A truly stunning love story for everyone

Rating: 10/10 (1 January 2006)

Everything said in the prior positive comments is true, with the possible exception of Heath Ledger being the better of the two main actors. It is a tough call, but due credit needs to be given to Jake Gylllenhaal. Ledger's performance is absolutely superb, but his character is also somewhat one dimensional. Gyllenhaal has to cover a wider range of emotions and does so with great skill.
The movie starts slowly and takes patience. But over time, it sucks the viewer in and consumes him/her. I had read the short story and knew what was coming -- and still it hit like a ton of bricks.
I really hope non gay people will give the movie a chance. It is easy to forget that it is anything other than a love story and there really isn't that much to make anyone uncomfortable.
I wanted to see it myself before deciding whether or not to recommend it to my mother. I will do so now with enthusiasm. The sex scenes are no more intense than is common for "R" rated movies. In fact, if there were no gay subtext it would probably be rated PG-13. The most gratuitous nudity involves the unnecessary glimpses of female breasts and there is as much hetero sex as gay sex. In truth, however, there isn't much explicit sex at all because it isn't a sex flick. It is a love story.
The credits following this film will probably be the most read movie credits in history. At the showing I attended the audience did not leave but sat stunned though every single line. I can't think of a better tribute to a filmmaker and the actors of both genders who made it happen.