In high school, I always loved movies; yet, I always looked at them passively. Only rarely did I become involved in the events or with the characters I saw on screen. In fact, prior to Brokeback Mountain I can't think of a single instance when I felt a profound emotional reaction to a film. I remember getting a little choked up while watching the end of Jonathan Demme's Philadelphia, but that's as close as it ever got to my becoming emotionally invested in situations taking place in a movie.
I watched Brokeback Mountain with my father on opening weekend back in late 2005 — though we had actually gone to see Capote instead. When we tried to buy tickets, we realized there was only one showing of Capote four or five hours later. Brokeback Mountain, however, was playing in just an hour; so, we bought two tickets and went to Borders to wait.
Since at the store they had a display with E. Annie Proulx's short story, my father and I each grabbed a copy and read it while we waited to see the movie, which had been getting phenomenal reviews. Curiously, I remember feeling underwhelmed by the short story. I thought to myself, "I don't even know if I'm excited to see this movie anymore." But since we had already bought the tickets, there wasn't really any turning back.
Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger in "Brokeback Mountain"
After the hour passed, we went in. As I sat there watching Brokeback Mountain unfold, something changed within me. I don't know what caused it exactly, but I remember that I started crying when Gustavo Santaolalla's "The Wings" began playing while Jack and Ennis are at the campfire. I had never, ever cried because of a movie. And frankly, I did not understand how or why anyone would. Still, as I sat there in the theater, I could not contain my tears.
Eventually, I stopped crying, but the tears began streaming down once again when Ennis collects Jack's shirt and hugs it, fighting to hold on to the man he loved. I shed more tears at the end of the film, when Ennis opens his closet door, looks at the shirt, and the credits slowly start to roll.
I don't know why, but ever since that first time I saw Brokeback Mountain, my entire movie-watching experience has been radically different. After that, I have revisited movies I had seen before; suddenly, I was looking at them in a new light; at times, I was able to connect with them where before I had been emotionally and/or intellectually detached.
In addition, whether or not I'm watching a movie for the first time, I have been able to find layers to characters and settings that would have been out of my reach before. In essence, Brokeback Mountain made me realize how much I truly love the art of film. It also inspired me to start writing about it.
I mustered the courage to start posting my film commentaries online only in 2008 or whereabouts, but I had never considered writing about movies prior to Brokeback Mountain. In a profound way, that same-sex love story set in the American West made me realize there were tangible differences between bad cinema, good cinema, and great cinema. Needless to say, I'm fully aware that my Brokeback Mountain experience was exceptional, for having such a visceral response to any film is something quite unique.
Even though I cannot fully explain my personal reaction to the film, I must credit the filmmakers for it. Had Brokeback Mountain not been crafted the way it was, I find it impossible to believe that I would have been so deeply affected by it. After all, I had felt quite unenthusiastic after reading E. Annie Proulx's short story.
I have watched Brokeback Mountain many times since that first viewing. My experience has been different each time, but the film's power has never been lost. As we grow, our experiences change; our hope is that they will change not for the worse, but for the better. Thanks to Brokeback Mountain, I can happily say that mine have been forever changed for the better.
Source: Meditations on BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN: Multilayered Love Story
2,704 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 2601 – 2704 of 2704Austin and Sophia have been friends since college, almost as long as he and Jake have been together as a couple. That's why she agreed to beard for him. As for tweets placing him in the canyon we all know tweets can be created as needed. They are not evidence of anything.
^^ HI M, or is this Special K?
Anyway, hello anon OMG poster.
Ted "updated" the story, with the comment from Jake's rep that the photo is a fake.
Update
We just heard back from Jake's rep who insists this photo is not real. Grab a look while you can, people, because we hear it's going to be taken down as fast as he and Taylor Swift called it quits. Fingers crossed that one day Jake will proudly be able to give us his best Grace Jones!
Could this photo be any, um, less typical downtime for a big-action movie star? Well, other than those ugly socks that match the seedy carpet.
Um, no.
While Gyllenhaal's rep says she is super busy at the moment, we are promised further deets on the photo as soon as they are made clear!
Wink, wink. Sarcasm, anyone?
