A modern masterpiece.

Rating: 10/10 (23 January 2008)

Destined to become an American classic, Brokeback Mountain is a tragic story of painfully forbidden love in a world full of prejudice. The story is compelling and deeply heartbreaking with an ending that leaves me in tears every time. It's such a powerful story that was weaved so perfectly by Annie Proulx and adapted flawlessly by Larry McMurtry. Ang Lee's direction captures the beauty of the scenery (an aspect also captured by the score) and the pain of these characters like no one else could. The story is somehow completely subtle yet absolutely wrenching. Rarely has an ending drained me as much as this one.
Of course when talking about the film you have to mention the performances, which are among the best of the decade. Heath Ledger (my win) is shattering as Ennis Del Mar, the more masculine of the couple who fights his love for Jack because of the consequences that society will place upon them. Jake Gyllenhaal is just as wrenching as Jack Twist, the more open of the two who wants nothing more than to be with Ennis for the rest of his life. Michelle Williams is also heartbreaking (a word that I use a lot, but mean every time when discussing the film) as Ennis' first wife, Alma, who discovers their secret and tears herself apart trying to keep her family together. Anne Hathaway and Linda Cardellini also deliver strong performances.
On the surface, Brokeback Mountain is simply an emotional story of two forbidden lovers. But in this love story, it weaves the prejudices of American society on homosexuality that is so true of today even though the story takes place a few decades ago. It never blatantly judges society, but in it's story we see the ignorance and absolutely despicable way that people look upon homosexuals. Even in Ennis' denial of his love for Jack we can see this. Overall, it's a wrenching story with some absolutely phenomenal performances. Destined to become a classic and certainly one of my all time favorites.