First off, it's a beautiful, original, strong movie, very well performed (I was particularly moved by Michelle Williams' work) about something that isn't really typical for the movies. I don't mean the homosexuality of the lead characters, I mean the uncommunicative nature of Men of the West. If you think Ennis (Heath Ledger) has problems expressing himself, wait until you meet his lover's father. Wait and wait for him to open his trap and all that comes out of it is mean.
As for the Most Picture debate, I think both movies come out pretty even. Brokeback has the stark Western scenery, while Crash has boatloads of well-regarded actors. Jon Stewart's line at the Oscars said it best -- Would anyone who was not in Crash please stand up?
The big difference is that, compared to Brokeback, Crash is fun. The operative part of the Brokeback Mountain title is broke. As in, no money.
How depressing! If repressed, potentially suicidal homosexuality in a stark landscape wasn't enough, there's the constant worries about money. Ennis never has any, and Jack has to marry a girl who's father takes him into the business to get himself safely off the economically frustrating rodeo circuit.
In 1971 the Best Picture Oscar race came down to The Last Picture Show vs. The French Connection. The former was a stark black & white portrayal of 1950's despair in a small north Texas town, a masterpiece of Orson Welles-influenced cinema directed by Peter Bogdanovich and adapted mainly by Larry McMurtry (imagine this, co-screenwriter of Brokeback) from his own novel.
The French Connection, another excellent movie, was also very gritty but in a contemporary urban way, with an awesome car chase in the middle.
Guess which one was more tragic?
Guess which one was more fun?
You probably already know which one took home the gold statuette for Best Picture that year...
9 comments:
Did you read the NY Times today? The gay community seems to be taking this personally and wants to boycott Hollywood over it. Hello?! It's a movie.
I saw both and, as you say, Crash was more fun. Brokeback was beautiful and sad but best picture material?
I like that there was a surprise at the end of that very vanilla award show that used too many film montages. We all get the dazzle of film.
Sadly, I think fewer and fewer people actually go to a theater these days....too many inappropriate things to deal with like cell phones, people bringing toddlers to R-rated pictures and loud talking. Brokeback was a big screen picture. I think it's indicative of it's numbered days as a genre.
It's true that the days of the big screen are on the way out. I'm wondering the general opinion out there of digital projection. It's shooting light through an LCD rather than a strip of celluloid. Other than being flawless, how different is it? Data pixels vs. chemical grain? The perfect vs. the inherently irregular?
Does anyone see or feel a difference between the two projection mediums?
Aside from those psychological effects, it's just more of the breakdown between wha tyou can only see in the communal theater experience and what you can elect to see at home. Same pixels. Is that good or bad?
It's the same thing as vinyl and cd's. I can't tell the difference...unless it's played back to back.
The biggest argument for digital projection or music is that it does not degrade. So maybe first weekend out you want to see a movie on film, but several weeks in the digital projection will look better due to celluloid wear and tear.
As for music, remember making a cassette tape of a vinyl album right when you bought it, first play, so you'd get it without scratches or other play-induced defects?
Really amazing! Useful information. All the best.
»
Your website has a useful information for beginners like me.
»
Super color scheme, I like it! Good job. Go on.
»
Interesting website with a lot of resources and detailed explanations.
»
Hey what a great site keep up the work its excellent.
»
Post a Comment