You have to see this movie!

Rating: 10/10 (27 December 2005)

I was very moved not only by the story, but completely enveloped by the characters and the actors that portrayed them. I never once felt like Heath (Ennis) and Jake (Jack) were acting. Especially Heath! Wow, what a performance. He was strongest when he was saying nothing, but emoting the feelings he couldn't express outwardly about the way he felt about Jack. One such moment was when he was leaving Jack for the first time and walked into an alley and just completely broke down in deep sobs. You could also sense his sadness when he was sitting on the mountain, just before they left to come down the first time. He didn't want to leave him, but couldn't do anything else but get into a fist fight with him. I also felt incredible emotions when he found his lost shirt, wrapped around by Jacks that he thought that he lost so many years before. It was Jacks embrace to him. Blood stains and all. It's been 24 hours since I saw the movie and I came away in a very thoughtful mood. I'm still thinking about it, because it could have turned out so many different ways and it makes you wonder.
Ang Lee did an incredible job telling the story. It unfolded slowly (maybe too slow for some) but I really understood why. The pace is one of the things that makes the movie so great. It gives you time to wonder about "why" or "why not" or "how can they get together" in and amongst the challenges of their daily lives. That aspect of the movie was dynamic. Also, Ennis mumbles a lot and you couldn't always understand what he was saying, like he talked a lot anyway. But you aren't supposed to. It's more about what he doesn't say, or what you can't understand, and more about feeling his emotions, watching his body language, looking into his eyes that are saying so much more.
This was a top acted movie. All of the actors were incredibly cast, the screen play one of the best I've experienced, and the cinematography was outstanding.
Kudo's to everyone who was involved in this movie. It's not a gay love story, it's a love story about two people who love each other so intensely that I just hope that I really have the same thing in my relationship.
It's a must see. I can't wait until it's released for purchase. I'm looking forward to having it in my permanent DVD library.