Heartbreak Mountain

Rating: 9/10 (24 February 2006)

Ang Lee turns the heartbreaking short story from Annie E. Prolux's Brokeback Mountain + Close Range into a heartbreaking drama that touches the heart of every man, with Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal as the heart breakers kept in the closet.
It is really amazing for Ang Lee to turn a mere 55 pages short story into a 134min drama, of two cowboys who finds love among themselves during the period where they take care of a bunch of sheep in Brokeback Mountain. They found passion among each other and they shared their happiest moment together. Soon, their job comes to an end and they go separate ways.
Both Ennis (Ledger) and Jack (Gyllenhaal)hide their feelings for one another during their respective marriage with Alma (Michelle Williams) and Lureen (Anne Hathaway). While Ennis is torn between his fidelity with Jack and Alma, Jack never seems to find satisfaction from Lureen, who has a well to do background. He finds fulfillment from the gigolos in Mexico, and that marks the threat to their relationship.
Ang Lee is not selling homosexuality in Brokeback Mountain. More rather, he let us see how love can be powerful outside heterosexual context. Though i've not personally watched his previous homosexual-themed drama The Wedding Banquet, i could see that Brokeback is not your typical homosexual-themed drama or gay haha comedy, where a happy ending among a gay couple just simply passed off the whole film. It does not sell or glorifying homosexuality, but more rather, it reflects homosexuality and the pressure it faced during the 60's to the 80's. If Brokeback Mountain is just simply a gay drama that features nothing but endless gay sex, glorifying homosexuality through husband divorcing his wife and go live with another man, then Brokeback Mountain has failed terribly, and at the same time, defy Prolux's initial idea of penning down Brokeback Mountain.
Compared to the novel, Ang Lee and his scriptwriter Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana adds in more details to back up some points that surrounds the story, without destroying Prolux's idea. This further enhanced the film on the forbidden relationship that lasted for decades.
Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal shines in the film, with Ledger as the more reserved Ennis, who puts his family in his first place on top of his love of the more talkative, outgoing Jack. While Gyllenhall took the role of Jack, his appearance to continue his relationship with Ennis not only makes Alma cry and kept Lureen back in the dark, but also putting their relations at jeopardy. He questions himself on his fulfillment in love and lust on both Ennis and Lureen, which earns himself a nomination for Best Supporting Acotr in 2006 Acdamy Awards.
Michelle William's breakthrough role of Alma earns her an nomination for Best Supporting Actress, where her helpless cries on Ennis fidelity with a man could not be heard. She finds an escape to that through constant overtime work, which eventually ends her marriage with Ennis. For her breakthrough role, she is putting herself onto the world map from her previous unknown roles in her earlier movies.
The film breaks the heart of the audience, and breaking the mountain into pieces means they are making several award statues for themselves as well. Brokeback Mountain is one of the rare gems that could make such a remarkable achievements.