Airport frisk session.
Austin going to Austin, TX? Or traveling with Sophia for her international tweeting assignment?
A week with his "husband" and "kids" was too much for him, Austin needs a break.
Wink, wink saracsm my ass, ted being a lazy tool that he is thought it was real, he didn't contact his rep at all. After he made the first post ibet one of his interns pointed out that a blind man can see that it was fake and also other bigger blog sites like PITNB pulled it. Since he never posted the pic lust the link he didn't have to pull it but he had to make up some ohter BS like it was examined and he contacted his rep.
Funny how he and the OMG gang thought/hoped it was real...
Ted is full of shit.
A week with his "husband" and "kids" was too much for him, Austin needs a break.
Looking forward to PG and Destiny explaining why Austin can't be with Jake and kids!
Austin and Sophia have been friends since college, almost as long as he and Jake have been together as a couple. That's why she agreed to beard for him.
^^^ I think you're running out of straws. Just give it up.
That's not the one I was responding to.
I should have known that the idea of treating other posters with respect would make you laugh.
Jennifer Aniston's beloved dog Norman has died. The 15-year-old Welsh corgi-terrier mix - who accompanied the actress everywhere including on film location shoots - passed away a few weeks ago due to complications from old age. Jennifer's representative said: "He died a few weeks ago. He was an old dog and it was just his time."
What in the hell are you talking about?
Read your own comments: "Talk about pathetic games - take up residence in antoher schoolyard."
PG, this isn't OMG, you don't decide what people should think and you can be sure that people won't let you post shit without commenting.
This is too bad what is happening on this site. You've got some really nice, smart people and then you have some who are turning this into personal attacking and while I have caught myself doing some of it myself, it's not behavior I'm proud of and I won't get drawn into this mudslinging fest. It's not life and death for me and who needs it at this low level?
It's so easy to spew hate and nonsense when you can do it under an Anonymous name, isn't it?
Have at it.
Prairiegirl,
you are treating WFT2 posters like trolls, always spinning and playing stupid, never giving straight answers, but demanding that other people respect your opinion based only on your opinion.
Poor Prairiegirl, she can't stand people who don't buy her J&A&BTs fiction, she must run and hide!
Leave her alone, PG is pissed off with Austin for going away again, now she needs to make up more "green light" stories.
Yes, PG, pick up your lost marbles and go home please.
Poor Maria S. But, I hope she and Arnold can work things out because 25 years is a long time to be married, and if they had a good marriage. Best wishes to them.
It's not life and death for me
Are you sure about that? Because it certainly looks like that with you willing to do anything to protect a lie.
PG I'm one who used to post at OMG, but I don't anymore. I have my reasons.
PG, some, I think most don't buy that Jake and Austin are still together. It's just that simple. Too many things points the arrow that way IMO. Many here don't think a BT exist. Period. I for one don't think Jake or Austin would stoop, Yes, I said stoop that low to go thru all the trouble to get the baby then abandon the child. Let's not talk about children. It does not mean what most of us think that Jake and Austin did not have some sort of relationship in the past. Yes I think they were together, as occasional sex partners, but I don't think they had any ideas of coming out as Ted said in the past. I may be wrong.
People move on in life. New people come into our lives.
What's with this idea that Jake and Austin were exclusive?
If it came from Ted, I think he's wrong.
It's not life and death for me
But when you get to the point where you're talking about compiling word documents full of "evidence" and people making timelines, etc., it kind of does sound like it's life and death for you - or at least so vitally important that it goes beyond just entertainment or gossip.
Poor Maria S. But, I hope she and Arnold can work things out
Their kids are big, it's time to dump him and find someone who can keep it in his trousers:)
It's a dilemma! :/
Also, it's fine if some want to believe in J&A&family, but to come over here from OMG and try to change minds I can't understand. Everybody's entitled to their own opinion. Despite PG's protests, she has been a troublemaker and bully over at OMG, and not tries to come over to WFT2 and do the same thing, as well as other places. Her going off in a huff because noone's buying what she's selling is kinda funny.
