Love on the Mountain

Rating: 10/10 (28 January 2006)

When I first real Annie Proulx's book Close Range, I was captivated. She is a fantastic writer and really captures the feeling of the West. Brokeback Mountain was just one story in the book, and now, because of the movie, it is a book unto itself. Personally, I would recommend Close Range over a separate Brokeback Mountain. You may not be familiar to Proulx's writing, but many have seen another of her books made into a movie - The Shipping News. One can only hope that this continues with That Old Ace in the Hole, another great work of hers set in the Texas Panhandle, where I lived for almost ten years. I haven't read Bad Dirt yet, but it is on my list as it is a followup to Close Range.
But this isn't supposed to be about Proulx, but about Ang Lee's adaptation of her short story into the movie Brokeback Mountain. I was captivated by this movie. I was so captivated that is Angelina Jolie and Halle Berry sat on either side of me during the film, I would not have noticed. Well, that may be too much, but you get the idea.
The scenery and the music were both an integral part of the experience. It was an experience, not just a film. I was aching to be up on that mountain for the summer and enjoy it's beauty. The music added so much to that beauty. It just seemed to sweep me away.
Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal played incredible parts and really made you feel part of a tortured and impossible love. I should point out to those who may feel that there are parts of the movie they may find disturbing that they were done in such a manner that they were meant to show love, not titillation. In fact, the only titillating part were Michelle Williams incredibly beautiful breasts. I will say that I would not want to have to choose between Williams and Rachel Weisz for the Oscar next month.
Brokeback Mountain was a beautiful love story and a beautiful experience.