Film Forum

Episode Recap

Episode 4

January 31, 2006

Films Reviewed: Brokeback Mountain and The Producers

Commentary: The 78^th Annual Academy Award Nominations (or: what got snubbed)

Featurette: Behind the scenes of The Producers

Regarding Brokeback Mountain:

Matt: I found the most honored film of 2005 to be quite a bore.  I didn’t care for the plight of any of the characters involved in the film and I found the love scenes to be unintentionally hilarious.  Ang Lee has created pretty pictures of what is supposed to be Wyoming, but didn’t have the story to back it up.  One and a half stars.

Aron: At first, I did share similar thoughts with Matt.  But after time, I came to realize that the film simply is about two cowboys who just happen to be gay.  They broke the stereotype that homosexual men are limp-wristed fairy types and can do such work as being cowboys.  I do hope the film is being honored for being a film and not a political statement, though.  Three and a half stars.

Average Rating: ** (out of ****)

Regarding The Producers:

Aron: Wow!  If you’re going to remake a Mel Brooks film, then this is the way you do it!  Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick honor Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder with lots of dancing, singing and laughs all around!  Definitely catch this one, no matter how.  Four stars!!

Matt: I found the movie to be goofy fun.  The story pretty much writes itself and the cast (especially Will Ferrell and Uma Thurman) are having too much fun on screen.  When the cast has too much fun, then the audience has much fun.  Three stars.

Average Rating: ***1/2 (out of ****)

Commentary: The Oscar Nominations came out the day of the show.  Aron and Matt spent a lot of time talking about why Walk the Line wasn’t nominated for best picture and why The Squid and the Whale only got one nod for its screenplay.

Featurette: Behind the scenes of The Producers, which is probably the best remake we’ve seen in many years.