WHAT a letdown

Rating: 2/10 (12 February 2009)

After all the years of hype, I finally decided to see this film, even though it's a Western (I generally hate Westerns). Ang Lee did indeed create some gorgeous cinematography, and the acting is out of this world, particularly Heath Ledger's phenomenal characterization.
Regrettably, I found the movie as a whole totally boring and ultimately frustrating. It's supposed to be some fabulous love story -- where's the love? I get the passion and the strong, undying physical attraction, but that's a small piece of what love is.
Love isn't about periodic idyllic getaways with a lover -- that's a vacation. It's easy. Love is the everyday slog. Every day, re-forging your commitment and somehow making it play out. Both men were complete failures in that regard, perhaps because they were with the wrong spouses, perhaps because they weren't with each other. The fundamental problem with the picture is that it doesn't make that clear.
The men lead two completely separate lives -- one where they're with their families, and one where they're together. Perhaps if Lee had shown some overlap, the love aspect would've been more believable. Perhaps if there had been more conflict and more tenderness in the men's time together rather than just companionable silence or awkward sex, it would've demonstrated what a real love relationship was like.
Ennis' terror of discovery was completely believable and real. Yet that terror doesn't excuse the lack of love demonstrated on screen. His affection for his eldest daughter was more apparent than his love for Jack, even when he and Jack were sharing private moments.
I was greatly disappointed in the film. It was lovely but too slow, and ultimately torpedoed by its glaring omission of real love.