Much more than just a "gay" love story

Rating: 9/10 (22 January 2006)

Well, the front runner for Oscar gold finally came our way, and I took full advantage of it. And well, I can't say I wasn't surprised, because I was much more than that.
Yes, it's about gay cowboys. Yes, it contains male nudity (there is some female nudity to boot however). Yes, they do make out. Yes, there is male on-screen sex. Yes, I mean what I'm saying. And yes, I did accidentally cough when they first start making out.
But it's much more than a love story about gay cowboys. It's a heartbreaking story about a friendship that is much more than just that, yet can't go any further because of social standards. They know they can't be together, and so does the audience. The most depressing scenes in the movie (its filled with them), just tear at your heart and really make you feel like this movie should be accepted as much more than a typical love story. Or as a gay love story for that matter.
The scenery is beautiful, and some of the dialog is just fantastic. Ang Lee's direction is astonishing, and the way the actors come to the material is just marvelous to watch. Heath (even with his annoying accent) and Jake give Oscar worthy performances, while Michelle and Anne may be up there in the limelight a whole lot more if there was just more of them in the actual film. Because its all about Heath and Jake, the whole female presence gets cut right off (in the 135 minute-odd movie, anything that isn't male doesn't show up until at least 40 minutes in). While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, you just really notice how little scenery either get to really chew. Michelle gets more than Anne, but their performances still come out to being about equal.
But another thing you notice is while the years in the film are moving by at break-neck speeds, the movie has a serious issue with slowness. The whole movie is just fantastic, but its bogged down with long tracking shots, and long bits of unneeded scenery or dialog. It could have easily had at least 15 minutes excised, and it would be the same if not even better. And like I said earlier, the movie is horribly depressing. I did not expect nearly as much heartbreak and tragedy as I got, but then again, I doubt anyone else did either, and that's why it is cleaning house at all the award shows.
Overall, I wouldn't be upset about it winning Best Picture, but then find myself knowing there were at least 2 movies better than it this past year.
9/10.