Brokeback Mountain - shackled by its origins

Rating: 5/10 (23 January 2006)

NB - IF YOU WANT TO MISS THE CRIT AND SPOILERS, SKIP TO LAST PARAGRAPH.
The first problem came within the first 20 minutes, when I was not able to understand the dialogue. The accents may have been accurate, but in an attempt at gruff macho realism, all the actors were initially unintelligible. I began to think that I would have to view the movie again on DVD with the subtitles on. Fortunately, either my ear became attuned, or changes occurred after viewing the rushes Although matters improved, I realise my initial annoyance may have affected my enjoyment of the whole.
As to the 'gay' theme, I must give the producers, director and actors credit for dealing with this issue in such ultra conservative days. However, for me, this was not so much a story of two gays who 'found' each other, as two kindred spirits who found in each other the tenderness and unspoken understanding they had never found with anyone else, not even their respective spouses. Coming from similar backgrounds and lonely childhoods, their love often seemed not so much sex as and expression of rage against the world and a refusal to deal with the issues in their respective pasts. This is particularly true of Ennis (Ledger) who clearly loves his wife and children, but knows deep down that Jack (Gyllenhaal), is his true soul-mate.
Certain inconsistencies in the plot and structure pulled this film down, while others raised the level. I found the manner in which Ennis' wife Alma discovers the truth about her husband implausible. Having been so discreet and secretive. I did not believe that both men would act in such a way even after several years. A more serious flaw was the fact that Alma only challenges Ennis about his relationship long after their divorce. That's not even mentioning his sudden violence towards her. While I can believe he could have stormed out and taken out his rage on a stranger, his ambiguity and confusion was such throughout, that I did not believe he would have suddenly man handled her as if he were in a barroom brawl.
Before this scene, I thought the director Ang Lee was being subtle and clever by not spelling out the reason for the divorce, allowing the viewer to believe that they had stayed together for the sake of their young children. Thus, this largely plausible scene was made entirely implausible by poor placement in the narrative. Whether it was an error in the script or in the editing is not clear, but I would have expected better from both Ang Lee and the screenwriter Larry McMurtry.
However, there is one gem of a scene that both coveys the very heart of the film and shows the true genius of the director Ang Lee. If anyone wants to know how to convey everything without words, watch the scene between Ennis and Jack's parents. The father is boorish and homophobic, while the mother conveys understanding, acceptance and forgiveness, all by giving a touch, a nod, and a glance.
The sublime simplicity and perfection of this scene made me ache for the rest of the film to match it, yet sadly it did not. With the exception of Jack's mother, played by Roberta Maxwell, the performances were solid rather than outstanding. As one who has never understood the allure of Heath Ledger, while his performance was at times affecting, at others it was merely ordinary. Perhaps that is not his fault; while Jack had a certain spontaneous, reckless charm, Ennis was largely taciturn and sullen, seemingly only coming alive in scenes with his daughter.(Anne Hathaway).
If it were not for the fact that both characters were men, the repression and denial conveyed would be nothing out of the ordinary. Maybe that is the point, Jack and Ennis are soul mates whom Fate has deemed would be two men instead of man and woman.
This story asks us to consider what is love, and Ang Lee allows us, the viewer, to answer that question. Our answer can be profound or glib according to our mood and point of view, and while this ambiguous device often works on the page, it does not sit so well on film, at least not for me. The repression of Ennis' emotions ultimately distanced me from caring for these men. By contrast, the brief appearance of Jack's mother and her silent expression of quiet agony made me wonder more about her life than Ennis' in the years beyond the story's end. Surely not the emphasis intended.
The film Brokeback Mountain, taken from a short story by E Annie Proulx, never manages to wrest itself from its limited origins. In 129 minutes we are presented with what is in essence a one premise plot line, and it is simply too slim either to draw us in, or ultimately make us care about the main characters. I appreciate films which make me want to see them again. I've seen Brokeback Mountain, and sadly for such a fine director as Ang Lee and screen writers, Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana - once is definitely enough.