I tripped when I said hi. This time I had a dog strapped 2my chest fml
I find it hard to believe that someone with a dog stapped to their chest wouldn't have mentioned Jake was also with a dog.
Austin and Sophia went to USC together, there are old interviews out there that mention it, but I'm not going to look for something that is six years old. They also share the same manager--just like Jake and Reese.
Whether Jake and Austin are together has nothing to do with whether Sophia is a beard or whether the X17 photos were arranged. Funny how anytime some other topic related to Jake or Austin comes up, someone has to link them together and say "they're not together"--and I'm not talking about PG or other people from OMG. Someone here is obsessed with the subject.
If you're going to attack someone like PG, then have the balls to say who you really are, and what name you posted on on OMG.
There's nothing worse that a bullying coward.
Leonardo DiCaprio & Blake Lively: We're On A Boat!
JJ
Oh yes, fall back on the "anonymous" name tactic when you have nothing else to stand on. Blogger names aren't real names either.
I find it hard to believe that someone with a dog stapped to their chest wouldn't have mentioned Jake was also with a dog.
So what exactly is your point? We have numerous tweets from people who saw Jake on that day in that location. We have pictures of Jake in that location. Are you saying that these tweets are all fake/prompted by PR? Because if they were, PR would have just told the tweeters to mention that Jake had a dog with him. I can't even keep track of the nonsense theories that the OMGers are spouting, but they all seem to boil down to the same idea: Jake and Austin are semi-autonomous puppets of a group of PR people who take many of their cues from a handful of middle aged posters on a tiny blog.
I'm fine with someone trying to change my mind - I do the same all the time :)
PB deserves all she gets.
Ha, OTH was renewed and Austin and Sophia are excited, they are both in NY together.
The Jaustaloons hate OTH not because it's a shitty show, which it is but it places Austin somewhere for a good partof the year and they can't make up any J/A fiction.
They also don't like jake's look for EOW and that he is jogging, and going to boxing and karate classes because it's too butch, to them all gay men should camp it up 24/7 and listen to Lady gaga!!
destiny said...
If you're going to attack someone like PG, then have the balls to say who you really are, and what name you posted on on OMG.
Destiny, you and PG are anonymous too.
There's nothing worse that a bullying coward.
And you would know, wouldn't you.
There's nothing worse that a bullying coward.
Destiny, I agree, and you and PG are the cowards of the worst kind.
Your silly word gammes and pretending, your playing stupid whenever you are asked to give reasons for your opinion. We know that you don't have any reasonable arguments for your J&A or BT opinions, but you have no balls to admit that so you keep selling stupid fiction.
My point, made several times, is that personally I think the X17 photos were arranged and had nothing to do with his hiking on Saturday.
She only comes here to push buttons, remember?
My point, made several times, is that personally I think the X17 photos were arranged and had nothing to do with his hiking on Saturday.
So PR arranged for these photographs to be taken, and part of your evidence for this is that the woman in the picture knew she was going to have her photo taken because of she did her hair and make up and smiles directly at the camera. So PR deliberately sabotage their own arranged photo ops? Because if this was arranged, wouldn't they have arranged it so that the woman didn't have her hair and make up done and wasn't smiling at the camera? Or are PR now sending out secret shout outs?
And what was this photo op arranged for? What was PR's plan? These pictures serve no practical purpose whatsoever.
My point, made several times, is that personally I think the X17 photos were arranged
But I don't get what you think those arranged photos are supposed to proving.
Sadly, I don't think some can grasp the concept of Jake's look for a movie role.
My point, made several times, is that personally I think the X17 photos were arranged and had nothing to do with his hiking on Saturday.
There are 5 tweets (5 different persons) about Jake hiking on Saturday, none from Sunday + there is no reason to believe Runyon Canyon photos from Saturday are photo op because:
1. nothing interesting there that could be used by PR. Jake and the girl have potential, but he's ignoring her.
2. it is so easy to do an interesting photo op - Jake and one of his PA or a female friend going to a restaurant would get tons of attention.
3. Just Jared, Perez and Popsugar didn't bother to post Runyon Canyon photos. If that was a photo op then Jake's PR would use PR friendly sites to post them.
