It's misty this morning on Brokeback Mountain....

Spoilers possibly ahead so stop reading now if you haven't seen the movie...

So I have a lot to digest still from the movie... and no doubt a lot of thoughts and reactions I'd like to share... but for right now I'm still just mulling it all over and still taking it in... I need to go see the movie again but I think I will wait a little bit so I can really watch it without some of the clouds in my head at the moment... but for what it is worth:

1) You should see this movie... preferably with someone you love... especially see it with your boyfriend/girlfriend etc etc etc best friend etc... I am glad I had the boo sitting next to me during the movie. Was both comforting and made me think about the movie in the context of my own relationships....

2) I am glad I avoided as much discussion and posts like these as possible until I saw the movie. Because of this I saw a pretty fresh film.

3) What I think is really sending chills down my spine is the stark irony of where the movie is set and what happens towards the end. The image that is repeated in my mind was only on the screen for seconds and it is very haunting... The first thing I thought of (even during the movie itself) was Matthew Shepard - that wasn't fiction. It happened and in none to recent memory. I think that this movie is a reminder of the sad reality which is still very much present in many places throughout the US and the world. I'm generally never scared about anything happening to me - but sometimes I feel the "Queer Eye" or "Being gay is now chic" media fad, living in a big progressive city and general ignorance have made me forget that we must always be on the lookout. Sad state of affairs but there are horrible people out there... I'm such a cynic but well life is like that sometimes.

4) In terms of acting I think Gyllenhall and Heath did a fantastic job. I thought they both were very emotive and believable. Thinking of Dbud's comments I will differ in that I think it was the lack of character development for Jack which could make it seem like the part was not well-acted. The focus was a little too much on Ennis' character - but I need to read the short story to see how it played out there. Overall I thought both were great and that while they are not gay, these 2 were the actors for these roles.

5) When being gay and a good actor go hand-in-hand someday (100% agree with Dbud - how many horrible gay indie flicks have I seen?!) in the future I think they could remake the entire movie with 2 gay lead actors. It would be about 1000% more powerful in my opinion. PLEASE NOTE: this does not take away from the current movie at all. I was so moved and it was so powerful - period. But that being said, would the actual experience of being gay have added to the portrayal of these two characters? Would it make them that much more real?

Absolutely in my opinion. Movie are about acting of course - so it's never going to be real love on screen. BUT knowing how it feels, what being gay is actually about, the fears, the joys etc. would in my mind make for an even richer experience. Unless you are gay you will never truly understand what it is like. It's the whole sympathy vs. empathy thing.

But the point is moot - there are no 2 equally qualified gay actors out there who could pull the audience and studios in like these two could. For the people who don't believe this please see my Netflix movielist graveyard - after about 5 bad direct to dvd gay films - you'll be on-board with the present cast!

OK enough of that for me - I feel better having blogged about it. I really feel moved and I can't help but think that I am blessed for having the life I do and for being able to have a great relationship with mr. boo - largely unfettered by the trials and tribulations those two characters faced. This is definitely a "makes you want to hold your boyfriend and cuddle after" movie.

More thoughts later.... thanks for listening.