A masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (23 December 2005)

(Written 12-23-05.) I've seen this movie twice. The first time, I had expectations that it would more erotic and sadder than it turned out to be. I cried a bit at the end. Then I saw it again a week later, and haven't been the same since. If I think or talk about Brokeback Mountain too much, I start crying (so far, six days after seeing it the second time). I probably can't be objective about the film because I'm in love with it, for all the reasons you'll see in the other comments: awesome acting, an extraordinary script, and direction that brought out the best in both. But more so because of its emotional impact. I have never had this reaction to a movie. If you feel lonely (as I did) before seeing the movie, be prepared.
This paragraph is written on March 6, and I'm still shell-shocked from last night's Oscars. (I saw the movie for the 11th time on Saturday.) I realized this afternoon how angry I am: not giving BBM the Best Picture Oscar is in the same ballpark as making My Fair Lady without Julie Andrews. They are the two worst things to happen in the history of movies. Maybe last night's tragedy will fade in time. I don't mean to trivialize the snub of BBM by this comparison, but my anger is comparable.
Consider a couple of other times when the Director and Picture Oscar were split. In 1967, Mike Nichols won for directing The Graduate, which I remember vividly. Does anybody remember In the Heat of the Night? A less exceptional example is 1998, when Spielberg won for directing Saving Private Ryan, and Shakespeare in Love won for Best Picture. Yes it was good, but nowhere close to Saving Private Ryan. 1972 is a counter-example, w/ Bob Fosse winning for directing Cabaret and Godfather winning Best Picture.
Five or ten or twenty years from now, BBM will be remembered for the landmark and masterpiece that it is. Crash will be almost forgotten.
Some other thoughts on the movie after so many viewings. Ledger's and Gyllenhaal's acting is some of the best I ever expect to see. I'm still stunned at--among other things--how good their (and everyone's) accents were. Just about every word sounded perfect throughout the entire film. And Gyllenhaal does a lot of good acting w/ his eyes. A friend, contrasting Gyllenhaal's previous movies w/ BBM, gave credit to Ang Lee for bringing out Jake's talent. I suspect the same would apply to what Ang Lee did for Heath's performance. Both of these guys are under 30, and it's a scary pleasure to imagine what kind of careers they have ahead of themselves.
Finally, let me put in a plug for the trailer that's on the Brokeback website. In its way, it's as good as the movie--a masterpiece that makes me cry. The music breaks your heart. Ironically, I haven't seen it in a theater because I'm always there to see BBM.