So with Ledger dying I realized I never got around to seeing this movie.
My initial reaction is that this movie is the story of two jerks. Ennis treats his wife like dirt. He lies and cheats on her. He is emotionally distant from his daughter. He is too much a chicken shit to treat Jack decently.
Jack lies to his wife and cheats on her, too. He is at least willing it seems to end all lies and live his life with Ennis.
Ennis got what he deserved he should live his life alone in trailer. Jack getting killed was sad though. He did not deserve that. He may have treated his wife like shit, but he is not a bad guy like Ennis.
I think the point was that in that place and at that time, being gay or bisexual was so difficult and dangerous that it forced you to lie to yourself and others. Of course they were jerks, but they were jerks for a reason, and the movie is the story of that reason. Things haven’t changed that much in many parts of the world. Do some people rise above it and live fulfilling lives? Yes, of course. Do most people live a clandestine existence at best, and do many people find themselves and their souls twisted by the years of hiding and lying to people you love? Well, yes again. But if it’s easier to dismiss the film because it’s the story of two jerks, feel free.
I thought it was pretty clear that Jack would have risen above the problems and been able to live with Ennis, but Ennis was emotionally distant coward.
I agree with your description of the story in Brokeback Mountain, further, wanted to comment on the (sort of) current practice of being on the “down-low” among black men. If the cultural proscriptions against homosexuality are as strong as they are in general and even stronger in the black community, what does society expect some gay men to do? Yes, it has gotten easier and easier to live an out life, but in view of the non-acceptance and hypermasculine behavior called for in a lot of the black community, one shouldn’t be surprised how hard it is to come out of the closet, even today. Add to that, the ability to hide behind having a wife, and I’m not surprised that as many man as do get married and cheat on their wives with men. I’m not saying it’s right, but neither is homophobia.
I’ve often wondered that. I think the answer is “cease to exist.” I can remember a black friend of mine telling me about his struggle when his children made friends with the daughters of a lesbian couple. His initial reaction was that he didn’t want them at their house, but to his credit he realized that other people probably felt the same way about him for equally ridiculous reasons. He felt the way he felt, but he was absolutely determined not to pass his own prejudices onto his daughters, and for that I’ve always respected him.
The “what do they expect” is what I’ve often wondered about gay marriage, as well. If you don’t want us in monogamous, socially recognized relationships, what are you suggesting we do instead? I’ve never seen that question addressed by anyone on the anti-gay marriage front.
It’s a thread regarding the movie. Shouldn’t anyone that plans on seeing it and doesn’t want anything spoiled know better than to click on this thread?
One would hope that the experience of seeing this movie would include the experience of learning about a time and place–not to mention a difficult personal situation–that was unfamiliar to you. Instead, all you’ve done is apply your own limited experience and standards to a situation that you know absolutely *nothing *about. (In other words, you mistyped “three” in your thread title.)
I understand that. My point is, if the topic of the thread makes it apparent that a movie is going to be discussed, wouldn’t it be a good idea to not click on that thread when you’d rather not know details of the movie even when someone didn’t include a spoiler warning?
So, indirect name calling is allowed on this board?
My question was meant as a serious one. Do we expect one to use spoiler tags on any work of fiction, no matter how old? Or once a movie, say, was released a while back, one can assume that anyone who wanted to see it already has and spoiler tags are not necessary?
As to the OP, dismissing the lead characters as “jerks” as an extremely low level of analysis. But I’ve hashed and rehashed this on the boards previously. Search results for previous BBM threads for our guest.