Bring me unabashed boykissing!

[amanuensis1]

Oh, man, everyone's squeeing about Brokeback Mountain (this is the trailer link that worked for me; it's a page containing a zip file wmv download)--guys, am I the only one so spoiled by slash fanfic that this trailer has me disappointed?

The fact that I found this link on a page devoted to Anne Hathaway tells it all. What the heck is Anne Hathaway doing featured in my anticipated gay cowboy movie? Shoot, I love Anne Hathaway, and that's the problem--if she's in the flick as a love interest she should get ANYONE she wants. Get out of my gay cowboy movie, Anne! Go make a gay cowgirl movie! Preferably with Keira Knightley, mmm, that'll work.

Ew, I wouldn't read a slash fanfic that features the plot that this film purports to have. I just wouldn't. It's exactly the kind of thing I trawl through slash in order to avoid. I'm not so naïve as to think this was gonna be a happy film, but if two guys in love are gonna run from each other in "I can't be gay" confusion, I don't want to see them running off to wives and having babies and then reuniting with their true loves, because once there are wives and babies in the picture I'm not cheering for you to get back together anymore, see? Once there are wives and babies it's not about "but this is my true LOVE"--you've got responsibilities and too many other people you're going to make unhappy. Especially if the wives look like Anne Hathaway. Dude, I'd feel the same way about a completely hetero movie.


Yup. Spoiled by fanfic. But I suspect I'm not the only one. Go watch. Tell me what you think.

Comments

[catrinella.livejournal.com]

Ditto on the plot issues. There are ways to structure the script that make it a believable choice, but dumping lovely girl for lovely boy and consequences be damned? Sorry, dude. Your "sympathetic lead character" ticket just expired.

Plus, Heath and Jake are just too pretty for the parts. (Mmm, so pretty. But, see, I adore rodeo and I grew up in the West. When I have gay-cowboy fantasies, they tend to involve a lot more honest labor and dirt.)

I'll probably Netflix it. It takes a lot to get me into a theatre these days. I'm pretty jealous of my $10 bills.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I have no idea how it ends, but clearly it can't end all happy-skippy. So does that mean I need to sign up? Not if I don't want to.

[lizardspots.livejournal.com]

You know, I thought exactly the same thing! When I saw they had lovely little families, then went to have a romping reunion affair, I got very uncomfortable. There's one thing I can't abide in fic, and that's infidelity. Slash, het, whatever. But isn't Brokeback Mountain based on a book? So I'm guessing it's the 'gritty unforgiving' sort of book where no-one ends truly happy and there's lots of crying.

Wah.

[dorothy1901]

I think that Brokeback Mountain is adapted from a short story that appeared in The New Yorker about ten years ago. And yes, the story had messed-up people and a nasty death and much heartbreak. Basically, being gay in the American West is no romp in the park, and the story was set there, so there was a lot of unhappiness. It was, however, a memorable story, and I hope that the film does it justice.

[mecklen.livejournal.com]

There's one thing I can't abide in fic, and that's infidelity.

If there is one thing I can't abide by in life it's infidelity. I know this movie won't end well (because there can be no happy ending for anyone), but it had major fan-girl-giddy potential. I was terribly disappointed when I saw the wives. And then the babies...


(but, oh god, the part where he clutches Jake's shirt! *heartbreak*)

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Infidelity bugs me. I've seen it handled well, many a time, in such a way that it gets my sympathy and respect, but it doesn't mean I'm going to gravitate towards such a story.

[satanbaker.livejournal.com]

Even without sound I could get what you were talking about. Though it's kind of nice that they're doing it so all of the pro-homosexual relationship types won't be so 'OMGboysex!' because it's not happy, you don't really want them to end up together in the end. That the storyline is being treated with the same throught-processes that a storyline with the same characters being on, only that "lost love" is someone of the opposite gender.

I can understand the annoyance, seeing as this is really the first BIG movie that has anything to do with a relationship like that between men that wasn't overtly cult-y, or drug ridden and full of flat-out deviance (Velvet Goldmine?), not that I'm not going to watch the movie, because guh, but the fact that I'll probably be cheering for the not one-true-wub relationship won't change that I'll probably like it.

Just a different viewpoint, from someone who understands (for the most part). :D

(And Anne Hathaway is awesomeness.)

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

seeing as this is really the first BIG movie that has anything to do with a relationship like that between men that wasn't overtly cult-y, or drug ridden and full of flat-out deviance

You know what it's like? It's like? It's like the only time I get to see films or books about BDSM they're always effing murder mysteries, where one partner's found dead and was into BDSM, or they're about people who have these damaged self-mutilating pasts (*hates Secretary*), or some other shit like that. Can't we have a blinking BDSM romance movie or something, once in a while?

[mahoy.livejournal.com]

OK,
I have to admit that I was intrigued when I first saw the trailer, but (again, maybe we're all spoiled by fanfic) I would hope that the main characters wouldn't feel the need to drag women into the equation to make themselves feel more "normal".

