Topic: Washington Post: A Flawed 'Picture' of 'Brokeback Mountain'

[Italian_Dude]

A Flawed 'Picture' of 'Brokeback Mountain'
Saturday, February 18, 2006; Page A31


Although most of Stephen Hunter's Feb. 2 Style essay, "Lost Horizon: A Picture of the Mountain Between Two Americas," is a fine exploration of the imagery in Ang Lee's film "Brokeback Mountain," Hunter goes completely off the rails with his assertions that the movie "is cruel to family," "misses the deepest joy of family," and that the two main characters, Ennis and Jack, "weren't true men" because of their supposed lack of attention to their children.

Hunter seems to forget both the social milieu of the characters -- poor, rural Wyoming -- and the main theme of the film: that Ennis and Jack's inability to build their romantic lives together has disastrous effects on them, their families and others in their community. It is unrealistic to expect the film to show scenes of loving, heterosexual family life when the movie's focus is quite appropriately on Ennis's and Jack's misery in being separated from each other. It is further improbable to think that Ennis and his wife's ragged home life was any worse than that of many folks in central Wyoming in that era.


This was one readers response: 
 
Hunter's comment that Ennis and Jack "weren't true men" is so totally bizarre and offensive that it makes me wonder what Hunter defines as the qualities of a "true" man and whether any childless man or gay father would be a "true" man by his standards. "Brokeback Mountain" is a movie about two masculine men who loved each other, loved and tried to care for their children, worked hard, and grappled with personal challenges the likes of which most Americans will never have to face. While their family life was far from perfect and the film reflects this, I'm certain that many viewers found themselves, like me, concluding that Ennis and Jack were very much "true men."

[Krispera]

A Flawed 'Picture' of 'Brokeback Mountain'
Saturday, February 18, 2006; Page A31


Although most of Stephen Hunter's Feb. 2 Style essay, "Lost Horizon: A Picture of the Mountain Between Two Americas," is a fine exploration of the imagery in Ang Lee's film "Brokeback Mountain," Hunter goes completely off the rails with his assertions that the movie "is cruel to family," "misses the deepest joy of family," and that the two main characters, Ennis and Jack, "weren't true men" because of their supposed lack of attention to their children.

 It is unrealistic to expect the film to show scenes of loving, heterosexual family life when the movie's focus is quite appropriately on Ennis's and Jack's misery in being separated from each other.

I'm sure he's the BEST MAN EVER ON THE EARTH WHO CARES OF HIS CHILDREN SO MUCH! Dude even my father don't even care of me like in this movie. He just wanted to say << Homosexuals are not true men >> he doesn't need to create an excuse to say it lol.. Yeah.. this movie is not about a FAMILY, it's about impossible love '' misses the deepest joy of family  '' yeah whatever..

And why is it UNREALISTIC? They were'nt in 2000, they were in 60's! In 60's talking about homosexuality in rural place like Wyoming = die. So yeah they needed to show family life part so if there is no family, there is no misery.

Stupid 

[ethan]

I guess it is easy to pick on the story than to pick on the movie. IMO, the movie is not about whether Ennis and Jack are true men.
And movies are not obligated to portray true men either.

There have been many movies that don't show "true men," that is according to Hunter's definition and I have not read any major criticisms on these movie. So then why on BBM? Is it because two men fall in love?

[frenchcda]

Stephen Hunter's Feb. 2 Style essay The guy needs a life, remember it is always easier to put down something and enhance one's stupidity than to put an effort in a positive essay.  the guy is truly a waste of time and paper.