Have you seen the American "movie of the year"? (we'll see if the Oscars finish the sweep).
This movie is so polarizing... some people don't want to see the movie on principle... some defend it as a classic love story... some guys claim they don't "get" it but that they are allowed to be what they are... liberal stereotypes versus conservative stereotypes... gay guys saying the movie isn't really a gay movie... the movie does make people think or discuss it.
The movie is subtle, makes the viewer "fill in the blanks" in whatever manner they like at times, but then at crucial points is anything but subtle
why do these guys even "like" each other, there are very few scenes of any chemistry between them. just seems like the filmmaker is saying it a natural passion between them because that is their nature
the Jake guy with the funny eyes does seem to be at least gay curious from the start, or at least implied by the filmmaker... the first scene of passion, do we assume that both guys are experienced at gay sex and have just been waiting for the opportunity? or that this buggery is just a natural spontanious act of passion? both guys seem to know what to do, who to do what. this doesnt strike me as realistic but the director wants to emphasize the natural aspect of the act, set the gayness as a natural behavior. isn't there a learning curve with buggery, or isn't that I didn't score high enough on the gay test to understand, or am I in denial?
Heath is sick after saying goodbye to Jake for the first time... isn't this a bit too much?
when they meet again for the second time, they are obviously happy to see each other, very understandable... but not very subtle since Ang has them kiss in passion so Heath's wife can see. would this really happen like this? wouldn't it be better to make it a little more subtle and just have the wife be jealous of how Heath prefers to be with Jake?
when Heath has his wife do it doggy style, this isn't subtle at all... kinda funny actually
Jake cries when Heath will not commit to him after his divorce... I think everybody can connect with this, your hopes dashed when somebody lets you down by turning you down
is Heath a failure because society will not let him marry Jake? is Ang Lee saying Heath would he be a success in life if he was allowed to live with Jake?
the sentimental end with Heath smelling the clothes... makes you cry or way too much?
Ang Lee tries so hard to make this passion seem a natural part of their natures, his theme
but the scenery is beautful, and the pace is a refereshing change of pace from most modern movies