Great acting from the boys and Williams

Rating: 7/10 (26 January 2015)

It's 1963. Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) hitchhikes and stops at Signal, Wyoming. He and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) get hired as sheep herders on the side of Brokeback Mountain. One cold night, they have a homosexual encounter. They insist that they're not queer but they continue anyways. Their boss Joe Aguirre (Randy Quaid) notices their relationship and doesn't hire the guys the next season. Ennis marries Alma (Michelle Williams) and they have a young family together. Jack goes back to the rodeo circuit and has a family with barrel racer Lureen Newsome (Anne Hathaway). Both find married life deficient and reconnects. They just can't quit each other.
The story is a bit slow and uncomfortable. The most compelling aspect is that being gay isn't the usual flamboyant over-the-top act. They are hidden and fear of discovery is palpable. There is one great scene from Michelle Williams. She does some superb acting. The boys risk a lot in these scary roles. Ledger's speaking style does get a bit muffled at times. However his acting is great and his fears are written all over his face. The superior acting and the risky subject makes this a worthwhile watch.