Much More Than Just Hype

Rating: 10/10 (28 December 2005)

I wish very much that I had seen this film without knowing anything at all about it, and so my appreciation of it would not be colored by my expectations. I found the film to be a nice little film--entertaining, beautiful, extremely well-acted, and often very moving. But I don't think that it was intended by its director to be a trend-setter, or to make a statement, or to strike a blow for equality. And the fact that I could enjoy the film as a fascinating story, and at the end find it to be a "nice little film," rather than political statement, is a further testament to Ang Lee's artistry.
Ultimately, whether or not there are many other persons "just like that," or whether life in Wyoming is "just like that," the more important fact is that the film convinces us that there COULD be, and that it is difficult to criticize the characters for the choices they made.
My only complaints about the film (minor ones, admittedly) are that I thought the makeup--specifically the fake mustache and the sideburn extensions, could have been improved; and I am not sure what Heath Ledger had in his mouth to make him sound like that--I never saw him dipping snuff.
SECOND VIEWING: I have raised my rating. After seeing the film again, there was so much more that I had not noticed before--a sign of an excellent film. The last 5 minutes of this film are absolutely unforgettable.