Heartache on Brokeback Mountain

Rating: 10/10 (10 December 2005)

I have just returned from seeing this tremendous film, and that includes every aspect of it, from the screenplay to the directing, cinematography, and last but not least of all the incredible acting talent that brought this story to life. People always want to pigeonhole movies with a short catchy phrase. This one has been labeled that "gay cowboy movie", which is an inept description for such a complex film. What makes this movie so compelling is that the characters, Ennis and Jack, as written and portrayed, are flawed human beings struggling to cope with a situation that at the time, 1963, was still extraordinary, at least in terms of visibility. This is a story about two men who lived in a culture aggressively hostile to same sex attraction, sex and love. (Apparently as strong as ever in 2005 based on some of the comments about this movie posted on this website.) But against the odds, they are attracted to each other, have sex, fall in love and struggle with the consequences for 20 years. These are two men who don't make the best choices and decisions; they hurt other people who also love and care for them, and they hurt each other emotionally and physically, and it is all caused by that complicated human condition described as "being in love". In other words, this is a dramatic movie with realistic, complex characters, not simplistic stereotypes. Even though Jake Gyllenhall and Michelle Williams are also excellent, this is Heath Ledger's and ultimately Ennis' movie. What a masterful performance. Very seldom are men in American movies shown as such complex human beings as they are in this movie, exhibiting a full range of conflicted emotions and feelings including fright, sexual longing, hopeless love, happiness, rage, jealousy, disappointment and sadness, and all of these are portrayed to extraordinary effect in Ledger's voice, body and face. A lot of comments have been made in reviews about the sex scene(s). There really is only one, it is not graphic, and personally I found it pretty tame. If you are thinking about avoiding this movie because you might be challenged on some level by seeing two men having sex, try to get past that and go see one of the best movies of this or any other year.