Beautiful film wrong story

Rating: 7/10 (31 December 2005)

I truly wish I could be singing the praises of this film. But it's the wrong film, the wrong message, the promotion of an image that needs to pass from our culture.
I've grown weary of the message that because people are different, they are pitiable and must be consigned to a life of tragedy. In mainstream films with gay subject matter, the homosexual in question either winds up dead or crazy,or both. (The Talented Mr. Ripley, American Beauty, the list goes on) This is a beautiful love story, yes. It was a wonderfully written short story I stumbled on several years ago by Annie Proulx, and the screenplay has Larry McMurtry's masterful fingerprints all over it. I've no truck with Proulx, McMurtry, or Osanna. I have no issue with Ang Lee who made a beautiful film. Nor do I have issue with the talented cast who gave us wonderfully crafted performances.
My issue is with the pathetic notion that people are less than because they are different, that they must be denied happiness just because of who they love. I've listened to it for almost 50 years and it's not true. Does this kind of story happen? Sure! All the time. Is it the byproduct of a culture afraid of its own sexual shadow? Yes. Is it the byproduct of a culture that would rather let its children see people being blown to bits rather than loving each other? Sadly,yes.
Where is the film in which Ennis Del Mar has courage? The film in which Jack and Ennis win? Stop telling people that their sexual orientation determines their worth in this culture from the time they're born. Tell them they are valued regardless of who they are. Show me that! Celebrate that! That I'll sing the praises of. That I'll pay ten bucks to see. All that's been done here is someone has put attractive people in beautiful settings, and promoted an empty myth.