Heartbreaks of Brokeback

Rating: 7/10 (2 January 2006)

The film about two young cowhands who are hired to herd sheep on Brokeback Mountain by a sheep rancher played by Randy Quaid. They find solace in each other to cope with the harsh weather conditions by turning to a mutual love, which in time becomes mild affection, then unbridled sex. Only the Canadian connections of Focus Pictures could have pulled off a spectacle like "Brokeback Mountain".
One of the more powerful scenes is when Jack stands up and orders his domineering pappy-in-law to turn off a TV football game at Christmas dinner! In the Dallas theatre where I saw the film, the audience actually applauded this scene for one of two reasons! Either because Jack told the ol' boy off, or the more likely reason: The switching off of a 1970s CFL Grey Cup game between the Edmonton Eskimos and Montreal Alouettes! (Canuck football on Texas TV? What's a Buckaroo to do?)
The cowboy lovers keep each other going through some hellish personal circumstances and at great risk to their social well-being. The depressing plot is saved by some spectacular photography and some terrific acting. At the time of writing, this was considered a strong Oscar contender.