Big Bang of Movies

Rating: 10/10 (6 February 2006)

It has now been a week since I saw the "emotional dirty bomb" Brokeback Mountain. Just like a dirty bomb the initial shockwave knocked me out, but clearly the devastation is the follow-up punch. I did not sleep well that night. Scenes just kept popping in my head, words said, etc. Then all of a sudden Matthew Sheppard pops into my head. Geez! I'm a wreck, soon as I get up - it's on the Internet to see anything I can find on the movie.
I don't try to keep up with the Hollywood crowd. As an example: several months ago I visited my neighbors and the kids insisted I watch Napoleon Dynamite with them. I did. OK - so I had a laugh or two. When I got home I got on the Internet looked up the movie, read about the dude that played ND. Right now - could not tell you his name (but I remember he was Mormon?)! After seeing Brokeback Mountain I did the same, got on the Internet looked up the stars, etc. First - Jake Gyllenhaal - must be a foreign actor (sounds Danish, Kon Tiki author??). Nope, born in LA. Oops, the listing says October Sky - hey wait a minute - I've seen that one! Rockets, West Virginia (I was born there, probably why I remembered the movie), coal mines...and this guy Gyllenhaal was in *that*?? Guess I was not impressed. Went to the library, checked out the movie. Dude's photo is on the COVER! ! Yep that is him, bit younger, but it's him. Watched the movie - really watching Jake close. Could I have seen the leap from October Sky to Brokeback Mountain?? NEVER in a million years. I was left empty. If you saw early Brando, you could see later Brando, if you get my drift. One scene did make me take notice: Homer (Jake) going down into the mine for his first evening's work. The elevator has a screened top and Homer stares up into the night sky looking at Sputnik. That LOOK, now that WILL show up later in Brokeback Mountain. I'm now at a loss - Jake wasn't what blew me away (Jake the actor or Jake as Jack).
Backup and check out the other dude. Heath (after the candy bar?) Ledger. Here again - no bells going off. But wait, again listed is a movie he was in that I've seen. The Patriot. Back to the library, check out the movie. Ah, the curly blond bubblegum-crowd magnet. Acting? P-a-lease. I looked at him when he had black ink all over his teeth and inside his mouth, grinning from ear to ear. I looked at him dying. Nowhere, nowhere could I see the leap from this to Brokeback Mountain. His acting was awesome. But again, it wasn't what blew me away (Heath the actor or Heath as Ennis).
Well, it must have been the story. Bought the book by Annie Proulx. I *did* recognize her name. I read a lot, Shipping News. Read the story. It did tell the story, but I can easily comment that had I NOT seen the movie, the story would not have done much for me. The only reason the story worked at all for me was the *experience* of seeing the movie.
The music? Bought the CD. Wasn't the music...
The director? Seen and liked his other works. Wasn't the director...
Etc., Etc.
As far as I'm concerned, I was blessed to have witnessed the "Emotional Big Bang of Movies." And just like the cosmic Big Bang, searching for the whys may be an exercise in futility. Obviously, a massive synergy has taken place. I want to thank all involved, but to paraphrase a line: "I wish I could quit Brokeback Mountain."