Only about homosexuality as much as Romeo and Juliet about family feud

Rating: 8/10 (13 January 2006)

Though this has been described as a 'gay western', I think the this is misleading. What it really is, is a romance set in western America. It is only about homosexuality as much as Romeo and Juliet is about a family feud, or Casablanca is about the war. These things are just obstacles that the couple need to get over if they are to be together. In that sense, Brokeback is an old fashioned love story.
And what a story. Beautifully shot (though it does fail to totally convince that the mountain itself is as isoltated as they would have you believe), Ang Lee has in a sense remade Crouching Tiger, or at least the ChowYun Fat/Michelle Yeoh story. It is about two people whose love each other, but one who's honour will not let them be together.
The biggest surprise in this movie is Heath Ledger. His performance is brilliant. Not showy, which ,means that he may not win an Oscar, but it stays with you long after the stunning landscape cinematography and western score.
--Smaller Spoiler--
Although over long (ending when Ennis goes to Jack's family homes would have been perfect), it is definitely worth seeing, if only once.