Although I do have to applaud the premise, I don't think it's going to live up to the execution.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I think that the premise is realistic, no question, but, damn, do I want realistic? I want slash like I get to read it in my fic.

[mooshglomp.livejournal.com]

you're right...I wouldn't read this...the wife and child thing should bug me more than the terrible accents, but I think it's the cliche-ness of the entire thing that really takes the cake. It'll most likely be a rental, just to say I've seen every gay movie out there. On the other hand, the fact that such actors as Heath Ledger and Anne Hathaway are in it is pretty amazing. Queer cinema has come a long way. I think it's good to realize that even a gay movie, as rare as it is, can be bad, and we as slash fans are not obligated to like and enjoy every one.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I loved the person who pointed out that the rampant gay all the way through a version of Edward II (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101798/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnx0dD0xfGZiPXV8cG49MHxrdz0xfHE9ZWR3YXJkIElJfGZ0PTF8bXg9MjB8bG09NTAwfGNvPTF8aHRtbD0xfG5tPTE_;fc=3;ft=20;fm=1) did not necessarily make it a good film. Kind of scattered, actually.

[redwindmill123.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. So I'm gonna go ahead and assume I'm one of the few who have actually read the story. The story itself is pretty damn good, if you ask me. But after watching the trailer I have to admit I'm a little less excited, probably because the wives dont really fit the image I had in mind for their wives. I mean... Anne Hathaway? Michelle Williams? Wtf?

But anyways, you should read the story. HERE (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0792726499/104-8040007-9646303?v=glance&vi=excerpt) is a link to it on amazon.com where it is a preview for the author's short story collection. Tell me what you think!!

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Oh! Thank you so much for this! I'm going to read it and try to view it fairly despite my biases.

[(Anonymous)]

I hate to leave an anonymous comment, but I'm still only considering getting an lj, and I'm just passing through, but I felt compelled to say something because I loved the short story so much. First of all, it's in a book called Close Range by Annie Proulx, and if you can get your hands on it, I highly recommend it.

Second of all, (trying not to be too spoilery) it's set in the American west in the 1950's, so I think that everything that happens in the story is realistic considering the time and place where the story is set. These are two people who should never have gotten married in the first place, but it's what's expected of them, and both boys start out the story in deep denial. Of course, the infidelity may be harder to take in the movie, where the wives have expanded roles, as opposed to the short story where only one makes a brief appearance. Still, it's complex, and I don't know how to say what I want to say without deeply spoiling everything, but I really think you should read the story. I found it to be a beautiful, powerful love story, but it's definitely not a happy one.

Kim

[florahart]

I'll agree with this. I haven't been able to DL the trailer yet, so haven't seen it.

But yes, setting is everything. It's a story that struggles with these issues: homosexuality, fidelity, etc. Really, who they are unfaithful to is each other, BY getting married, so.

[catrinella.livejournal.com]

Of course, the infidelity may be harder to take in the movie, where the wives have expanded roles, as opposed to the short story where only one makes a brief appearance.

Yes, yes. I should have said this above. I liked the story very much and think it's a worthwhile read no matter whether one intends seeing the movie or not. I have a train-wreck-fascination with tracking the transformation of written pieces I've liked into movies that, almost invariably, leave me cold, and BM is one of these. Taking a short story to nearly 2 hours of movie? There's just not enough in a short story (almost any short) to support it, and so stuff gets written in that muddies the sharp, clear approach of the author.

I liked the story because it was so tightly focused. I don't think a Major Motion Picture with Major Studio Money can keep that sense, especially when they've got prominent starlets backing up the hunks. As I said, I'll Netflix it unless the reviews are really good. In the meantime, I'll dig out the story and read it again. :)

[gobsmackit.livejournal.com]

I haven't read the book, but from the makeup and costumes that Michelle Williams and Anne Hathaway were wearing, I assumed it was set in the 50s or 60s. Since the lovely anon confirmed that that's the case, I would've found it hard to believe that the two men had not gotten married and had instead forged ahead with their One True Love. The trailer even alludes to them endangering themselves because of it. I mean, I know middle-aged men now who got married and had children and who didn't come out of the closet until their children were fully grown and they'd gotten divorced, and unfortunately I'm sure that'll be the case for years to come.

So, anyway, what I wanted to say is that because it is the first *big* gay movie, as you said, I don't think it's too ridiculous to sort of start a little farther back. Disappointing in some respects, but understandable in others. And to be frank, the moral setting of the movie isn't too different from many parts of the world right now, including America. To show the difficulties people have gone through and are going through, and so forth? Any person with their head pulled out of their ass can see it's just about love. And as it is a movie, and should be telling a good story, hopefully it will do that. For anyone who sees it, at least.

