Beautiful, Moving Film

Rating: 10/10 (7 January 2006)

Brokeback Mountain is a film about two young men from Wyoming who come to love each other while minding sheep on a mountain in 1963. We chart the course of their lives over the next twenty years.
If it wasn't for the reputation of legendary director Ang Lee and the star power of the two handsome leads how many people would go see this "gay cowboy" movie? How many are still avoiding it because the main characters are gay?
The story is brutally honest and accurately reflects the intensely closeted lives of people living in pre-Stonewall America, especially out in the country. I dare say many people in the United States still live out their lives closeted -- and frankly, given the general level of intolerance I couldn't blame them. The US still has a long way to go in this area.
Heath and Jake are Ennis and Jack and as far as I'm concerned Ennis and Jack are real people. They are that fully realized. The Oscar folks showed what kind of cinematic hicks they are when they passed this film over for the BP Oscar. Fools.
The soundtrack is elegant. The scenery (Southern Alberta) that frames much of the film is majestic and haunting. Pretty much everything about this movie is haunting.
I couldn't get this movie out of my head for weeks. It may not be for everyone, but this is one of the ten best movies I've ever seen. I really loved this film.
10/10 for its excellence.