"It was just a beautiful movie. You could feel the pain at the end," said Wittwer.
Posted on 01/11/2006 10:43:28 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
Curtis Wittwer was somewhat reluctant to see a film about two cowboys in love.
The 64-year-old retired state worker, who saw "Brokeback Mountain" with his girlfriend Tuesday night, said he doesn't ordinarily seek out gay-themed movies.
Still, he counted five reasons for seeing the film: It's a western, it's directed by Ang Lee, the screenplay is co-written by Larry McMurtry and it's been getting rave reviews. Plus, he was egged on after reading a New York Times piece by Larry David in which the comedian satirically complains that watching the movie could turn him gay.
"It was just a beautiful movie. You could feel the pain at the end," said Wittwer.
There was only one man at the nearly sold-out 6:30 p.m. showing Tuesday at Westgate Art Cinema who admitted he was uncomfortable seeing the movie. The man was there with four female colleagues, most of whom giggled uncontrollably when he declined to be interviewed about his feelings.
Not one man at the 7 p.m. showing admitted to being uncomfortable with the subject matter.
In fact, the majority of the men seeing "Brokeback Mountain" said they were the ones who talked their wives or girlfriends into going to the movie.
Longtime state Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, saw the movie Tuesday with his wife Nancy. They had both wanted to see it, but it was Risser's spur-of-the-moment idea.
"We talked about the fact that some areas had refused to show the picture. We couldn't understand why," Risser said. "Those people who are uncomfortable with a movie like that, they shouldn't go. I don't go to war movies. I don't particularly enjoy those."
Eric Bruger, 22, a UW-Madison bacteriology student, admitted "Brokeback Mountain" wouldn't have been his first choice of movies to see during winter break. He went because his girlfriend is a fan of stars Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Bruger said he overcame any unease he might have had before entering the theater.
"It's not very commonly seen. Maybe it's seen as threatening a societal norm," he said before the movie. "Then I thought about it and realized, well, it's not really a very big deal."
Afterward, Bruger called it a "pretty good movie" and "tastefully done."
"There was a lot more to it than the impression I was given coming in to it," he said.
Marshall Collins, 20, who works at the theater and attends Madison Media Institute, said he only saw the film because of the hype.
Collins said he knows that his is the minority view, but he was disappointed by the film's ending, he said.
"It was too open. Like they were going to make a miniseries out of it. 'Tune in Sunday on CBS...' "
Also, he wasn't as emotional afterward as other movie-goers.
"Did you see 'Hotel Rwanda?' That's why people cry. Did you see 'Schindler's List'? That's why people cry.'" Collins said.
Rich Hogle, who was there with his wife and two sons, admitted before the movie that he had to be talked into going. He usually prefers action movies or dramas, he said.
Afterward, Hogle called it a "thought-provoking movie" that was slightly different than he expected. His son Chuck, meanwhile, was seeing the film for the second time, having already caught it in New York, on his way home from Ithaca College.
"It is really daring and unique," he said. "It managed to be sentimental and moving without being saccharine and sappy."
His brother Joe, a sophomore at Memorial High School, said he needed a little convincing to see the movie.
"I've never liked any movies of that genre before. But it was good," he said.
That a movie about gay cowboys would find a receptive audience in Madison is hardly surprising, noted a local conservative blogger who goes by the pen name Dennis York.
He likened it to "seeing 'Passion of the Christ' in Vatican City."
That's considered a "majority" in Liberal Land! *Rolleyes*
Probably better to face it than have your back to it.
I sense a high reading on the BS meter.
I bet I know what scene he was referring to. LOL!
Something about this article just ain't right.
"It was just a beautiful movie. You could feel the pain at the end," said Wittwer.
Yes, and which end, too!
Where's the triple-bag barf alert!
"It was too open. Like they were going to make a miniseries out of it. 'Tune in Sunday on CBS...' "
Oh but they will.
Five men took their 'beards' to see a gay sheepherder movie. Wow. There would higher attendance from Al Franken's makeup crew.
I bet.........
All you need to know.
Not gay cowboys, gay sheepherders!
"...where men are men and sheep are ..... ok with that..."
"His son Chuck, meanwhile, was seeing the film for the second time,
having already caught it in New York, on his way home from Ithaca College."
So Ithaca really is the "city of evil". I think that's how a frequent
poster terms it.
"His son Chuck, meanwhile, was seeing the film for the second time,
having already caught it in New York, on his way home from Ithaca College."
So Ithaca really is the "city of evil". I think that's how a frequent
poster terms it.
"It was just a beautiful movie. You could feel the pain at the end," said Wittwer.
Yes.
I'm sure they could.
I'm not going to see this movie cuz I hate weepy love stories...no matter who they are about.
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