Speech is silver, but silence is golden.

Rating: 10/10 (8 March 2006)

I haven't written a review for a movie in years and, frankly, never really had the urge to write one. Especially not one for a movie as hyped as Brokeback Mountain. You know, one should think everything would be said and done and there's nothing you could add.
Well, I don't know if I can add anything constructive, but this time I honestly feel the urge to, if nothing else, praise Lee, Ledger and all the cast and crew involved for bringing such a profoundly, and devastatingly, beautiful picture to the big screen.
Basically you could say Brokeback Mountain tells a love story that has been lived by a thousand men (and women), but hasn't been told before. Of course this isn't all true. BBM isn't the first picture about gay men in a homophobic setting. There have been "Head On", "Ma Vie en Rose", "Beautiful Thing". Heck, Ang Lee himself already directed "The Wedding Banquet", which shared several of BBM's basic traits only in a much (much, much) more lighthearted POV.
Still there's something different, unique to this picture. This isn't "Queer As Folks". These two guys aren't intellectuals, extroverted hall stands or omnipotent sex gods. They're plain and simple men, raised to work, raised to marry and have children. They're the kind of guy you could meet anywhere. You most likely wouldn't even notice them.
And just like them, their relationship lacks any glitter and glamour. It's no wonder they never said "I love you". They never had any words for this emotion. But you can feel it all through the movie. From Ennis' breakdown after their first parting to the moment Jack embraces Ennis at their final one.
It doesn't concentrate only on their love story though. BBM triumphs by showing all aspects that are entangled. How they try to live a normal life by marrying, ultimately living a lie and not only destroying their own happiness but those of their spouses as well. The story doesn't shy away from heavy issues but handles them without any of the melodrama one knows from too many Hollywood productions.
All this wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for the excellent cast. I had an extremely hard time understanding the dialogues with all this Texan slang or whatever it was. I guess I understood only 1/4 of what they were talking about. Yet still I came to understand they're emotions, ambitions and motivations. Basically the movie could have been wordless for most parts, it still would have had the same impact on me.
The bottom line is BBM isn't just one of the most realistic depictions of a gay relationship I have ever seen, it's possibly one of the finest, strongest human dramas ever made, full with nuances.
And to all those who found it oh-so surprising that they "suddenly" make out with each other - watch again and a bit closer this time. Just because nobody said it's there, doesn't mean it isn't.