Brokeback Mountain disappointment

Rating: 4/10 (10 March 2006)

I believed all the hype and praise lavished on this film by the critics and some members of the public. I went to see the film as part of a birthday treat. I was hugely disappointed. First of all, because of declining audiences the film had been relegated to a smaller screen cinema and although there were many women in the audience there were only 4 men in the whole audience - and they were accompanied by females.For the first time in many years I kept looking at my watch to see when the film would end - it really was that slow paced and boring. I believe the film is over-long, over-hyped and under acted. The content of the film does not bother me - otherwise I wouldn't have gone to see it - it simply is not a very good film. As a love story it seriously under impresses - and that has nothing to do with the fact that two men are the subject of the story. The two leading male roles miss the mark of being believable and the role of family life with the wives and children is very badly portrayed and under played. Ang Lee has missed a great opportunity here to develop the female characters as their part in the film and their contribution to the storyline is seriously at fault. The leading female roles are simply not believable yet with a running time of over 2 hours the opportunity was there to improve the credibility of the film. This film was based on a short story - and it does not work as a long film. It would make a good TV movie with an hour taken off the running time. Although it was nominated, it did not deserve to win Best Picture award and the judges votes correctly reflected that in my opinion. Some people love the film and I am pleased for them. I did not and it really is as simple as that.