Wow - Brokeback is Worth All the Hype

Rating: 10/10 (15 April 2006)

I finally got around to seeing Brokeback Mountain and all I can say is "Wow". Finally a movie with a good story and good characters. I was glad to see a movie with gay characters that finally aren't stereotypically gay. You get so tired of seeing movies that address homosexuality in which the key gay characters fill every stereotype out there. This was a movie about two men in which gay was just something they were, not something they were trying to be or trying to flaunt. Heath Ledger's character was everything a rough, ass-kicking, whiskey drinking, heavy smoking cowboy is except he happened to be seceretly in love with a man. The acting was superb. Everyone on the cast filled their role to a T no matter how big or small. Randy Quaid as the Wyatt Earp style rancher, Anne Hathaway as the Texas lady with big hair and big "balls". Michelle Williams did an awesome job and Jake Gyllanhaal gave an excellent performance playing his multi-faceted Jack Twist who dared to possibly have the life that he truly wanted. One of my favorite scenes involving his character was the one in which he finally stands up to his father in law.
This movie handled many themes, dealing with bigotry, and the different levels of love. Heath Ledger should have won Best Actor. Every part of his character from the protective father (the scene where he beats up the foul mouthed men at the 4th of July celebration), to the manly husband,to the gruff cowboy, to the love that shines through when he is with Jack, to the hurt, confused, and angry soul that he is through most of the story. Each level of his character shines through in Ledger's performance. This movie has all the makings of a classic Drama/Tragedy. The dynamic between the two main characters is so moving as well as their interactions with the other characters.
My only tiny criticism would be that they should have done more to make the characters look aged over time. It takes place over the course of 20 years and the only thing they do to really age the characters is give Jake Gyllenhaal a moustache and Anne Hathaway big puffy hair. But other than that, this was a great film. This movie really deserved the hype it got. Hats off to Ang Lee for finally presenting us with a beautiful story that wraps you up from beginning to end. And not only that but finding a unique story to adapt to film rather than re-hashing old material as is a trend these days.