was shown without the usual film headers (possibly the exciter lamp burned out), absent the film studio logos, and any titles provided prior to the actual beginning of the film.

The first scene we saw was when the two individuals drove into Randy Quaid's yard to get the sheepherding work, and they introduced themselves.

About 15 people in the audience walked out and elected to stay for TWO OR MORE HOURS until the next showing, which was completely sold out.

The theater manager also gave them free tickets to another screening of another movie just to soothe them.

People were determined to have the whole experience as promised.

[PBass]

43. missing the opening...

"People were determined to have the whole experience as promised."

Yup, I know some folks who will skip a movie if they think they're going to be a minute late getting to the theater.

I liked Brokeback Mountain, however I am kind of nit-picky and I didn't think it was a perfect film. I would have done some things differently, if it was me.

The best thing I can say about Brokeback Mountain (besides the awesome photography) is that it will stay with you for a little while... I saw it 2 weeks ago and I'm still thinking about the movie and trying to digest the whole thing. This tends to happen with me occasionally and usually these are the movies that I end up ranking very highly (the films of David Lynch do this for me... I leave the theater saying "????" but weeks later I'm still coming to terms with what I saw, and liking the film even more.)

Compare this with the typical Hollywood film which you totally forget about, five minutes after you leave the theater...

[ieoeja]

65. Main Speaker at Fellowship Of The Ring went out.

With just a few minutes left. They gave us free tickets for any movie we wanted then put it back on to finish when we said we'd like to at least see what we could when we were that close to the end.

Being a huge Lord of the Rings fan, I provided the dialog for the last five minutes...

"Frodo?"

"Yes, Sam?"

"I love you."

"Well, I love you too Sam."

"No, I mean I love you like, you know ... that."

"What are you saying Sam?"

"Well, it was just watching your tight little hobbit butt in front of me as we climbed that last hill"... I think you get the gist.


Oddly nobody seemed to mind Sam & Frodo going over Brokeback Mountain on their way to Mordor.

[xchrom]

45. kick

[Bucky]

46. I find any movie in which people deal with their feelings offensive.

I go to the movies to watch shit blow up. If nothing blows up, it's a chick flick. Sorry. I took my daughter and my friend to see Brokeback, but I went in to King Kong instead. Not that I'm equating homosexuality with bestiality, mind you. But in King Kong LOTS of stuff blew up. It was an excellent movie.

[Rowdyboy]

47. If Ang Lee had just had Ennis and Jack blow up a couple of buildings

the movie could have damn near universal popularity!

LOL, you're right-guys do like to watch things blow up!

[ieoeja]

66. I'm with Bucky! n/t

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

48. Larry David: "Cowboys Are My Weakness"

(...)

To my surprise, I have some straight friends who've not only seen the movie but liked it.
"One of the best love stories ever," one gushed. Another went on, "Oh, my God, you completely forget that it's two men. You in particular will love it."

"Why me?"
"You just will, trust me."

But I don't trust him. If two cowboys, male icons who are 100 percent all-man, can succumb, what chance to do I have, half- to a quarter of a man, depending on whom I'm with at the time?
I'm a very susceptible person, easily influenced, a natural-born follower with no sales-resistance. When I walk into a store, clerks wrestle one another trying to get to me first. My wife won't let me watch infomercials because of all the junk I've ordered that's now piled up in the garage. My medicine cabinet is filled with vitamins and bald cures.

I'm a very susceptible person, easily influenced, a natural-born follower with no sales-resistance. When I walk into a store, clerks wrestle one another trying to get to me first. My wife won't let me watch infomercials because of all the junk I've ordered that's now piled up in the garage. My medicine cabinet is filled with vitamins and bald cures.

(...)

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/01/02/opinion/eddavid.php

Original URL:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/01/opinion/01david.html

(& spot the Seinfeld reference at the end!)

[Radio_Lady]

49. Hi Monkey -- Thanks for posting this! We love Larry David on HBO's

"Curb Your Enthusiasm" -- this is a pretty funny piece -- in true Larry David fashion!

Hey, Heath and Jake are REAL cute! I might have wanted to f**k them when I was younger, but now that I'm a married, heterosexual female of almost 67 years old, it would be fine if we could just cuddle!

Here's Heath smiling at me from USA Today! I'll bring the milk and cookies, kiddo!

