This movie isn't for everyone. In fact, most people won't be able to get over the fact that 2 guys, especially cowboys are going at it. I watched this movie a week ago since it was the only Oscar nominee (as far as I know) for best picture that was being shown in cinemas locally. Of course there were the collective gasps especially during the 1st 30 minutes or so of the movie and the nervous laughs of the movie goers while walking out of the cinemas. But a week after, it sank in. The fact that I'm even blogging about it means it made an impression.
I think the movie is about the different ways to be 'in love' and I think that it was necessary for it have homosexual (whether male or female) lead characters. Why? To have a common baseline (both men) because women are from Venus, and men from Mars - and in a heterosexual love (like Romeo & Juliet; Titanic) story the focus is usually on the 'story' and not on the 'love'part.
I don't know why but it seems like a big deal to me to answer the question: "Who (Ennis or Jack) was honestly in love? Not once did either say, "I love you."
Was it Jack (played by Gyllenhaal) who was more affectionate, more vocal, drove 14 hours one-way just to get together, included Ennis in his future plans and dreams and waited 20 years in vain, admitted that sex was important to him and admitted that he had casual sex because their 'get togethers' where far and few in between, and eventually included someone else in his future plans?
Was it Ennis (played by Ledger) who, never in the film voiced his feelings for Jack but broke down when they went separate ways for the first time and made a surprising move when they met again after 4 years, seemed perfectly content with getting together once in a while and refused Jack's offer to stay together, who was unable to maintain a 'double'life, reacted violently then emotionally when he got the idea that Jack might have been seeing others?
It seemed to me that Jack was in love with the 'idea'of being in love. And Ennis, well, I can't understand him at all.
Watch the movie, wait a week or more, then tell me what you think.
I think the movie is about the different ways to be 'in love' and I think that it was necessary for it have homosexual (whether male or female) lead characters. Why? To have a common baseline (both men) because women are from Venus, and men from Mars - and in a heterosexual love (like Romeo & Juliet; Titanic) story the focus is usually on the 'story' and not on the 'love'part.
I don't know why but it seems like a big deal to me to answer the question: "Who (Ennis or Jack) was honestly in love? Not once did either say, "I love you."
Was it Jack (played by Gyllenhaal) who was more affectionate, more vocal, drove 14 hours one-way just to get together, included Ennis in his future plans and dreams and waited 20 years in vain, admitted that sex was important to him and admitted that he had casual sex because their 'get togethers' where far and few in between, and eventually included someone else in his future plans?
Or
Was it Ennis (played by Ledger) who, never in the film voiced his feelings for Jack but broke down when they went separate ways for the first time and made a surprising move when they met again after 4 years, seemed perfectly content with getting together once in a while and refused Jack's offer to stay together, who was unable to maintain a 'double'life, reacted violently then emotionally when he got the idea that Jack might have been seeing others?
It seemed to me that Jack was in love with the 'idea'of being in love. And Ennis, well, I can't understand him at all.
Watch the movie, wait a week or more, then tell me what you think.
