Rusty Spurs and Blazed Saddles.

Rating: Null/10 (10 February 2006)

A firestorm has swept through the land with "Brokeback Mountain". The very delicate and difficult subject matter has ended up being an attraction to critics and audiences alike. To say that the movie is not controversial and a playing field for divisions aplenty would be an outright lie. Though hailed in every direction, "Brokeback Mountain" proves to be a much more interesting curiosity than potential cinematic classic. The storyline is near impossible to not know as two young men (Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal) in 1963 Wyoming come together to herd sheep on the titled location. A few weeks on the mountain pass and ultimately the two end up having a physical affair. Both men proclaim that they are not homosexuals, but yet everything about them points to the fact that they indeed are. Time and societal norms make the duo scared to pursue their relationship in public and they both go have seemingly normal lives---for a while. Ledger marries Michelle Williams in Wyoming and the couple immediately have two daughters. Gyllenhaal, still yearning to be with another man, finally ends up meeting the daughter (Anne Hathaway) of a ridiculously wealthy dealer of farming and ranching vehicles in Texas. He marries her and they have a son. However, the time spent by Ledger and Gyllenhaal in 1963 draws them back together in Wyoming. With each meeting, the emotions between the two become more conflicted as they contemplate the bond they have and the path their relationship will ultimately take. Over a 20-year period, their original and subsequent meetings will lead to emotionally draining and demoralizing outcomes for all involved. The fascinating thing about this movie is not really the story, but the fact that a Taiwanese film-maker (Ang Lee) directed it. Lee has a unique grasp on ultra-conservative places like Wyoming and Texas during the picture's time period. Overall though "Brokeback Mountain" is highly overrated. The jokes we see constantly on the late night talk shows are all justified as the movie threatens to become a laugh riot on several occasions. The dialog tries to be poetic and sometimes ends up being preachy and almost achingly corny. Annie Proulx's short novella has lots of emotions and heart, but really the whole thing wants to be highly manipulative. The love story that has been so widely discussed is really nowhere to be found as the two cowboys seem more consumed with lustful inhibitions and the fact that their shared secret brings excitement to otherwise dull lives. Even with all these shortcomings, this is definitely not a bad film. However, in a somewhat lukewarm 2005 "Brokeback Mountain"'s highly unique cinematic commentary makes it an above average film that has literally brainwashed many to believe it is better than it actually is. 4 stars out of 5.