I love some accidents. They take me to some of the most amazing things I could experience. Recently in such an accident during some late-night channel-surfing I came to watch a beautiful movie called "Brokeback Mountain".
I love watching action movies, suspense-thrillers, (rarely horrors), fi and sci-fi, rom-coms (or romedy), drama (without melodrama); in-short all sorta movies and yet as per my observation I almost always pref watching action-fictions. (Marvel superheroes are favourites!). Despite all this, after a somewhat hectic day, and bit of surfing, I chose a ten-year old (2005 release) "Brokeback Mountain" over "the walk among tombstones" (mwah.. Liam Neeson!) by just checking the critic reviews and ratings. Actually, in my honest opinion, critic reviews usually reflect how boring a non-action movie could be - higher the ratings and reviews better the 'critically' important things but more (could be) the boredome (I'm just a viewer, people! No critic!)
Well, but despite of critic ratings, what more made me choose the Mountain, was one of my beloved actors "Heath Ledger". Just as he appeared on the screen, he won it over Liam Neeson almost immediately; and "Brokeback Mountain" is totally worth it.
I noticed "Based on" in the end credits and off course, I read the book the very next day. Anna Proulx's 1999 published short-story by the same name, was easy to find online and beauteous to read; and reminded me the entire time, of shots and dialogues from the movie. Movie poster is deliberately adapted from "Titanic" and it's totally symbolic just as many aspects of the story - though, easily comprehensible. Watching the movie is pleasant both on eyes and mind. Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal (and others) stand absolutely true to the expectations (by the story and by me.. haha) or better. But above all (being a hardcore book-lover), never before have I seen a book adaptation to motion picture so line-to-line or so splendid. (Well, I just read that it received the Oscar for this - Best Book Adaptation!)
Two ranch hands - Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist - meet for sheep herding on the Brokeback Mountain in summer of 1963. They develop a sexual and romantic friendship there and set on their separate ways after spending that summer together. They make contact again only after four years during which each of them has got married and has kids. But with the contact initiated, they realize how much they've missed each other and what they mean to each other.
When they meet first none of them's gay, and yet, when they meet again they know they'll do anything to preserve their relationship. That they've found long-yearned love only with each other. It's a story to make us aware that, gay or not, what matters (or did - back in 60s and 70s) to people is love, a special understanding which makes them want to stick together. While giving brief account of their personas - Jack, bit inclined towards careless and passionate whereas Ennis, introverted, deep within longing for Jack's warm love and understanding; story is a smooth ride along the emotions of characters, getting us involved, captivating, making us want to know what happened next - over the span of twenty years (and all that without an action-sequence!).
However, Brokeback Mountain also sheds light on the situation of gay people back in 1960s, 70s and 80s. Now, in the 21st century, it's much easy to accept someone's love for another person of the same sex but back then, Ennis is scared for their lives and shaken when his fears come true.
It doesn't have the adrenaline rush and action and sense of leaving-u-blownoff, but rather like a soft touch creating slightest ripples in your mind. Movie's something you'll miss big time, if not watched and a mere 30 pages short-story helped me understand the expressions better, at a point or two. It said in a movie review (which I read much later), "A film in which love feels as if it were being invented. It's also a rare crowd-pleaser with the potential to change hearts and minds." I thought it couldn't be put a better way.
It's said that a visit to mountains cleanses and calms your mind. 'Brokeback Mountain' has become my new mountaintop.
It's said that a visit to mountains cleanses and calms your mind. 'Brokeback Mountain' has become my new mountaintop.
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