Favorite Ang Lee Films

[lektronnorth]

Think this is probably the place to post this. I've sent a letter to Ang Lee c/o Focus Features

4th February 2006


BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN


Dear Ang Lee,


         I have sent this letter via Focus Features. I hope that it gets to you eventually. You will be receiving thousands of these, so I will keep it very brief.  You can have no possible idea of what an impact Brokeback Mountain has had, is having, and will continue to have on me, and millions of other gay and non gay people. 

         
         Your ensemble cast was extraordinary.  The screenplay exceptional. The cinematography takes your breath away.  There is not one single moment in the movie where it is not absolutely stunning.

         
         I have never seen a film directed by you before. After seeing Brokeback Mountain I have made all kinds of resolutions about my life, because Ennis del Mar is more me than anyone else I have ever seen on screen, and I so much want to be more like Jack.  Your four leading actors/actresses have given "career best" performances, and they will never do better, how could they?

         Thank you so very much for this wonderful wonderful film. All the praise showered on it is utterly inadequate.


With love


Hopelessly inadequate, but hey, he might appreciate it.......




 

[mattie]

Ozwitch,

I loved Ride With the Devil, and wish it was on the poll to vote for. It gives another side of the Civil War, that of the bushwhackers (sort of southern guerilla fighters). Has great performances (and some great looking guys  ). Tobey Maguire is really good in it. It surprises you, too--Jeffrey Wright plays a slave who is fighting with the South, which I couldn't believe really happened until I looked it up.

Yes, it also has Jewel.   But she isn't bad, and the rest of the cast give excellent performances.

[Vicky0uk]

Can I just say here that I think Ang Lee is just so incredibly good 

[Lance]

you certainly can!

[Wayman Wong]

The Hollywood Reporter intereviews Ang Lee, and the piece covers a lotta territory (how he works, etc.).

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/columns/grove_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001958943

[lynn]

Sunspot has organized a Brokeback Mountain Mail Campaign to thank Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal and Ang Lee for their incredible work of art which has touched so many of us. The suggested mailing date is February 17. Please go here for all the details: Mail Campaign

(note: cross-posted to multiple threads by lynn)

[michelle]

Newsweek has an online Oscars poll. Ang leads best director nominees at 48%. Go Vote!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11135598/site/newsweek/#survey

[ingmarnicebbmt]

My all time favourite movies by ANG LEE (in that order):

1. Brokeback Mountain
2. Wedding Banquet
3. Ice Storm
4. Eat Drink Man Woman

[Carissa]

FYI:  On iTunes, you can download the Ang Lee & Heath Ledger interview from Charlie Rose for $1.95 (normally $6.95). 

(cross posted to Heath Fans and Main Discussion)

[ozwitch]

Hey Mattie, I ordered it from Amazon and sat down to watch it yesterday.

I was really pleasantly surprised. I mean, I haven't seen a BAD Ang Lee film yet, but reading what other people have said about RWTD, I thought it might be just a bit so-so, and hard to get through.

I actually loved it! A very interesting take on the civil war and how it affects everybody in different ways, and how conflicts divide families and friends at a very local level. It was fascinating to me and I couldn't look away until it finished. Liked all the performances, esp Tobey and Skeet, enjoyed Jewel for what she was, no great shakes but she didn't suck which was fine.

One common thing I've found with every single Ang film I've watched (the only one I haven't is Pushing Hands) - is that he creates characters that completely pull you in and you just have to follow them to find out what happens to them. They stay with you a long time afterwards too, to the extent that for me they become quite real.

To me that is Ang's great strength, and he can do that no matter what the genre or the story.

Note to Mod: please include Ride With The Devil! Not that I would vote it my favourite, but I think it should be included so people are more aware of it. It is really a thoughtful and insightful movie, and plenty of action in it too, although I would never call it an 'action' movie.

[mary]

Ride With the Devil is now an option

[sandyday]

VOTE FOR ANG and brokeback!

http://www.nytimes.com/ezpoll/oscars2006.html?mkt=moviesphoto

HEY everyone: don't know if this has been posted yet, and I hope the link above works, but please vote in the NYTimes readers' predictions for Oscars! Good Night is leading on several categories as is Munich ?! Vote so we can make an impact!!!!!

(I've crossed posted this in a few threads that I thought were pertinent. I hope that's ok, moderators....)

[atomicscott]

I love The Ice Storm.

I know that this is disgusting, but I call the scene, after the boy gets electrocuted on the guardrail, the dead man's luge. Sorry, couldn't resist.

[Jack Nasty]

Here is some more ANG news and it looks like he is still visiting the GLBT themes in his (apparent) next project:

http://www.news24.com/News24/Entertainment/Abroad/0,,2-1225-1243_1884901,00.html

London - Kate Moss is set to play a lesbian in a film by Brokeback Mountain director Ang Lee.

The film is based on the life of singer Dusty Springfield, and Moss is expected to play a socialite who became one of her early lovers...Charlize Theron, 30, is lined up to take on the role of Springfield...

[kcwin]

Here is some more ANG news and it looks like he is still visiting the GLBT themes in his (apparent) next project:

http://www.news24.com/News24/Entertainment/Abroad/0,,2-1225-1243_1884901,00.html

London - Kate Moss is set to play a lesbian in a film by Brokeback Mountain director Ang Lee.

The film is based on the life of singer Dusty Springfield, and Moss is expected to play a socialite who became one of her early lovers...Charlize Theron, 30, is lined up to take on the role of Springfield...

Haha! Ang Lee will not have as much trouble selling this movie to straight men. I always thought he would be doing an Asian film with Chinese stars after BBM, since he expressed the desire during his press tours through Taiwan and Hong Kong.