Great story meets bad storytelling

Rating: 5/10 (29 May 2006)

The story of this film is, needless to say, very controversial but also very good. Two cowboys fall in love with each other but society forces them to hide it and attempt to live normal lives. Their trip together is the basis of the first hour of the film while the remainder spans 20-25 years of their lives following the events. The set up is fine, the problem is the execution of it all.
Jack is the more obvious gay cowboy, he hides it but you see he is always dying to let it out but it is society that forces him to keep it in. Ennis plays the gay cowboy that seems to keep it in because he is ashamed just as much as society would shame him for it. The main issue is how this entire plot starts. There is no buildup to it. The first 30 minutes or so are the two of them working on Brokeback, herding sheep and drinking. There is no real character development, you don't learn either admits to being gay and the two never really bond whatsoever. But before you know it, Jack is grabbing Ennis' hand and placing it into his crotch, and then they have rough sex. There just is not a buildup to it, and despite struggling with their feelings for literally 20 years, you never once feel as though Ennis truly feels that way towards Jack. He is not a likable character at all, and while Jack routinely offers him a life together, and confesses how he feels, Ennis consistently turns him down, and doesn't say anything to him, but then threatens to kill him if he leaves? Perhaps it is because the two actors felt too awkward acting out real emotions to each other, but all we are left with are two one-sided, very stereotypical cowboy figures who, despite being 'in love', never have a single reason to show it in the first place. I don't know if the intention was to display Ennis in a constant struggle of how he feels and coming to terms with his homosexuality or if he was meant to play the abusive and controlling ass who treats everyone poorly that Jack can't help but fall for. He spends 95% of this film acting like an ass and treating everyone horribly, but the other 5% is spent showing his true feelings. It all makes for a very confusing and random adventure.