great film.. waaaay too long

Rating: 8/10 (9 November 2005)

I just saw this at a preview screening for industry folk... I have to say that as the credits rolled.. I only had one thought.. the movie was 45 min too long. As the next day rolled along.. I found myself thinking more and more about the film and how it affected me. As it turns out.. it's really a great film.. just a bit too deliberately paced.. and uninterestingly edited.
The two boys are phenomenal.. but their 20 year aging is unconvincing.. the facial hair is not very well made and it's far too obvious where the aging makeup ends and their actual youthful skin begins.
However.. despite it's shortcomings.. Brokeback mountain is a remarkable achievement.. both in story and acting. Heath Leger proves here that he has the chops to actually carry a movie.. and Jake Gyllanhaal is once again a wonderful actor, building on his roles where he was already impressive.