Making Film History While Still Entertaining

Rating: 8/10 (4 February 2006)

I can't recall a movie as embraced by the public and shunned by the public at the same time as Brokeback Mountain. I entered the theater for this movie very low-key, only going to see it because I wished to see if it lived up to the hype which critics such as Ebert and Roeper had created. I was at first somewhat disappointed in the film, originally giving it an 8 instead of the anticipated 9, but as my time away from the movie increased, my appreciation for the greatness of the film increased as well. The love portrayed in the film is indeed universal, and creates unforgettable characters whose stories will be remembered the same way the storied of Ilsa and Rick has been remembered after "Casablanca". So many poignant scenes take place throughout this gem for 2005, most prevalently the scene in which Ennis visits the home of Jack's parents, and realizes the magnitude of his lover's death. This continues to add to the heartbreaking tragedy that is "Brokeback Mountain", and the final half-hour of the film could change the views of those who doubt homosexuality and believe it to be immoral and practiced only by those stereotyped by society today. This film eliminates this stereotype of homosexuals, and instead shows that people as physically and psychologically tough as cowboys can fall in love with each other the same way a man and a woman can. This film changed my views of homosexuality in the same fashion that "Crash", my favorite movie from this year, changed people's views of racists, and this comparison has been mentioned several times since I have seen the film.
If I were a member of the Acadamy, I would not vote for this film as Best Picture, although the two supporting roles of Jake Gyllynhall and Michelle Williams are worthy of Oscars. Instead, my vote would go to "Crash". Still, "Brokeback Mountain" is a film destined to become a classic for it's impact on society and it's sheer universality. It has changed the views of conservatives such as myself, and will set a precedent for movies to come.