Customer Reviews

On Brokeback Mountain: Meditations about Masculinity, Fear, and Love in the Story and the Film

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Every once in a while a film comes along that changes your life forever. From box-office phenomenons (Titanic, Star Wars), to literature inspired wonders (The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter), to adult-themed hits (Fatal Attraction, The Silence of the Lambs, The Graduate), to "personal" marvels (The Color Purple, The Piano, Schindler's List) certain films have proven to transcend mere strips of celluloid and make a genuine impact on the world. Brokeback Mountain has proven to be one of those films. From the many awards it won to the numerous websites now dedicated to it ([...]), Brokeback Mountain has produced a passionate, enduring following.

With "On Brokeback Mountain," author Eric Patterson has achieved a remarkable feat in not only condensing the phenomenon of Brokeback into such a fine volume, but managing to do so less then three years after the film's release. All of the chapters present well-researched and interesting perspectives on different areas of study concerning both the film and it's effects on society. The book provides a nuanced look at such topics as the aesthetics of the film, it's tremendous cultural impact as well as homosexuality in literature and history. Patterson has contributed scholarly and thought-provoking work here; illuminating the point of intersection between a timeless work of cinematic art and gender studies. "On Brokeback Mountain" is a rich, passionate text that allows one to appreciate the story and film even further.

I get emotional about BBM. 1st, I LOVE the film. Oh, I like Ms. Proulx's story too, but I LOVE the film. It had such an effect on me; I can't forget it. Theauthor's book is very insightful in its meditations as they are stated on the cover. BBM is a love story, plain and simple. But also a very tragic love story that hits you in the heart, with such a wallop.

The author delves into western history of the plains, farm boys, bleak towns, the lives of total, complete unhappiness of Ennis and Jack by just not being together, and the ever-present homophobia existing then. He gives deserved credit to the superb acting of Heath & Jake, beautiful direction, screenplay, score, etc., and of course to the original story too.

Well, I could go on and say what I think about that so-called
rotten, hostile "academy" and what they (and many others) did to BBM (I hope you know what I mean). But that would take up too much space!!

I bought this book for a paper on Brokeback Mountain. This book gave me much insight to the situation and forces at hand at the time of the movie.

Did you hear that an openly gay actor paid well into the six figures to buy the stained piece of clothing that Jake G.'s character wore in "Brokeback"? There are some people who love them some "Brokeback" more than anything in the world. The author of this book just makes it clear that he thinks "Brokeback" is the most important thing that humankind ever created. The Great Wall of China and the Pyramids just don't cut it. The author loves him some "Brokeback." He clearly wants a copy of its DVD placed in his arms when he rests and enters the next journey.

This book is probably ten times longer than Annie Proulx's short story. I know plenty of folk who loved them some "Color Purple," but know of no book analyzing it that is ten times longer than Alice Walker's original book. Many readers skip pages that have Roman numerals, but those introductory chapters are very important here. Still, there's about 70 pages of info with Roman numerals! If you have that much to say in an introduction, don't you want to integrate it into the body of the book?! This is just another example of how the author shows that seeing "Brokeback" was the reason that Mother Nature placed him on this planet.

The author says he purposely avoided the academic style that may scare many readers. True: you won't have to be familiar with Michel Foucault or Judith Butler to understand his writings. However, the length of the book may scare off everyday readers. Remember when William Shatner told Trekkies to "get a life" on "Star Trek"? I am worried that Ang Lee and Jake G. might say that to this author.

I mean, I loved "Brokeback" as much as the next gay guy, but this work did seem indulgent. Even though I'm African American, I did think "Brokeback" deserved the Oscar much more than "Crash." (And I actually think "Crash" disrespected Blacks, rather than supporting them.) Anybody can say "Why can't people of different backgrounds get along better?". Few people are strong enough and progressive enough to support the love between Jack and Ennis. So do notice that no one has produced a book this long about "Crash." This book does show how "Brokeback" is one for the ages.

In short, I thank the author for this book, but his love for the subject may shock many a reader.