There's this, then there's everything else

Rating: 10/10 (24 December 2005)

No one has seen anything like this before, so of course I haven't either. That fact alone makes this stand apart and above everything else. Add to that the idea that more people will most likely experience this as their first 'gay-themed'(even though it is not, not really) movie, and you're breaking new ground again. On top of that, it just so happens to be a really excellent, thoughtful, impossible-to-forget piece of cinematic magic.
First I have to give it up for Ang Lee. I really admire an artist who cannot be pigeon-holed. As much as I love a lot of directors, a lot of their work is obvious, and 'been-there-done-that' is the tired expression that comes to mind. We've seen it before. They repeat themselves and are more than a little impressed by their own style. Lee does not have a style that's his, he creates it based on the project. He can excel in any genre and already has. Verrrry few people can go from "Sense and Sensibility" to "The Ice Storm" to "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" to "The Hulk" without missing a beat. Then he makes "Brokeback Mountain" and I, for one, am in awe of his talent and willingness to do something unlike everything else.
*Remember you were warned about spoilers!* Seeing Ang & Heath on 'Charlie Rose' gave me insight that I was glad I had before seeing the movie. Ang's comments about Lurene's conversation with Ennis about Jack's death were very helpful, even though I would have figured it out for myself, it was nice to have it confirmed. Ang said she's lying on the telephone, and he didn't say why she would do that, but anyway...Heath's saying that Ennis was a 'homophobic man in love with another man' summed up his character in one sentence and made me realize how he saw Ennis. He also gave some insight into the idea that believed Ennis was never attracted to another man in his life, and probably not a woman either for that matter, but that he fell in love with a person who happened to be a man. This theme is very seldom explored in cinema because I think an extraordinarily large amount of people never consider that as a human possibility. Its really not a 'gay-themed' movie any more than its a movie about how to herd sheep or how to easy it is to get sick of eating beans.
I have to say I agree with those who say its Heath's movie. It is true. He's quantum, he's in a place all by himself. He's the emotional core, which is strange since he's so far from expressing his feelings that it isn't even funny, but somehow he pulls it off. Its a perfect example of the more-is-less school of acting. Any character that says as little as he can get away with but at the same time provides the entire movie with its heart...
In fact all the emotion you feel comes from a very pure place. Its not manufactured by the soundtrack or some cinematic trick or anything..its just there and it never rings false, a true feat in itself.
Michelle Williams in particular broke my heart. I'd only seen here in "Dick", a largely ignored comic masterpiece of a movie, and she's 180 degrees from that. She hits all the right notes.
Jake is always great and the Thanksgiving scene with the battle over the television was so well done that I thought about that damn electric carving knife all day today. From his point of view, it may be unfair that Heath is getting all the press and praise, but let's face it, at least 80% of Heath's scenes are with Jake, so if he hadn't been as good as he is...
There is also not one single scene that I'd cut, and I can't say that about every movie. Most movies have fat on them to spare, this does not. You get enough, you don't get too much, and then its over, and you're left remembering this simple yet profound story for the rest of your life.
As far as awards go, I'm THISCLOSE to giving up hope that I'll will ever agree with the Oscars again. I've been disappointed much more than I've been in agreement. I am glad this movie has won all the critics awards; they don't have a sense of obligation or nostalgia or politics, it seems to me, and award movies that they just happen to think are worthy. I haven't seen anything else this year but from what I've read, I don't see what can beat it.
10/10, obviously. If you see this and do not, at the VERY LEAST, admire and respect it, then I have to say, I don't understand you...