h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I quite like musicals when I'm in the mood. I suspect that the Moulin Rouge debate normally fractures along those lines.

I think growing up with an older sister, who made me watch Annie every single flippin day, put me off musicals for life.

Have Last Days on DVD to watch over the weekend. And will go to see Jarhead and Pavee Lackeen if I find the time.

Blues, Brokeback Mountain is indeed irredeemably worthy. Promise me you'll avoid watching it for the rest of your life.

Saw Thumbsucker last night. The eponymous teen goes through various ways of breaking the habit, the role being played by Lou Pucci, a name to watch out for. Also featuring is Keanu Reeves in a hilarious role as a new age orthodontist. The film is actually about addiction in general and makes a pretty convincing point all in all.

To be honest, I'd need to be *remotely* interested in any of the things Brokeback Mountain appears to be about. I'm not. Therefore it seems unlikley that I ever will watch it.

OK, so it appears to be a gay cowboy film for gays, and maybe it is in a way. There are gays. They are cowboys (well, shepherds technically). But it's really about two people who can't be together. While that's a well known theme, I'm sure it doesn't appeal to eveyone.

I must agree with Blues once again. Loved "Trainspotting" and "Big Fish". "Moulin Rouge" is indeed doggy doo. I like some musicals, but that one was tortuously bad.

The only other movie with Ewan McGregor I recall liking is "Velvet Goldmine". The jury's still out as to just *how much* I like that one, though. Haven't gotten around to "Shallow Grave" yet.

The last full-length film I watched this week was when we re-watched "Putney Swope" on Wednesday evening. It gets funnier with each subsequent viewing.

"I'd overlooked Big Fish and Shallow Grave. Moulin Rouge is a pile of old doggy do though."

Both Big Fish and Shallow Grave are tip top fimls if you ask me blues.....

[Drink, you crazy nag...]

Velvet Goldmine...good but strange...definitely not one for when you're sober. Certainly a brave film for Ewan McG to do, considering how well him and Christian Bale get on.

I'm not a gay cowboy, infact I'm neither! You're right, its just a film about two people that can't be together. Done before, but not in such an original and, it has to said, brave way. Having such a strong gay theme will wipe millions off the film's box office receipts. If this makes it 'worthy' in some way and not worth watching then .............. I dunno!

Go see it for the two lead performaces at least, Ledger especially. Can't have been easy for two (presumingly?) straight actors to act in the film, and act brilliantly at that. My tip for the best actor Oscar is Ralph Fiennes, but Ledger will run him close.

Why did they not cast gay actors?

Just been browsing this thread - boy do you guys watch a lot of films!

Good question Kelli! Not sure. Maybe Ang Lee just thought they would be particularly good in the roles. To be fair, the love scenes are scarce and not *that* explicit.

Maybe by casting straight actors he thought there would be broader appeal?

"Just Like Heaven" was very good. I can't really comment, because I don't want to spoil it for anyone else. I enjoyed it very much though, it made me laugh and cry and laugh again.

You will enjoy "The Porducers" Blues of that I am positive. I can't get the song "Springtime for Hitler and Germany" out of my head, and watch out for Captain Jack from Doctor Who as the bleach-blond German singing in the play!! (I wish I'd known it was him...)

The Producers,yes The naughty Nazi's is brilliant .Springtime for Hitler & germany is funny ,I used to have it on my PC . My 2 of my fave movies are :
Braveheart
The Patriot

I wish that Mel Gibson would reprise the role of the road warrior ,another Mad Max movie is long over due .

I meant The Producers, of course

Kelli said: Why did they not cast gay actors? I'm presuming the effect they wanted to give is that the two male leads aren't gay, they just happened to fall in love with a man...if that makes sense. I've not seen the film but I've seen clips where they both try to live "normal" lives by marrying and having a family. I suspect there are a lot of men like that - not meaning to single anyone out but it's not always obvious to the other partner (I'm thinking back to the shock at finding gay porn cookies in my ex's computer) *shrug*

Ewan MacGregor. Well here's my : Star Wars.

Annie, that's a much better explanation!

Errr Annie surely you forgot the ...

As well as being piss poor films generally I thought Ewan McGregor made Hugh Grant look like a method actor with his perfomances in Star Wars....

Watched (for the first time since the new films came out I think) "The Matrix" when it was on C5 t'other day and I forgot just how it was. Shame about the sequels.....

Thanks a lot Disco Stu

Fb, I wasn't kidding I _really_ hate the acting in Star Wars.

<> (kelli)

Presumably because actors are meant to be able to portray people other than themselves? It seems a strange notion to me that gay people on film should have to be portrayed by gay actors. Would anyone ever suggest that psycho killers need to be portrayed on film by real life psycho killer actors?

I'm really hoping The Producers comes here soon - in original version.


az

Sorry kelli, I know everyone has already answered this, but I wanted to add my piece.

It wasn't neccessary to cast two gay actors because the underlying theme of the film wasn't homosexuality, it was about separation and denial. What was needed was two actors who could portray this and Ledger and (never thought I'd say this) Gylenhall (sp?) did it perfectly. I know a lot of people, myself included, have been calling it 'that gay cowboy film' but really the homosexuality is only a device to enforce the separation and denial. I honestly think the film would have been just as amazing if it included a straight couple in the same circumstances