I'm not sure I'm expressing myself too well, but I wanted to try! :) Anyway, thanks for the food for thought. And if that's not satisfactory, we can all hope that bible groups go see Rent en masse!

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I'm obviously clueless; from the costumes and makeup I assumed it was taking place in present day. ^_^ I don't expect my cowboys (or their ladies) to be stylish, y'know.

What you say all makes a good deal of sense (you expressed yourself just fine! ^_^). It doesn't keep me from wishing it different, from saying, "I would love to see a homosexual love story told in exactly the same way as a heterosexual love story. In some fake universe where it's all accepted that way." I suppose this is why I read so much fantasy and SF.

[noblerot.livejournal.com]

Well, y'know, I'm in love with Oz... where my OTP alternates luuurv with attempted murder and breaking bones. Infidelity seems tame by comparison. But I do get where you're coming from.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

It's all relative, especially when you're on the other side of prison bars, innit? Damn, I should really try to get the Oz DVDs sometime, shouldn't I.

[snegurochka_lee]

Not to be a broken record, but I'd like to emphasise what some later commenters have said to earlier commenters: please please please don't judge the trailer if you haven't read the short story on which the film is based. The story is also called Brokeback Mountain, by Annie Proulx, and it is one of the most beautiful stories I have ever read.

The wives and children are in the original story. That is not Hollywood making up an infidelity storyline because it wants more drama. Please do not refuse to see this film because you are opposed to infidelity.

As others have said, it is set in the rural West in the '60s, and the story is heartbreaking in its realistic portrayal of two young men who fall in love without meaning to, one summer while alone tending sheep atop a mountain. They later split and get married, because that is what is expected of them in their society and time period.

I won't tell you more than that, but really, PLEASE, wait until the film comes out and judge it on its merits then. Or, go read the story now. It's not long, it's beautifully written, and it made me cry. I am astonished they are even making this movie, because there will be no way to dance around the fact that it is about gay relationships. I love the talented lead actors cast in it, and I really hope they can do it justice.

A great many slash fanfic writers could, in fact, learn from this story, IMO.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I will read it. Obviously you feel passionately about it! ^_^ Where I'm coming from is that it's not the sort of premise that would pull me in, no matter the genders of the characters. Your summary of it shows the honesty of the premise, yes--because that is what is expected of them in their society and time period--god, yes, I do believe that. Doesn't mean I LIKE that kind of story. But I will read it!

[ellipsisblack.livejournal.com]

I think my brain just broke. Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway is just too much pretty for one relationship.

I'm ambivalent about infidelity in movies if it's treated with proper gravity and not trivialised as an omg angst plotline. And yeah. I don't want the big gay cowboys to end up together. Because I don't want them to flake off and leave the children.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

It's just not the sort of story that pleases me to contemplate. I wouldn't go see that sort of flick under other circumstances but the twist of the homosexual relationship makes me entertain it, and I'm fearing my expectations will be too much for the film to satisfy.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Yay for Amy listening to the Cocteau Twins.

I'll love you even more if you can actually understand Liz Fraser's warbling. *G*

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Oh, sure! She's saying, "Ping pong, peach flower, Pandora, pompadour." Er, or something kinda close to that. ^_^ It doesn't make any sense but they've said it's not supposed to. So if I'm off, who cares.

[notrafficlights.livejournal.com]

Haha, and the funny thing is, I love fucked-up plots like that. :D

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

To each his/her own! See, I recognize I'm not the audience, but the audience is out there. ^_^

[moriann.livejournal.com]

Go make a gay cowgirl movie! Preferably with Keira Knightley, mmm, that'll work.

Mhmmm... Only, if it had more than PG rating, I would probably have to go abroad to see it. ;) Would be nice, nevertheless.

Spoiled by fanfic. But I suspect I'm not the only one.

Yup. I'm spoiled rotten too.

I just wonder how many so-called good catholics in my country will write letters to the distributor (and probably all the papers they can reach) protesting against showing Brokeback Mountain and its 'promoting immoral behaviour'.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

F*** 'em. F*** 'em all and the horse they rode in on Er, you know what I mean.

[rectpropagation.livejournal.com]

I don't want to see them running off to wives and having babies and then reuniting with their true loves, because once there are wives and babies in the picture I'm not cheering for you to get back together anymore, see?

EXACTLY! It's just such a crappy thing to do to the wives who had no idea their husbands are gay. Suddenly it's not only does he not love you the way you love him but he never really did because he can't.

Why couldn't it be like every other in denial romance where they come to their senses at the alter? Still a crappy thing to do to someone but at least they aren't married yet! (I know, I know, it's based on a book...)

Spoiled by fanfic and QAF (I just saw the last episode of the third season). I want a movie with much boykissing and much rejoicing!

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Yes! QAF is the sort of thing that spoils us. Boykissing, boyshagging, and a touch of homophobic reality once in a while but not to interrupt the boykissing. ^_^