A Haunting Performance by Heath Ledger

Rating: Null/10 (12 January 2006)

OK, say what you will about Ang Lee, but he is a solid filmmaker. With the possible exception of "The Hulk," he has always performed above and beyond. Occasionally, however, he reaches the sublime..."The Ice Storm" being a prime example.
I was really, really looking forward to "Brokeback Mountain." The reviews, which I normally avoid, were singing its praises. I succumbed and read too much. So, when I hit the cinema, my expectations were over the moon.
At first, I was disappointed that I didn't slide right into the story. I was just too excited. Ledger's Ennis Del Mar captured me immediately, though. What was rare about this "career-defining performance" was that I did not see Ledger on screen at all. I saw Ennis from beginning to end. I had more trouble with Gyllenhaal--I just kept seeing Donnie Darko. But, eventually, I was able to suspend my disbelief and accept him as Jack Twist.
For me, this film was a haunting one...meaning that it didn't settle into my heart right away. I didn't leave the theatre saying "that was a great film." I was more like "hmmm." But it haunted me for days after watching it. Ennis would pop into my heart at odd moments (still, even now), and it's hard for me to describe the feeling...of having loved and lost something that can never be recovered. I connected with him as I have connected with characters in novels. I miss him.
Re: the gay stuff. I can't really comment on is this a "gay" story or a "love" story or whatever. I do know that it didn't really matter to me that they were two guys. What I was more interested in was Ennis' inability to commit to Jack (and everything else in his life) and Jack's desire to commit. The gay thing was almost like a plot device...an excuse for Ennis not to commit. But, that's all it was...an excuse.
I'm not sure if this film is at the level of "The Ice Storm" in the eyes of the critics. But, personally, it affected me more deeply. I guess it's because I'm a romantic at heart, and this is a romantic film.
It still haunts me.