11/26/2003
Cowboy Love
Well it looks like "Brokeback Mountain" is finally going to be a go, directed by Ang Lee. It's the adaptation of a sublime short story of the same name by the Pulitzer Prize winner Annie Proulx, whose novel The Shipping News ranks among my top five favorite books. "Brokeback Mountain", which was published four years ago in The New Yorker and is included in her short story collection Close Range: Wyoming Stories, tells the story of Jack Twist and Ennis del Mar (the best fucking names for cowboys, ever), two ranch hands who fall in love in the summer of 1961. The story, though short in length, is epic in its emotion and temporal breadth. It is one of a few stories that has left me in tears. Here's an excerpt of Proulx's gorgeous prose:
What Jack remembered and craved in a way he could neither help nor understand was the time that distant summer on Brokeback when Ennis had come up behind him and pulled him close, the silent embrace satisfying some shared and sexless hunger.
They had stood that way for a long time in front of the fire, its burning tossing ruddy chunks of light, the shadow of their bodies a single column against the rock. The minutes ticked by from the round watch in Ennis's pocket, from the sticks in the fire settling into coals. Stars bit through the wavy heat layers above the fire. Ennis's breath came slow and quiet, he hummed, rocked a little in the sparklight and Jack leaned against the steady heartbeat, the vibrations of the humming like faint electricity and, standing, he fell into sleep that was not sleep but something else drowsy and tranced until Ennis, dredging up a rusty but still useable phrase from the childhood time before his mother died, said, "Time to hit the hay, cowboy. I got a go..."
After passing through the hands of several directors including Gus van Sant, the script is finally being given the green light by Focus Features with Lee at the helm. I hope he does it justice. It's hard to translate the rich detail and character studies of Proulx's writing to the screen — as Lasse Hallstrom found out when he left us with his somnolent adaptation of The Shipping News. Diana Ossana and Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove) are adapting it. Now if Colin Farrell and Brad Pitt played the cowboys, that would be a wet dream come true.
I encourage you to buy the book but you can read the full story online here.
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 3:01 AM EST by Andy in Film & TV | Permalink
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Is that picture of Eric McCormack?
Posted by: Adam | Nov 26, 2003 12:47:58 PM
This is one of my favorite Proulx pieces. Ang Lee is an interesting choice for director. I definitely think you should be the casting ageent on this film. Oh, and I am totally stealing that Farrell picture for wallpaper :-)
Posted by: Albert | Nov 26, 2003 12:50:20 PM
It's Colin Farrell of course, and it's my original photograph. Of course, I did snap it off the cover of last month's GQ. But that still makes it mine, right? It's definitely not Eric McCormack. Love him, but I don't think he could ever look that butch.
Posted by: andy | Nov 26, 2003 12:52:38 PM
Ohhhh, duh. Should've known.
I dunno, Eric played a cowboy in some show way before W&G and wore a beard, if I recall... and pulled off butch better than you'd think...
Posted by: Adam | Nov 26, 2003 8:16:38 PM
There's reason for hope -- Ang Lee did such a fine job with his art-house films, particularly The Ice Storm (adapted from a novel), the Wedding Banquet, and Eat Drink Man Woman. Maybe now that he's done a couple of big action movies, maybe it's out of his system and he can go back to more intimate work.
And off-topic: thanks for the link -- your site is great!
Posted by: Cheshire | Nov 26, 2003 9:07:43 PM
One of the best movie shorts I've seen is part of the Boys Life series. It was called "Arkansas". Someone should send it to Ang Lee to peruse.
Posted by: Different Albert | Nov 30, 2003 11:45:35 PM
The actors most likely at this point are going to be Jake Gellynhal and Heath Ledger.
Posted by: mikel1814 | Mar 26, 2004 9:40:15 PM
I cried too. Some people find their Mr. Right too soon to realize what they've found.
Posted by: Ken | Jun 9, 2004 11:20:42 PM
"the best fucking names for cowboys, ever"
Like how?
Ennis del Mar sounds like some Mexican drug dealer.
Posted by: Sylf | Sep 8, 2004 2:38:33 AM
where can the full text be read online?
Posted by: frankie | Mar 9, 2005 11:51:49 PM
Is there any doubt that the porn industry will realease a film called "Bareback Mountain"? Mark my words! It "WILL" happen. X.O.A.
Posted by: Xyane | Apr 1, 2005 11:59:31 PM
Anyone catch the cover of Entertainment Weekly with Jake G. on it? OMG!!!
Posted by: Ste | Apr 21, 2005 1:17:29 PM
a certain someone can't spell Jakes name right it's GYLLENHAAL!
Posted by: it's Whatserface | Sep 1, 2005 8:53:23 AM
I have tried feverishly to locate a copy of the Brokeback Mountain book, and as well I have looked for an Online version to read, and to no avail, please let me know how I may get a copy. According to the Borders Stores, it is not due to be released until November...
Posted by: Travis Moosman | Sep 15, 2005 3:14:54 PM
This is such a beautiful short story, read the original book first its full of detail that cameras cannot capture>>>> The original copy is available at amazon.com...The movie tie-in is due out in november....
Posted by: romancingthisCity | Sep 28, 2005 2:12:09 AM
I got a copy of the whole Wyoming book on eBay for about $8 plus shipping. Made myself read all the other stories before the last one, Brokeback Mountain. Every word among the most colorful writing I've ever read! I suspected that final story would have me in tears, but lord, I could hardly get through the last couple of pages! I'm dying to see what Ang Lee has done with this uncompromising story of love, regardless of the stars.
Posted by: Rand | Sep 28, 2005 1:58:31 PM
Hey Frankie and anyone else who wants the free online copy of Brokeback Mountain, I found it at:
http://ennislovedjack.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Falkri | Dec 29, 2005 7:04:14 PM
just thought I'd mention, after googling ferociously for several hours I found a full online copy of the short story Brokeback Mountain (that blog site doesn't work nor does the amazon excerpt) and if this site stops working too, email me and I'll post it somewhere because people deserve to be able to read it.
http://www.outspokenclothing.com/brokeback.html
Posted by: call | Feb 7, 2006 7:49:27 AM
Call, that link doesn't work anymore :-( rudeness! Is there any chance you can post the full thing online or does anyone know of any other links to it?
Posted by: Lady | Feb 28, 2006 7:30:46 PM
Hey, failed to get one after trying linking to any site mentioned above. Can anyone help to send that valid site or the copy of the whole story to my email address grace@foxitsoftware.com. Had seen that movie directed by Ang Lee and wanted to read the original one to feel something else if possible.
Posted by: Gracie | Mar 19, 2006 12:18:10 AM
Hey, it said there was a place we could read the entire story online (Close Range), but i couldn't find it. only a place to buy the book...i kinda need some help.
Posted by: Bmoore | Mar 26, 2006 11:50:22 PM
I find it eerie that you "cast" Colin Farrell (as Ennis, I'm presuming) before Heath and Jake were announced.
That picture you posted of Colin from GQ looks just like Heath!
Posted by: Piper | Apr 27, 2006 2:30:05 PM
I find it eerie that you "cast" Colin Farrell (as Ennis, I'm presuming) before Heath and Jake were announced.
That picture you posted of Colin from GQ looks just like Heath!
Posted by: Piper | Apr 27, 2006 2:30:08 PM
Hi
Nice site! Wery Good! (Sry for my bad englesh)
Posted by: viagrabuy | Jun 28, 2007 12:47:33 AM
m727k
Posted by: ro120ck | Jul 3, 2007 8:51:53 AM