An Unbroken Review

Though I am just getting around to it, we actually saw the Oscar Nominee for Best Picture, Brokeback Mountain, a couple of weeks ago. Before I forget, the beautiful vistas in this movie are actually Alberta, not Wyoming (which has pissed off more than a couple of tourists). Anyhow, let me give you the basics of this movie without giving away the whoel thing.

Boy meets Girl at work.
Boy flirts with Girl.
Boy and Girl hook up a couple of times.
Boy and Girl part ways after work is complete.
Boy and Girl go home to their respective partners and lives.
Boy and Girl cannot get each other out of their heads.
Boy and Girl's lives get very complicated.
Boy and Girl have hard decisions to make.
and more.

OK, that is pretty much the standard formulatic approach to any love story in the movies. Now, if you have been under a rock somewhere, this may come as a bit of a shock: replace all "Girl" references with another "Boy" reference. Yes, this is a Gay Cowboy movie, but really it is an old fashioned, tragic love story. The fact that the characters are gay really means not a whole lot except for revelance to the current cultural climate.

The story would have translated just as easily to a black woman, white man in the era of 'To Kill a Mocking Bird'. True too for working class porter to rich socialite in the era of Titanic. Or even Greek and Macedonian. It really is about the love between two people who are not supposed to be togther but really canot live apart.

It is for that reason, this script and movie is making such an impact. And to think that a director more known for cheese and schlock and people dying and shit blowing up, Ang Lee has done an amazing job of powerful message within quiet restraint. Too quiet for some groups and too loud for others. These days though, the only thing I can say about the polarized group is: Fuck 'Em!!

Go see the movie. It's worth it.

Ciao.