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2006-01-09-brokeback-date-movie-main_x.htm

[JuneInJax]

50. Not on one screen

in Jacksonville, FL. And I doubt it will be. Might as well be in South Dakota. ;) Let's put it this way, a few months back there was a Bruce Springsteen documentary to show one night only, a Monday night, in theaters in advance of the re-release of "Born to Run." It was a 30th anniversary celebration of the album. A group of fans here in Jax contacted the booking company and the local theater they work with, but no dice. We even offered to buy enough tickets so they would at least break even. No. It's because of Bruce being a "super liberal" and supporting Kerry in '04. If a Springsteen documentary is too much for this town, imagine how unwelcome two gay cowboys would be. x( If it shows somewhere I can get to, I will drive to see it.
Moni

[Radio_Lady]

56. Fandango.com shows it playing (or coming up Jan. 13th) in Jacksonville!

Perhaps it's just expanding in your market on 01/13/06. That's what I am seeing at www.fandango.com. You can purchase tickets in advance.

Check these out for Friday showings:

Cinemark Tinseltown
4535 Southside Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32225
904-998-2122

Regal The Avenues Stadium 20
9525 Phillips Highway
Jacksonville, FL 32256
904-538-3892

Good luck!

Radio_Lady

[JuneInJax]

68. WOW!!!

Excellent news, thank you, RL!!!
:)
Moni

[Radio_Lady]

69. No problem, Moni. Glad to do it. The Internet makes my job much

easier and more fun, too!

In peace,

Radio_Lady

[Hyernel]

52. It's frightening to Dubya, 'cause he afraid of horses.

/Didn't see the movie
//Not interested in seeing it either

[Radio_Lady]

57. You're speaking for yourself, not Dubya, right?

Cute comment. No problem, Hyernel.

It's not everyone's cup of tea, just like every other film.

In peace,

Radio_Lady

Here on horseback with husband in San Antonio:

[Mutley]

53. I find it... interesting

that the same people who can look at pictures of the burned, broken, shot-up bodies in Iraq (from BOTH sides) and still cheer this war can't go see a movie where "they might be kissing and, you know, touching and . . . stuff."

[Radio_Lady]

58. Great comment... and fascinating observation.

When I see same-sex couples touching or kissing, in movies or in person (Provincetown, Massachusetts comes to mind), I do feel curious sometimes, and wonder how it might feel to have those kinds of feelings.

However, it's no match for the total and complete revulsion I feel looking at mangled bodies.

[Freedom_Aflaim]

60. About watching "frightening" movies

I certainly wouldnt put this movie into the frightening category. But if it were, so WHAT?

Hollywood puts out slasher and other scary movies all the time...and with those you don't hear the righties complaining.

Having said that, watching two men kiss is not my idea of a good time. Having lived in a very conservative area most of my life(i've since moved), seeing two guys kiss is a relatively rare thing to see and honestly my instintive response is to find it a bit disturbing until I correct myself(which all happens in a second or two). But thats my own problem and I would NEVER make it someone elses. The only reason anyone would know about that internal reaction is because I just told you.

So even if you think its disturbing and not a good time...SO WHAT?

One of the greatest movies of all time is Schindlers List. Now *THAT* was a disturbing and scary movie. I found myself in shock watching that movie, yet I believe that watching that movie was a valuable experience for me. (Now don't over react here, Im not comparing the slaughter of Jews to being Gay...Im comparing a VERY disturbing response to a movie, to an uncomfortable response to a movie).

Bottom line....learning about things that are outside your comfort zone makes you a better person. The more movies like Brokeback mountain are made and viewed, the more that people will realize that there is nothing wrong with being gay and people reactions to it will become, well non reactions (and I could use some of that myself). Watching this movie has the potential to make you a better person.

I plan to see this movie as soon as I can...and the righties just need to get over themselves.

[Radio_Lady]

64. Freedom, you've said some fascinating things. I felt that way about

"Schindler's List," and I was raised as a Jew. Also, "Saving Private Ryan" left me in a state of shock for days afterwards. When I saw it again on television, it didn't have the same impact as it did in the theater.

[Pushed To The Left]

70. I saw it with my girlfriend over the weekend

Very good movie with great acting! I think it will pick up some Academy Awards this year.