Homo on the Range

Had a rather productive weekend at the movies this weekend, knocking two highly anticipated, Golden Globe-nominated films off my list. While both were OK, it's looking like I might leave 2005 without truly loving a single movie.

Saturday it was THE FAMILY STONE, this year's obligatory dysfunctional family, ensemble holiday comedy. I actually really enjoyed it (save for a slightly unbelievable note toward the end) and thought it was just the right mix of "sweet and sour." Loved DIANE KEATON (would love to see her swipe a Best Supporting Actress nod), loved RACHEL MCADAMS (quickly overtaking similarly dimpled JENNIFER GARNER in my affections), loved Coach and loved LUKE WILSON. Liked SARAH JESSICA PARKER. And of course, had to hold myself back from giving ALIAS/LOST composer MICHAEL GIACCHINO a standing ovation when his credit appeared. *** (B+)

Sunday saw BROKEBACK MOUNT-HIM, and spent the majority of the movie trying to come up with gay cowboy jokes for the blog. The movie was "eh" ultimately. Scanning the reviews today I realized how good the movie SOUNDED. On paper it seems like a really affecting, tragic love story but the movie felt devoid of the necessary passion to really make it something special. HEATH LEDGER was great and though I don't think he reached "Brando heights" as the NEW YORK TIMES claimed, he was pretty incredible. MICHELLE WILLIAMS was great, but underused. Ultimately, I didn't really get why Jake and Heath were so in love. They're relationship seemed really dull. At 2 hours and 14 minutes, the movie wasn't much more exciting either. A lot of fishing, and not in this movie's euphemistic sense. (I'm never going to look at anyone with a "fishin' buddy" again.) I find it ridiculous that no one has really reported that SOUTH PARK called this movie years ago in their episode about the Sundance Film Festival coming to South Park. CARTMAN oh so elegantly hit the nail on the head when he said that he hates independent movies, because they're all about "gay cowboys sitting around eating pudding." If you sub in "beans" for "pudding" that's essential all this movie is. A lot of sitting and a lot of sparse landscapes and lot of beans. ** 1/2 (B)

For those of you curious. SPOILER ALERT, JAKE GYLLENHAAL is the bottom.