A movie I will cherish forever...

Rating: 10/10 (9 January 2006)

For those not familiar, BBM is the story of two cowboys who are hired to work together watching sheep for a rancher. After many lonely nights, the two start up a friendship that later evolves into a romantic relationship. However, after the ranching job is finished, both go their separate ways, and yet, are never out of each others' hearts.
For the next 20+ years, both get married and have children, but are able to go on "fishing trips" to Brokeback Mountain where they emotionally and physically reunite. As each of their families grow farther apart from them, and as they realize that, more than anything, they want to be with one another, the story takes on the air of a classically epic romance.
The movie is absolutely gorgeous, not only in its portrayal of the rugged landscapes, but in its understanding of human relationships. The story understands that these two men, having grown up in the circumstances that they have, can never come out of the closet and must keep any of their natural human desires under wraps. Sometimes, when they don't understand their own feelings, it even manifests itself as violence against the other. The movie, at times, can feel a bit restrained, but then again, isn't that also a reflection of the attitudes of the main characters and their choice to be apart? Whenever Jack and Ennis reunite, the movie explodes with life and happiness, just like the characters do. And it's heart breaking when they have to part again.
As we see these men age, kept apart by conservative social conventions, and all the while, longing only to be with one another, their lives and dreams unrealized forever, we understand how great a tragedy this story is. How many of us could bear to live a life where we can only see the person we love once or twice a year with no hope of permanent reconciliation? Jack even says at one point, "I wish I knew how to quit you." This movie touched me on such a deep level that I cannot get these characters and their lives out of my mind. My heart aches for them. My stomach was in bends as I walked out of the theater. The movie is that powerful. Moreover, the actors all do such an incredible job of making their characters believable and natural. And Heath Ledger's performance should get him an Oscar nomination. When everyone in the world expects gay people to be overly-flamboyant and feminine, here we have the paramount of masculinity (cowboys). Ennis almost has to have the words pulled out of his mouth. After a conversation about his family, he tells Jack that those are the most words he's spoken in a year. He's so blank at times, and yet, if you look at his eyes and the way he keeps his mouth, you'll see the layers of conversation and thought he is having in his own mind and yet culminate in only one or two word sentences when he speaks. Jack is the wide-eyed, hopeful partner, with one foot always in a fantasy world, while Ennis' are deeply planted in reality. As you see these two men wandering in and out of their forced heterosexual relationships, you can't help but wonder what could have been had they followed their hearts. There's always that feeling in the hearts of the characters and in the audience of "if only." This movie shows the consequences of not being true to yourself--how these characters slowly degrade over the years from not being with who they truly love. However, this is one of the most tragic and yet, life-affirming movies of the year. It shows us the sadness of not believing in who and what you are, and yet, the all-encompassing power of love.
In my opinion, this is the best movie of the year, and I hope all of you get a chance to see it. Ang Lee (the director) has done it again. It is a thing of beauty when a movie is this good.