The bittersweet final scenes are enough to melt the heart...

Rating: 8/10 (4 April 2006)

I held it all together until that final scene where HEATH LEDGER goes to the farmhouse to see Jack's parents. And then, on top of that, the last jacket scene where his eyes well up with tears--well, at that point the story really got to me and I wept with him.
It touches anyone who has been in and out of love--and it's a universal theme that's explored here--and explored so brilliantly.
Ang Lee has directed with a sure touch throughout, leading to that final devastatingly emotional--and yet understated scene that ties up the whole story. HEATH LEDGER, with his stealthy glances and shy, twisted smile and grimaces, reminds me of the young and still raw STERLING HAYDEN in his first early Technicolor film. But unlike Hayden, who had not yet learned to act, Ledger gives his all to a complex role that fits him like a glove. No less fascinating is JAKE GYLLENHAAL as the more open and natural man who longs for a lifelong friendship without all the separations that their marriages bring.
And finally, Heath's character, Ennis del Mar, is left with nothing but his friend's shirt and jacket worn on Brokeback Mountain--and the bittersweet memory of what might have been a more fulfilling relationship all that time but one that would have made them outlaws in the world they inhabited.
The female roles are more peripheral but all are extremely well played, especially by Michelle Williams. The music is non-obtrusive, always reflecting mood and character and the sumptuous outdoor settings are photographed with great skill.
A very rewarding film that is much more than just "a gay cowboy movie." It's an enriching experience--and one that will make you think and ponder--especially all of those who may have been on this road before.