Feb. 2, 2006

'Brokeback' controversy is on campus

Philip: By now, it seems nearly impossible to have not heard of the film Brokeback Mountain.  The feature has stirred up quite a bit of controversy over its subject matter, although most only know of it as “that gay cowboy movie.”  It is not overtly sexual or pornographic as many other mainstream movies often are, but relies instead on the growing love between two cowboys struggling to deal with themselves in the context of a narrow-minded society.  The two cowboys, played by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, meet one summer on Brokeback Mountain and discover a love they’ve never experienced before.  Conforming to society’s expectations and remembering a vicious homophobic hate crime from years ago, both marry and raise families, but continue to occasionally meet in secret on Brokeback Mountain.

Many conservative groups have attacked the movie because of its taboo homosexual subject matter.  Still, other “gay movies” have never received so much attention.  Some detractors view it as degrading the traditionally “straight” figure of the cowboy and maligning the American West.  Others seem to disagree with the infidelity strewn throughout, while many simply see it as liberal propaganda. 

While it has received overwhelming critical praise, public opinion has been mixed.  One Marietta College student stated her disgust at the movie by simply saying, “I wasn’t brought up that way.”  Another said, “I may not agree with homosexuality, but it was one of the best movies I’ve ever seen.”  Rainbow Alliance chair Alissa Waggerby reported, “It seems as if people have had mixed feelings about the whole concept of the movie, but at least it’s making people think about GLBT issues.  Anything that raises awareness can’t hurt.”

Certainly, this movie has raised much awareness of homosexuality in today’s society.  The film presents many facets of the issue:  persecution, tolerance, and acceptance.  While only one minor character actually accepts the two lovers, the influence of this figure is undeniable, urging its audience to become more open-minded to the power of love.  Expect this to have an impact, both at this year’s Oscars and in American society.

Film is a story of true love

Jeremy:  Labeling Ang Lee’s ‘Brokeback Mountain’ as a “gay cowboy movie” really doesn’t do the film justice. Yes, Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal are cowboys, and yes, they do, uh, “gay things,” but at the core of the film, we get the timeless tale of forbidden love, of two people who can’t be together and the suffering that results.

The year is 1963, and Ennis (Ledger) and Jack (Gyllenhaal) meet at age 19, their boss (Randy Quaid) assigning them a flock of sheep to tend to on the Brokeback mountainside. Ennis is shy and reserved, taught at an early age to be cautious and fearful, but Jack, a rodeo rider, is more outgoing and playful. Time passes, the two men make a connection, and one night, after a lot of whiskey, they have sex. They both agree that they “ain’t queer,” but as years pass and they both marry and have children, they find themselves making secret “fishing trips” to see one another despite the difficulties involved.

What makes ‘Brokeback’ so powerful is the intense focus it has on its characters and their feelings. It’s a heartbreaking situation for both men’s wives. Jack’s wife Lureen (Anne Hathaway) is too busy running the family business to suspect her husband’s deceit, but Ennis’ wife Alma (Michelle Williams) catches them embracing and wrestles with this for a very long time, only because society rarely acknowledged homosexuality in that day, leaving her utterly baffled and unsure of how to respond.

Jack ultimately hoped to settle with Ennis in a secluded cabin somewhere on Brokeback, but Ennis, whose father had shown him the consequences of being gay at a very young age, wouldn’t have it.

And no matter your stance on gay issues or your feelings of Jack and Ennis’ marital betrayal, I think that almost anyone can connect with the ideas of missed opportunities, unrealized dreams, and an unobtainable love. The film doesn’t make a solid statement, but simply tells Jack and Ennis’ story that we can observe their situation just as they saw it. It focuses on ideas that are universal so that everyone can relate, and that is why this movie will be Oscar’s pick for the best movie of 2005. (3 ½ out of 4 stars)