Slow but poignant

Rating: 8/10 (23 December 2006)

Brokeback Mountain is a simple, tragic love story.
There, I've said it. Because, once you strip away all the media attention and hype surrounding this movie, that's all it is. No more, no less. It's a story of forbidden love, as old and as tragic as any Romeo-and-Juliet-based tale. And if it weren't for the fact that it was about a couple of dudes, most people probably would have never heard of it. (After all, how many of you saw "The Shipping News"?) It's well-acted, to be sure. Jake Gyllenhaal is particularly good as Jack, and the absolutely gorgeous Heath Ledger holds his own pretty well as Ennis, despite a disastrous attempt at a Wyoming accent. The interplay between the two is mostly non-verbal and is well done.
The cinematography is beautiful, the scenery (mostly filmed in Alberta, Canada) is gorgeous, and there is fantastic use of symbolism. Yes, it's a bit slow at times, and yes, it's quite sad, but it is really a beautiful movie when it comes down to it.
It's a real shame that this movie will be most remembered for a couple of sex scenes in a tent. Because it's about so much more than that. Love, loss, passion, jealousy, uneven relationships, hope and despair - all universal human emotions that have nothing to do with sexual orientation. With all the talk about gay rights and equality, I think that there will only truly be equality when we can judge a love story - gay or straight - on its own merits. And this one certainly passes the test.