Do you care to comment?
Sadly, I don't think some can grasp the concept of Jake's look for a movie role.
What? I'm sure no one forgot how Jake looked for Jarhead.
Uh, no. :)
Please explain!
Michelle Williams will play Glinda, the good witch, in Disney’s upcoming film Oz, the Great and Powerful.
The 30-year-old actress will team up with James Franco, Rachel Weisz, and Mila Kunis in the new film, which will begin filming in July in Michigan, Variety reports.
JJ
Leonardo DiCaprio & Blake Lively
Leo, Haas and Blake.
Michelle Williams will play Glinda, the good witch, in Disney’s upcoming film Oz, the Great and Powerful.
Cool! :)
*sulking*
They also don't like jake's look for EOW and that he is jogging, and going to boxing and karate classes because it's too butch, to them all gay men should camp it up 24/7 and listen to Lady gaga!!
Trolly, that is totally insane, you need new material.
We just got picked up for 13 episodes. OTH cannot be killed thanks to the fans. Season finale tonight.
2 hours ago
No fangirl the Jaustasloons have said so, go over to OMG and check the comments from yesterday and PG's response.
PG, M&M, M and the rest are on record for hating the look and were fuming over ther boxing/karate pics, in fact, M&M, popped in using one of her sock puppets and said that Jake deserved the ridicue of that pic and it was karma because he was seen butching it up.
Is that true? I don't believe they are crazy like that.
tommywellsnet: HATE celebs. grow the fuck up jake http://gawker.com/5802826/jake-gyllenhaal-doesnt-want-fake-shirtless-pictures-of-himself-on-the-internet
12 minutes ago
Jake Gyllenhaal Doesn’t Want Fake Shirtless Pictures of Himself on the Internet
Brian Moylan — Our friends over at Buzzfeed got a letter from Jake Gyllenhaal's lawyer after they published a Photoshopped photo of Jakey's head on someone else's body. In this case it was a photo of a shirtless boy posing like the famous cover of a Grace Jones' album.
Lighten up, Jake. It's not like there's a dearth of shirtless pictures of you on the internet. I mean this can't be any worse for your career than Prince of Persia!
6:13, what I meant was we have not forgotten how great Jake looked in Jarhead! :)
Great news about Michelle, looking forward to the Oz movie.
LOL!
Grow the fuck up Jake.
Read the Takedown Letter that Jake Gyllenhaal’s Lawyer Sent us Over the Photo that we will not be Removing
Jake Gyllenhaal’s lawyers know that you’ve been thinking about him in his underwear, and they are not amused.
Queerty got an email this afternoon from Jake’s law firm, asking that we remove the (probably fake) photo of him in his undies. We’re keeping the photo up, since it hasn’t been proven fake and because their letter bumped it from “funny and cute” to “actually newsworthy.”
“Your publication of this fake photo violates many legal rights of our client by, among other things, defaming him,” says Jake’s lawyer.
Oh, really? Defaming him? Well, we don’t like defaming anyone. You might even say that we are gays and lesbians allied against defamation.
But what exactly is the defamation here? Is is that people might think, wrongly, that Jake wears underpants? Or that his reputation is sullied by the idea that he allowed someone to photograph him without pants on? Or that he stayed in what looks like a cheap motel?
Simply calling something defamation doesn’t make it so, as Howard Stern learned in 2009 when he tried — and failed — to sue someone for suggesting that he’s gay. Is that what’s going on here?
Jake’s a public figure, and we can talk about him if we want to. We can even speculate about what he looks like in his underwear. We can’t — and won’t — claim that this picture of him is definitely authentic, since we just don’t know. (A lot of people seem to claim that it isn’t, but internet-photoshop-experts are about as reliable as internet-lawyers.)
In any case, if Jake wants us to take down a fake photograph of him in his underwear, all he has to do is provide us with a real photo and we’ll gladly post that one instead.
From angry OMG fangirls, this sounds like M&M:
May 17, 2011 10:16 AM
what goes around, comes around said...
