What To Do About "Brokeback Mountain"

"Brokeback Mountain" has been in the news a lot lately. I haven't seen it. A movie about gay sheepherders doesn't sound very entertaining to me. Except for "Lonesome Dove," I've never enjoyed westerns. It's the kind of movie that I figure I'll wait a few months, pay $2.99 to see it on Pay-Per-View rather than blow a fortune at the theater for something I'm not excited about seeing in the first place.

I understand that it has great music and sweeping panoramic photography and that many who see it walk out weeping for the poor, misunderstood guys who have to try to be something they're not because of society's disapproval of their nature. The fact that it's a tear-jerker doesn't particularly make me want to see it, either. I don't know. As I said, I haven't seen it. However, I have heard lots of news reports and read lots of blogging about it. So I gathered the best of what I've found in the blogosphere on the topic. To save time, I'll just refer to the movie as BM. And no, I won't make a joke about that. So here is the best of the "BM Blogging" I've seen so far - some positive, some negative, some neutral, some humorous. You're welcome to let me know if there are other reviews or commentary about the movie you think are noteworthy:

Conservative Cat has an idea for how the Oscars should be handled in order to take into consideration the expected sweep of BM.

Blue Star Chronicles advises "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys."

Girl Friday writes from a Christian conservative viewpoint in her "Brokeback Mountain" Review.

Brokeback Mountain convinced me to feel compassion for two gay characters. But it didn’t make me agree with the homosexuality. And I don’t think it was trying to. The negative consequences of their relationship are everywhere.

In "Homo, Homo on The Range," Rustbelt Ramblings discusses new brokeback vocabulary and phrases. My favorite is "Did you hear about Jack? He got all Brokeback after high school.", but there are many others others to choose from.

My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy has a post that's short - really the title of the post is the point of it. So I won't give it away here. You'll have to go and read it for yourself.

Ace Of Spades HQ gives a two-word review of BM. He also later describes it as "The Gay Slingblade." Then there is another post that suggests that Hollywood doesn't watch a lot of the movies they vote on.

Wizbang Pop! tells us that Brad Pitt is looking to cash in on the BM hype.

The Nihilist in Golf Pants gets musical about the movie.

Slapyo provides some Brokeback cartoons. (note: possibly offensive)

The Mumpsimus compared BM to "Munich" and then noted:

Brokeback Mountain could have been ridiculous. It could have been sappy and so earnest as to ooze good intentions all over the audience. It is, instead, remarkably restrained in tone. The only thing not repressed in the film is the landscape, which is vast and almost pornographic in its loveliness.

Reel Opinions definitely has an opinion on BM, and it has nothing to do with the gay sheepherder theme:

It's so meandering and repetitive that I almost have to wonder how anyone can praise it to the skies the way many have. The movie attempts nothing new at its core, it's simply an old story of forbidden love given a new coat of paint by having the two lovers be men.

So, there you have it. Lots of varying opinions about one movie. I'd say that's typical. Some people like it. Others don't. It'll be interesting to see what the final score is after all the award shows are over.