Brokeback Mountain - review

For those who are familiar with wuxia films will tend to agree that Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon was a lucky shot for Lee Ang. The film, for its genre, is far from the best. But because of some Hollywood star dust, shrewed marketting, high profile reviews and patronage, it won a number of accolades for Lee Ang. Zhang Yimou's Hero was better as a wuxia film, that's in my opinion, but perhaps it failed in getting good reviews from the arthouse pack, and was not commercially viable with obtuse story telling and ambitious aims to draw analogies.

Lee Ang is definitely a sensitive director. He is capable of drawing out emotions from actors and actresses, putting a humane touch to characters adapted from literature. He has a keen eye for sweeping panaromic scenes that reminds me of romantic paintings. Romantic, not in the long-stem roses, champagne and strawberries, but the awe that nature has over humans. You can see lots of it in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. And with the Alberta, Canada as backdrop, masquerading Brokeback Mountain, there were epic sweeps of the mountains, fields and rivers. Not as dramatic as Peter Jackson's Lord of The Rings. There is no need for that. A laidback, earthy, crisp air type of feel would suffice for this tragic love story between two males.

But is this the movie that should win Oscars? Best Picture?

The theme is not novel. Granted there are a number of Hollywood films that dealt with homosexuality. Stanley Kwan's Lan Yu, which I thought was at least on par with Brokeback Mountain (although it's not a fair comparison), covered the theme of true love between two males previously. Lots more movies did that.

Is it because it's Lee Ang again? There was so much hype around this non-summer release. By word of mouth alone...opening in a limited number of cinemas....yet the buzz around it could not be kept under wraps.

Somehow, I think the movie should garner a couple of biggies. Perhaps even a best director for Lee Ang. If he should win, I'd agree to it if it was the merit of his sensitivity and handling of human emotions and appropriate use of epic panaromas. I have yet to watch Capote, Good Night and Good Luck and Crash. So can't really get a good feel. Last year's Best Picture was awarded to Million Dollar Baby and Clint Eastwood was the Best Director. Lee Ang went home in 2001 without either. It may be a repeat this year. But there is just so much hype around these two homosexual cowboys....

I wish I knew how to quit guessing....