The Perfect Movie

Rating: 10/10 (9 January 2006)

If you are looking to be moved by a story, then this is the movie to see. I saw this movie just a few days ago, and have found myself thinking about it's story since then. It's a truly brutal, touching, real and uncompromising story. Brutal because it's real and holds no punches, touching because I found myself uncontrollably sobbing many times throughout, and for days after, and real and uncompromising because whilst it leaves so much unsaid - it's real beauty - it says so much by not saying it.
From the beautiful, breathtaking vistas, captured by perfect cinematography, to the wonderful actors: Heath and Jake. I'm yet to see a better performance from any actor in this generation, these two define perfection. What a brave thing for them to do, and they could not have done it better. Michelle and Anne are pretty great too, Anne particularly doing something that perhaps is outside of her "regular" repertoire; Michelle, as always putting in a great performance.
What strikes me with this movie is the press, and many peoples (who haven't seen it) focus on the gay-cowboy aspect. This is an important facet - a nod to the gay community that is long overdue - but it is so much more. The story is so believable that we all know it's real, that challenge of this movie, is that it is so disturbing, heart-rendering and painful for those of us who believe in true love despite the odds.
Having read the short story after seeing the movie, the movie keeps close to the storyline, with only a few deviations that the genre allows. Ang Lee, and the screenwriters have something to be proud of, and hopefully this represents the start of a bravery in Hollywood to portray gay men and women in any story. Love doesn't have to be about a man and a woman, and I think all but a few agree.
This is the pinnacle of film-making, my only worry is that we will never again see a movie this moving, thought-provoking, beautiful and defining of a generation.