An emotional washboard that will wring you out, but it's worth it.

Rating: 10/10 (18 December 2005)

Ang Lee has taken a short story of few words and made it into a monument of deep feeling and sensitivity that will stand as one of the finest films to deal with "the love that dare not speak its' name". Ennis Del Mar (Ledger) is a cowboy of few words, yet his body language, his face and movements speak volumes to Jack Twist (Gyllenhaal)a man ready to set up house and live happily ever after at the drop of a hat. Unfortunately for Twist, Ennis is so haunted by a childhood incident, that the mere sharing of a grope or kiss or wink in public is anathema and must be done with frequent glancing around to make sure jaundiced eyes aren't watching. The result is an angst filled anxiety roller-coaster that causes Ennis to withdraw from life into a beer bottle and Twist to wish for a different "happy ending" to his life story, house and home, warm fire in the hearth and a Marlboro man to love till the cows come home. The film is full of cherished lines and situations because neither character is a font of conversation. Ledger speaks his lines from behind clenched lips, holding back imaginary chew juice, even though he smokes cigarettes and never spits. Gyllenhaal uses those amazing bedroom eyes to convey the deep love he has for Del Mar. He takes the good with the bad, the bitter with the sweet, but increasingly bitter times lie ahead for both of them. This is a classic love story of two men who married, had children, lived separate lives, but came together to share the only real love they ever knew. The wives, the kids are all incidental to the rapids whitecap-ping constantly between Jack and Ennis. Some may find this behavior selfish and immoral, but to the end, Brokeback Mountain transcends this prejudice and shows us what was probable, but never possible because of a hateful society that surrounds the characters. I highly recommend this movie to anybody with an open mind and a heart. Bravo.