Disturbing

Rating: 7/10 (24 April 2006)

I saw the movie a few days ago and the only way to describe my reaction to it is "disturbing". I don't think it was a "gay cowboy movie" or a "love story" as I'd heard in the media. Now that I've seen it for myself, I think it's more of a human tragedy than anything else. I'm glad I waited to see it on DVD because I often had to replay scenes in order to understand Heath Ledger's mumbling dialogue. Michelle Williams did a great job; it's too bad Ann Hathaway's character wasn't equally developed. I didn't completely believe a woman could be so oblivious.
What stood out the most for me was the irony and contradiction. Ennis didn't entertain the fantasy of living with Jack so that he could be a father and support his family. But ultimately, he loses his family and is mostly absent from his daughters' lives. So what was the point of the sacrifice? And in the confrontation sequence in the mountains when Jack complains about not being satisfied with the occasional high-altitude you-know-what, Ennis goes ballistic when he learns of Jack's dalliances in Mexico. But later when Jack's father reveals Jack's relationship with Malone, Ennis doesn't appear hurt or devastated by the betrayal.