Atmospheric, brooding, a mountain of a film

Rating: 10/10 (11 March 2006)

This is an amazing film-- living up to its hype (yet there is no evidence of such in the film). I must confess that I was a bit ambivalent about the film, because of all the (mostly, positive)advance publicity.
I was blown away by the film; performances all round are excellent, from the "supporting women" in the cast - a very good Michelle Williams, who by her body language and the silences, shows so much. And Anne Hathaway, as Jake Gyllenhaal's wife, is superb! Ang Lee's film is highly atmospheric, and is beautifully photographed. Both Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger are good, natural and one feels for them in their 20 years' of unspoken love.
Heath Ledger is outstanding: he underacts, and that gives his performance added strength. It's an excellent film, more honest in its portrayal of same-sex love than Philadelphia. In fact, the film doesn't examine sexuality at all: it is primarily a love story.
It's a tender film, visually haunting, an Ang Lee is to be congratulated on a film that does not leave one's psyche after seeing it: it is engaging, satisfying and provoking.
Game, set and match!