Brokeback Blog

I wish I could quit yew

I've now read various critiques of "Brokeback Mountain" -- the story of two gay, cowboy lovers in Wyoming in the 1960's. Most of the reviews I'm thinking of (with one notable exception) are from political, social critics rather than the entertainment sector. I'm amused by the unusual, oft judgmental lenses that the movie seems to pass thru, depending on the viewer. Gene Shalit, a mild-mannered NBC movie reviewer suggested that the character Jack was a "sexual predator". For this, he received quite a bit of flak from the Gay/Lesbian community. Having seen the movie, I can't imagine either of these men being seen as predator or prey. Mr. Shalit must be grappling with concepts of legal age and consent. His words hark back to the Anita Bryant crusade, when gays were viewed as highly efficient recruiters.

Two columnists at the Dallas Morning News had similar takes. Rob Dreher thought that the two men exemplified immaturity and unwillingness to live "as grownup men". On a similar plateau, Mark Davis implied that the men got what they were asking for, playing with nature the way they were. The two DMN columnists suggest that the cowboys' preferences are either chosen or so vile (as those of a child molester) that they should be forever suppressed.

A woman writing for DMN (can’t recall her name so will leave that open) opined that the men ignored their women, and the women were portrayed as whiny, pathetic nags. Well, on the first point, the men were gay – they wouldn’t focus on the wives the same as they focus on their love objects. I don’t think either woman came off as this DMN columnist described them. Ennis’ wife had mixed feelings of betrayal and a lingering affection for her gay ex-husband. Jack’s wife was portrayed as a fairly aggressive, assertive woman – nobody’s victim.

“Brokeback Mountain” got us past a couple of clichés. No character was dying of AIDS, nor was the topic ever brought up. The two gay cowboys were masculine but also vulnerable. Movies with gay subplots sometimes try to eschew the effeminate stereotype by going too far the other way of Marine Corps macho. Nobody has to wrestle an alligator or fight Mike Tyson here. Prospective viewers should know there is no graphic, only implied sex in the movie. The movie has been a watershed of sorts – it’s provided joke fodder to standup comedians and cartoonists for a couple of months now. The fact that the mere mention of the title elicits giggles and nervous laughter says something about our collective angst. And the fact that so many otherwise quiet essayists have an opinion about this movie says it did the noble work of all good writing (and screenplay adapting) - it made us think.