[Kyle_D]

Poland has a good write-up on the Shalit situation that I happen to agree with.

Quote:

Shalit's obsevation that Jack "coaxes" Ennis into their ongoing relationship is just plain wrong. And I don't think that's a matter of opinion. I also don't think it is a cause of protest. but it is dead wrong and makes Shalit look even more foolish than usual.

People misinterpret movies all the time, and yes, as the Brokeback DVD thread has shown on this forum, there are people in this country who just can't accept people who are different then them. However, to shut them up or tell them they can't say that gets them far more riled up than simply engaging them in honest debate and explaining to them and others why they are wrong. When you do that, usually they just make themselves look like idiots, as Shalit has done.

[Bradley Newton]

Shalit's son is gay and they have a wonderful relationship. And having said that, his take on the Jack Twist character is just insane. It's time to stop reviewing films when you can't understand and comprehend the films you are seeing.

[Nick C.]

Salt Lake City Theater De-Books Brokeback, Supposedly "Business Decision" Despite Record Receipts

[Robert Ringwald]

Very true what they wrote about Titanic. lol You could say the same about Forrest Gump.

I think it's less homophobic and more idiotic. He clearly didn't understand the film...

[David Williams]

Brokeback has finally opened in Tulsa (yesterday) and I hope to see it soon.

[Patrick Sun]

Shalit happens.

[Vickie_M]

Responding to Jon's post, I wrote this up then posted it elsewhere when it looked like Jon's post had disappeared. I'm so confused. Anyway...

Quote:

Is it just me or is the film a bit overrated?

Of course, I don't think it's overrated at all. I've seen it twice and will see it again, very soon. After my husband and I saw it the first time, there were scenes that stayed with me and that I wanted to see again, such as the vistas, Ennis returning to the tent and Jack's tender embrace, the look on Ennis's face when he sees Jack again after 4 years (it's a look of pure joy), the scene where Jack finally stands up to his father-in-law and the slight smile on Lureen's face, and Ennis buttoning up the shirt and straighening the postcard, among others (no, not the sex scene). After seeing it the second time it became my favorite movie of the year. Seeing it more than once let me notice little glances, bits of dialogue, and pieces of music that I hadn't seen/heard/noticed the first time, and became an even richer experience to me. It's so beautiful, so tragic, so poetic.

Forgetting the subject matter completely, this movie generally wouldn't appeal to those who don't like slow, quiet, understated movies. Even for those who do, with all the awards and attention, it's easy to sit there and demand "Ok, now be brilliant like they said!" and when it doesn't seem so on the first viewing, it's easy to feel underwhelmed. This movie is so subtle that it almost requires a second viewing to understand why it's getting so much acclaim. It's not only the subject matter. The writing, the acting, the directing, the scenery, the atmosphere, everything works together to make it more than just a tragic love story, and far more than just a story about two guys who get it on. It's a work of pure art. I suppose some might consider it odd to want to see a tragic love story over and over, but no one would think it weird if I were watching Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet over and over (which I have). Obviously the two movies have little in common, but they're both tragic love stories which is why I used it as a comparison.

I think it's an instant classic and I can't wait to see it again.

The other thing that angered me about what Shalit said (besides being a lie that panders to the worst homophobic and bigoted instincts, stereotypes and fears) is that it changes the whole dynamic of the film. It turns the film from a tragic love story to a sexual predator/victim movie. If it were that, I wouldn't have gone to see it and I wouldn't have seen it more than once (or want to go again). That's a completely different movie altogether.

[Chuck Mayer]

But it doesn't change a thing about the film. It's a review, outside of the film itself. The film is completely unchanged by his review.

It's not a lie, it's an interpretation. I read incorrect reviews of quite a few of my favorite films, from Black Hawk Down to Moulin Rouge to the Matrix sequels. Reviewers that were flat out W-R-O-N-G. But they weren't lying. They incorrectly perceived the film. A lie is a mistruth that even the speaker knows. Unless we know Shalit feels differently about the film, or even has the motive to lie, then saying he is lying is irresponsible and biased. That's why I keep replying. There are scenes that support Shalit's theory. There are. Unfortunately for him, there are scenes that disprove his theory, and quite a few of them. But that does not mean he lied.

[Michael Reuben]

Quote:

it's easy to sit there and demand "Ok, now be brilliant like they said!" and when it doesn't seem so on the first viewing, it's easy to feel underwhelmed

That's an excellent description of a process that, every year, affects one or more highly praised films. Something like it happened with Sideways last year. When people talk about an awards-season backlash, this is usually the dynamic to which they're referring.

M.

[Quentin]

That's an excellent description of a process that, every year, affects one or more highly praised films. Something like it happened with Sideways last year. When people talk about an awards-season backlash, this is usually the dynamic to which they're referring.

I agree. IF you wait to see the film until after you've heard so much about it and praise upon praise has been heaped upon it. But, this is pretty much what can happen to ANY movie you go into with expectations too high.

Luckily for me, I rarely experience awards-season backlash because I see most of the films prior to all the hype. I loved SIDEWAYS before most people knew about it, and I disliked BROKEBACK before it became the Oscar favorite. Of course, there are some movies that are so good they can overcome the hype - like MILLION DOLLAR BABY.

[Mikel_Cooperman]

Quote:

Is it just me or is the film a bit overrated

Not at all. I think it's a wonderful film and a tragic love story and some really good performances.