I’ve been accused of being obsessive about Brokeback so I’ve decided to live up to the accusations. That said, here’s a late afternoon update:
Brokeback named best film by New York Critics Circle. Ang Lee and Heath Ledger rope in directing and acting prizes. “‘Brokeback’ was an old-fashioned romance that also fulfilled the group’s impulse to be daring and original.”
Saturday Night Live offered up two Brokeback moments on Saturday night. The first was Alec Baldwin’s rather lackluster send-up called Brokeback Goldmine about two miners in love. The second was a hilarious “Weekend Update” joke supplied to Tina Fey by her dad:
“The movie Brokeback Mountain opened this week. The movie is making history as the first western ever where the good guys get it in the end.”
A few blogger reviews:
Oliver at Thought Not had high expectations and they were met. He says, “It may be the best movie I’ve seen” and gives it two big tear ups and a full sob.
Cyd Zeigler had high expectations and they were not met. He says, he was left “disappointed and virtually emotionless.” But feels better about it the morning after. Ah Cyd, sometimes cinematic sex is like that.
Blog FourFour offers a thoughtful analysis: “On one hand, subverting the masculine icon of the cowboy serves to untangle homophobia from its fuck buddy, femmephobia — the lack of limp wrists and lisps surely will confront some people with a representation of homosexuality different than the one they are comfortably uncomfortable with. On the other, Ennis and Jack’s wrestling that easily glides into foreplay might assault the senses of the straight guy who takes pride in his sissy jokes — depending on to what degree non-sexual, all-male physical contact hits home, Mr. Straight Man might be outraged that the concept of the rough-and-tumble buddy is being turned in its head. There’s nothing ignorance hates to do more than having to rethink.”
Finally, pretty much a pan from critic Dave Kehr, whose arguments are way off base imho: “Lee has yet to take a real chance with a film, and “Brokeback Mountain,” despite its superficial courting of controversy, is no exception.”