Jake never had this kind of problem when he was just in the closet. But, it looks like someone got tired of his, I'm a footloose bachelor, without a care in the world, who is going to be in a he-man copper flick, buzzed-cut and karate ready (that is when he isn't boxing his testosterone driven aggression away). You know, starting the new year right after he had sex 17 times with Anne Hathaway, dragged his sister and niece into his labyrinth of lies with old Taylor and continues to hide his children away from the world, but openly gushes over Ramona every chance he gets. Karma's a bitch.
prairiegirl said...
But, it looks like someone got tired of his, I'm a footloose bachelor, without a care in the world, who is going to be in a he-man copper flick, buzzed-cut and karate ready (that is when he isn't boxing his testosterone driven aggression away).
10:30, you might well have hit on something.
May 17, 2011 10:57 AM
Email rdt@bhdrl.com
I'll send them Us Weekly photos and complain about portraying Jake in a false light!
If you fail to immediately remove the fake picture, our client will take such action as he may deem appropriate to protect his rights, which may include, without limitation, an action against your company for actual and punitive damages and injunctive relief.
Jake is an idiot.
Huh. I don't remember a takedown letter being issued over that tacky manip that was all over the place when LAOD was being released.
I'll send them Us Weekly photos and complain about portraying Jake in a false light!
LOL.
It's enough to know that the pic is fake from a reliable source, they can keep a fake pic up if they want, but they won't, because they look foolish. ;)
Why send a letter for this photoshopped pic and not the other one that appeared when LaOD came out?
they can keep a fake pic up if they want, but they won't, because they look foolish
Huh? No one looks foolish for having fun with some stupid photo.
Throwing it out there... said...
Why send a letter for this photoshopped pic and not the other one that appeared when LaOD came out?
Jake didn't mind looking hot and getting good publicity for LAOD.
I don't think the other one ever got as much "traction". lol Plus, I don't think it was ever truly represented as a real pic, it was left vague.
I'm glad Jake showed his balls. :)Maybe this was the last straw for him.
Jake just showed his stupidity and hypocrisy.
I don't think it was ever truly represented as a real pic, it was left vague.
Sorry, you're don't know what you're talking about.
I'll send them Us Weekly photos and complain about portraying Jake in a false light!
I'll send them list of photos where Jake looks much gayer so they could take them down too.
It's enough to know that the pic is fake from a reliable source
What reliable source? The photo is real, Jake wouldn't care about a fake.
Your publication of this fake photo violates many legal rights of our client by, among other things, defaming him, portraying him in a false light,...
Being gay is bad? Fuck off, Jake!
The pic is fake, it makes Jake look like an idiot unlike the other fake pic which made him look hot.
The only ones that actually think it's reasl are the silly fangirls on OMG
I don't think it's saying being gay is bad. I thought someone would post something like that sooner - you're slipping. If the photo were real, it would be a different story. There's a name for that kind of fallacy, that shuts down all argument by playing the gay card.
But the photo was so obviously fake, and just an attempt to ridicule him while hiding behind gay rights. All it did was make fun of someone who is gay, whether or not that someone is Jake or not.
But the photo was so obviously fake
If the photo was obviously fake Jake wouldn't hire lawyers to defend his sorry ass.
I don't think it's saying being gay is bad.
I'm sure they do. Of yourse they don't use the word, they aren't crazy to do that, but what else could be the reason for "defaming him, portraying him in a false light"?
But what exactly is the defamation here? Is is that people might think, wrongly, that Jake wears underpants? Or that his reputation is sullied by the idea that he allowed someone to photograph him without pants on? Or that he stayed in what looks like a cheap motel?
Not everyone has such "high ideals" as the blog sites - making him an object of ridicule is the defaming part. Being gay in and of itself isn't bad or defaming, but making fun of someone for it is.
If the photo was obviously fake Jake wouldn't hire lawyers to defend his sorry ass.
It's obviously fake and I'm no photoshop expert . I saw the TMZ logo and checked it on the site . It took me about 5 minutes.
making him an object of ridicule is the defaming part
What are you talking about, what ridicule?
BTW, did you ever read Jake in PoP comments?
It's obviously fake and I'm no photoshop expert .
So what? There are 1.000 fake Jake photos.
