During the day Ennis looked across a great gulf and sometimes saw Jack, a small dot moving across a high meadow as an insect moves across a tablecloth; Jack, in his dark camp, saw Ennis as night fire, a red spark on the huge black mass of mountain.For those who have only seen the movie, do not give the book a miss.
Please.
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Somewhere on Sharon's site (bibliobibuli - see link on sidebar), there's this quote.
Good short fiction requires the reader's time and attention. It relies not on explanation but asks for interpretation.A brilliant example of this is Anne Hathaway's interpretation of the Lureen/Ennis telephone call. Goes to show the minefield of emotion that a single line can hint at.
"she was polite but the little voice was cold as snow"
Similarly, Michelle Williams'performance truly brings to life Alma's "misery voice".
I wasn't quite as impressed though, with the performances of the two leads, Heath Ledger and Jake GyllensomethingI'mtoolazytogooglefornow, as much as I was of Ennis' and Jack's story as told by Annie Proulx.
Still. Thank you, Ang Lee.
If only you had taken on Geisha as well.
11 comments:
huh? what's the title of the movie AND the book? in 1 paragraph?
Brokeback Mountain. Not fond of google eh? :)
the soundtrack, the soundtrack! i mean, sans all the country singer stuff..
If you insist... I'll watch the movie & if i like it, read the book too... You do have some what good taste... *Insert bad pun about you loving snowdrop & my love for all things pork*
Saw the film; thought there was too much hype. In the sense, the two leads' depiction didn't exactly make me feel anything (or perhaps I should try shutting off the inner voice that still remembers and loves Wong Kar Wai's Happy Together...) Plus, I needed subtitles for Heath Ledger because he doesn't open his mouth when he speaks! :-p
Have a feeling I'll probably appreciate the book more, especially now that I can still see the mountain at the back of my mind.
I am truly the only homosexual left in the free world who hasn't seen either of these movies.
Please let me keep my Gay Card.
yes you HAVE to read the book! not only to enjoy the beautiful prose but also to understand what Heath is saying! Bertha, I read in an interview that the reason Heath doesn't speak clearly is because he hopes that by swallowing his words he can swallow his feelings too. i adored this movie and i thought they depicted ennis and jack marvellously. in another interview, proulx says Heath understood Ennis better than she did and that the movie was better than her book!
Starlight, I thought so, because you do notice that Heath's gait gets heavier as the movie moves along. I just have problem understanding the accent in general as I'm not used to it. And I'll definitely try to get my hands on the book.
Jay, you should really try getting your hands on Happy Together, and watch Brokeback while it's still showing in the cinema....erm, I'm assuming you're not in Malaysia, that is? :-)
Idlan - Was so engrossed with trying to make out what Heath was saying that I tak prasan pun the soundtrack. Must watch again...
AJ - Totally unrelated topic - watch Cow & Chicken on the cartoon channel. A cow who constantly tugs her udders, her brother the sarky chicken, their cousin, Boneless Chicken, a bare-bottomed red devil thing and unlimited supply of pork butts. What's not to like?? :D
bertha - Exactly! :D We switched the subtitles on in desperation, but the subtitle guy obviously had similar problems - either translated garbage or just ...! That's why I got the book at first opportunity.
jay - With great fabulousness comes great responsibility. Your membership is in serious peril. As penance, you must send Snowie a daisy puncher for her birthday.
Rough sex, pretty boys, livestock, animal husbandry. ;) Not your cup of tea meh?
starlight - Ooooo, have I got a time-consumer for you...check this out. http://davecullen.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=53fe44db21ebc31486a332db46b15ad8&board=34.0
Scene by scene discussion!!
I did think that the mumbling was meant to be representive of his repression but despite Heath's efforts to come across as emotionally constipated, I couldn't buy it wholesale. He's still pretty, under all that spit and dirt. Maybe if someone like Russel Crowe had taken the part...
Oh, but how I love the concepts and themes that the story itself presents. Repression, fear, denial, loss, regrets.
That paragraph I referenced strikes me because it just captures the forbidding distance btwn the Jack and Ennis, with Brokeback Mountain serving as the backdrop of their private world.
And oh, perfect characterisation - the nervous energy of Jack and the quiet, raging passions of Ennis.
spot, your recommendation is going to get me fired from my job.
The concepts were clear: Repression, fear, denial, loss, regrets, regrets, regrets. Unfortunately I thought the storyline was weak. I wanted more of the interpretation of the in-between.
After reading your post, I will definitely give the book a read.
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