ahream

In the interest of shouting about good art from the rooftops, I pull out my bullhorn and put on my sandwich board in support of “Brokeback Mountain.”

The story centers around the life-long love story of two men who meet while working as cowboys in Wyoming. It’s a quiet movie that treats their lives and pain with solemnity. It’s a slow burn. Nothing explodes or shouts or makes a cheap shot at your emotions, but you keep thinking about the little parts long after you leave the theater.

The movie is based on a short story by Annie Proulx, which I have not read but will now search under every rock and behind every tree from here to Texas for. Bless the people who put together the film’s credits and movie posters and website for being sure her name is front and center, an honor rarely given to any writer not Stephen King.

And an extra thumbs up to the set designer and location scout. Anyone who has ever lived in or near small towns will recognize every bit of crooked sidewalk and peeling paint as absolutely authentic. And the soundtrack, especially the brilliant “He was a Friend of Mine” by Willie Nelson, is a perfect backdrop.

Of course, Heath Ledger deserves every award he’s nominated for and will surely win. “Brokeback” is a great film. Four stars.

ahream Dispatches from the City of Angels I'm a mystery writer living in and writing about Los Angeles. You can catch my short story, "Running Venice," in the new anthology LAndmarked for Murder. Look for it in bookstores and on Amazon.com now. In the meantime, feel free to poke around. Over at my website you can find even more blog entries than I could fit here, as well as a few other ramblings. Enjoy and come back often.
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Previous Entry :: Next Entry Read/Post Comments (3) Most Recent Twitters: A 3-foot long alligator was found walking down the middle of the street in Venice Beach this morning. I love L.A. In case you were wondering, it is very difficult to get a hummingbird out of your house. They are irrational and prone to hysterics. L.A. Finds: The Nickel Diner on Main between 5th and 6th is a made-to-look-old, throwback of a place that melds into the old downtown and is, at the same time, part of the renaissance. They serve their burgers medium, their soda in bottles and offer all they can to locals in need. Flickr Updates: The second Thursday of every month is the Downtown Art Walk. The galleries stay open late, the restaurants are packed, bands perform on the streets. God, I love L.A. What I'm Reading: Attack of the Unsinkable Rubber Ducks by Christopher Brookmyre What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami Want E-Mail Updates? Click here, type your e-mail address into the first field (for public entries) and receive an e-mail note each time a new blog post goes up. (Photo updates, Twitters and "L.A. Finds" features not included. Those you have to swing by and check yourself.) Absolutely, positively no spam. Promise. Other author blogs: Sue Ann Jaffarian Eric Stone Christa Faust Lipstick Chronicles		2005-12-19 11:03 AM Brokeback Mountain, two thumbs up In the interest of shouting about good art from the rooftops, I pull out my bullhorn and put on my sandwich board in support of “Brokeback Mountain.” The story centers around the life-long love story of two men who meet while working as cowboys in Wyoming. It’s a quiet movie that treats their lives and pain with solemnity. It’s a slow burn. Nothing explodes or shouts or makes a cheap shot at your emotions, but you keep thinking about the little parts long after you leave the theater. The movie is based on a short story by Annie Proulx, which I have not read but will now search under every rock and behind every tree from here to Texas for. Bless the people who put together the film’s credits and movie posters and website for being sure her name is front and center, an honor rarely given to any writer not Stephen King. And an extra thumbs up to the set designer and location scout. Anyone who has ever lived in or near small towns will recognize every bit of crooked sidewalk and peeling paint as absolutely authentic. And the soundtrack, especially the brilliant “He was a Friend of Mine” by Willie Nelson, is a perfect backdrop. Of course, Heath Ledger deserves every award he’s nominated for and will surely win. “Brokeback” is a great film. Four stars. Read/Post Comments (3) Previous Entry :: Next Entry Back to Top