This film frustrates me on many levels

Rating: 7/10 (18 May 2006)

I gave it 7 stars because, as a lesbian, I do want to see more film stories of gay and lesbian people, but the reason it did not rate a higher score with me was because I felt so angry and frustrated, both by the characters and by the story itself and how it is presented.
I know what it was like in the 60's, I lived in the era in which this film was set.
While we did not have the tolerance we have now--it was not impossible for two unmarried men to live together. Many did. Some were gay, some were not. Gays did have to stay in the closet then, but these characters, don't even have the guts to do that! I think their lack of backbone aggravated me about as much as anything in this film.
They never do anything to make things better between them.
The other highly unsatisfactory thing about this film is that the men are portrayed as if being homosexual is just a choice. They have no obvious problems in being with women.
Nor do we get any backstory on them regarding sexual orientation when they were growing up.
The sex between them is very sudden, with no lead-in, no hint whatsoever that homosexuality has ever even crossed either of them's minds.
Jack is made to be the "gayer" of the two, in that he does eventually get it on with a couple of other guys. Ennis never does. Yet even Jack marries, fathers a child, and remains married. He and his wife drift apart somewhat, but no more so than a straight couple might.
Both Jack and Ennis are portrayed as losers. Ennis never makes a decent wage. Jack marries into money, but his father in law barely manages to tolerate him.
The two lead actors do their parts well, and there's beautiful Wyoming scenery, but this film really did no great service to the gay community as far as I am concerned.