An Ang Lee masterpiece, featuring a superb performance by Heath Ledger

Rating: 10/10 (15 December 2005)

This is Ang Lee's finest film...This is a love story which defies genre and gender expectations. Yes, it's about two men whose hearts surreptitiously journey from unbridled, young passion to tried and tested true love, albeit marred in many ways, albeit secretive and carefully protected from external influence, and albeit unduly subjected to the harsh reality of the star-crossed lovers' torrential emotions, their fears, and their uncertainty about what's practical, reasonable, and acceptable--and what isn't.
I can't help but rave about Heath Ledger's rough-and-tough-but-tender-and-vulnerable performance. A tour de force! In fact, he is so believable that very little make-up was required in order to try to convince the audience that he is aging right before our eyes. As you watch him, you really do believe that this taciturn young roughneck is actually becoming a middle-aged man who is coming to terms with day to day responsibilities, family life, and an ever-present, nagging, burning need to hold onto a love that will not let him go (Sorry, couldn't resist that phrase).
If you are straight, and you are convinced that this is a gay film for gay people, you are missing out on a timeless, transcendent, universal tale about love, triumphant and tragic.
Michelle Williams deserves a Best Supporting Actress nod, without a doubt. Excellent performances by Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway, too.
Go see it on the big screen; don't wait for the DVD.