A lot more than a "Gay Cowboy Movie"

Rating: 7/10 (10 March 2006)

The hype about this movie is very misdirected. It got spread by word of mouth with the description "that gay cowboy movie". This movie is not just about gay cowboys. Yes, it contains the love of two men, but it doesn't get mushy or try to push a message of homosexual acceptance. A large conflict in the movie is, in fact, about the internal struggles regarding the choice of homosexuality/heterosexuality. It also displays the conflict with society regarding these decisions, but there is tons of other stuff going on here. Cheating, disassociation with children, a glimpse of rich/snob high society, the fun of camping out, etc.
Personally, my favorite thing about this movie was the beautiful scene-scapes, the camping, horseback riding, drinking whiskey about a campfire, dancing, wonderful entertainment if you ask me.
*Spoilers below* I think they downplayed the death of Jack way too much. I felt there was no time to consider his death, and the scene with Jack's parents was very spooky/serious and not sad whatsoever. There wasn't even music during the phone call with Jack's wife, and Ennis didn't even cry. The final scene with the shirt still in the closet was amazing though.