Lawyers aren't suing because it's real, if so it would have ben pulled on Sunday as per Jake.
He is being made fun of and the pic isn't hot or sexy, so Jake asked his lawyer to send out the letter, he should of just let it be.
BTW, it has to be the worst photoshopped pic I have seen of Jake: Body too small, an attept to "shrink" Jake's head to fit the body, the tan line around the neck where you can see where they pasted it on, the attempt at making Jake's hair "bigger", the photoshoping of the socks resulting in one foot bigger than the other, etc.
TMZ probably did not want their logo used without permission either. That is not Jake's body. It is painfully obvious. Making fun of him because he is gay, or promoting it if it isn't true is what is meant. He does have control of how and where his image appears.
TMZ probably did not want their logo used without permission either.
That's a lie.
Making fun of him because he is gay, or promoting it if it isn't true is what is meant.
Hi homophobe!
You have never heard of trademarks I guess, 9:43.
Photo is up
http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/59282611.html
You have never heard of trademarks I guess, 9:43.
There is no reason for TMZ to complain, they are getting publicity, it's not like they are interested in the photo.
They don't want that kind of publicity, getting a cease and desist order if they didn't have anything to do with the picture.
You can't sue someone for ridiculing you, it has to be defamatory.
Queerty got it right.
To park at Runyon Canyon you either use a dirt lot off of Mulholland Drive, or if you use a different entrance, you just park on the street, if you can find a spot.
Doesn't make any sense that paps would be hanging out on the street like that, and not in the parking lot (which again, is dirt).
Oh shut up already SK @ 10:54
Your insecurity and obsession is painfully showing 10:58pm. Beyond sad.
:(
Sk's obsession with who Jake hangs out with, what he wears, eats, hangsout with, is sick
Special doesn't post on WFT2.
Poor little babblers, JIS fans and other assorted jake can do no wrong fans, obsessed with saving Jake from the fans that refuse to accept all of his phoniness and overwrought reaction to a photoshopped picture.
He does have control of how and where his image appears.
this is the point! You would be surprise how many stars don't want this and go thru great lengths to protect their image. Call it what you want, question his sexuality etc. etc. but it is his image. If he does not like it, he has every right to complain and ask that it be taken down or else.
It's (his) image he's protecting.
11:30 is really pissed. He/she thinks everyone should be calling Jake out because he has not come out so she/he can jump for joy.
Sorry cremepuff, Jake has every right to protect his image if he wants, when he wants. You don't get to choose for him. His image is for sell if he wants it, so get over yourself and stop hating.
For what ever reason, he does not like it and wants it removed.
Everything to you is about him being gay and him lying to you.
You need to get over yourself and stop acting so entitled.
Here's another clue to the troll. Exaggeration . Tons of tweets 1000 fake Jake photos. Can be spotted from a mile away.
1:11 AM - use to learn Google and check out naked and having gay sex fake Jake's photos.
Oops! Should be "learn to use Google!" :)
You would be surprise how many stars don't want this and go thru great lengths to protect their image.
Name ONE celebrity who used lawyers to threatened web sites with "which may include, without limitation, an action against your company for actual and punitive damages and injunctive relief" for publishing a photoshopped photo.
Well?
Jake Gyllenhaal’s lawyer has started sending out cease and desist letters to websites who posted that underwear photo from a few days ago. I first saw the photo on DListed.com, who correctly noted that one version of the photo had a TMZ.com mark slapped on it… and yet a quick search of TMZ revealed no such photo. That alone was reason enough for me to skip posting the image. That and it was pretty obviously Photoshopped. Gyllenhaal seems to have a pretty good, self-deprecating sense of humour. But he had zero sense of humour for the person who ‘Shopped his head onto a dude doing a sub-par Grace Jones impression. BuzzFeed.com got the legal letter and they posted it. As did Queerty who were sent one too. The letter notes that the image was faked. Gyllenhaal will start suing if anyone leaves it up. There’s a cropped version above. I guess it’s just of some random guy who makes sure to match his socks to the carpet.
http://amygrindhouse.com/jake-gyllenhaal-underwear-photo.html
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