A beautiful and unforgettable story following a powerful connection between two young cowboys

Rating: 8/10 (24 January 2017)

Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain is a truly unforgettable love story that is rocky, deep, and complex. Two young men in search for ranch work meet and find themselves working together on Brokeback Mountain in rural Wyoming, a breathtaking land that takes a hold of both of them and brings them together in a closeness that is unlike any other. The story begins in the summer of 1963 and follows two young men named Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) as they work together herding sheep. There is something immeasurable that emerges between them as more days go by- Something that is strong and dangerous. The two of them wound up in a nearly inseparable bond that is full of passion, lust, and violence. The portrayal of their self-identities versus their desires is beautifully conveyed. Ang Lee superbly illustrates the struggles of the mid 20th century in rural America, exploring the dangers of homophobia. Even though cowboys, which have always been portrayed in Hollywood as masculine John Wayne lookalikes, Lee took on the challenge of capturing the indefinite struggles and potential tragedies that are bound to take hold of two men who defy these stereotypes. What makes the story so powerful is how unique the circumstances are. This film presented a story line that had never been seen in Hollywood before: Two masculine ranchers finding within each other a connection that they ceased to find within anyone else. After the summer that they first meet, they go about their own lives, marrying and having children, only to find themselves unable to stay separated for long. It begins with one postcard, and then one visit, that soon turns into consistent trips back to Brokeback where it all began. Brokeback soon becomes their escape from reality. But they eventually find that holding onto each other's inseparable connection along with their lives back home is harder than either of them imagined.
I think this film appeals to the LGBTQ community because it doesn't convey homosexuals as the stereotypical, flamboyant male that Hollywood had repeatedly created throughout the years. The film embodies so much more than a relationship between two men. It embodies how destructive rural homophobia can be, which is a historically accurate conflict that has always manifested itself within American society. The fear of getting caught lingers above both Jack and Ennis and catches up to their rapidly growing connection that only gets stronger as more time goes by. The chilling story delicately displays in one scene or two the harsh impacts of abomination toward homosexuals in this time period. Although some members of the LGBTQ community argue that the film would've been more accurately portrayed if the main characters weren't played by heterosexual Hollywood movie stars, I believe that the actors did an outstanding job emanating the harsh reality of the time period and circumstances. Also, Ang Lee outdid himself not sugarcoating their relationship. Indeed it was risky to show graphic scenes of the two men, as many viewers were offended by some of the scenes in the film. However, graphic scenes are shown among heterosexual couples in Hollywood films regularly. Why should these scenes be any different? Depicting, without sugarcoating the heartbreaking and poignant connection between two young ranchers is what Lee excelled in as a director. He was bold and daring. In terms of visibility, the movie was a huge win for the LGBTQ community simply because everyone knew what the film was touching upon before even seeing it. The actors playing homosexual characters in such a complex, yet touching story was done remarkably. The entire film and everything it embodied was truly memorable.