A good movie, but not very enjoyable

Rating: 6/10 (2 January 2006)

There are many things about this movie that make me compare it to In The Bedroom.
First of all, just by watching it, it's obvious that it's a good movie. It's bold, with excellent visual shots and an uncomfortable, tear-worthy ending. Critics love it, for whatever reasons- political, visual, or by sheer merit of the actors alone. There are fabulous performances- in this movie, by Jake Gyllenhal and Michelle Williams; in In The Bedroom, by Cissy Spacek and Tom Wilkenson.
However, just like In The Bedroom, this movie is very rarely enjoyable. It's long, and tedious, and relies a lot on symbolism, which is fine only for a second viewing- the first time around, it feels slow and torturous. There are few genuinely funny moments- understandable, as it is a sad film- however, Return of the King (for example) manages to keep humor piled next to the tissue box. And the directors have both successfully renounced their relial on music to create emotion- a path that rarely manages to succeed.
Brokeback Mountain was a fabulous idea. Let's face it, how many movies out there unashamedly display homosexual relationships as the main plot line- not a coming out story, but a relationship, without making it seem any more taboo than a regular affair? Unfortunately, it was very poor implementation. There is far too much emphasis on outside relationships, considering how little the audience cares about their non-Brokeback lives. There is lovely chemistry between Jake Gyllenhal and Heath Ledger, but Heath Ledger's character is an asshole for no apparent reason, and Heath Ledger himself has decided that a Wyoming accent means never opening your mouth to speak- as a result, it's nigh impossible to understand a single word he twangs.
Frankly, I was disappointed. That doesn't mean I'll never watch it again. I still need to pick up on all of that symbolism- and, let's face it- reevaluate the Gyllenhal/Ledger sex scenes.