Not Only the Best of the Year, but the Best of All-Time

Rating: 10/10 (29 January 2006)

I recently had the immense pleasure of viewing Brokeback Mountain; I had very high expectations and I was completely blown away.
This film is as close to perfection as movies can get. The acting, directing, and multi-layered, beautiful story are top-notch.
Starting with the acting, the performances are all fantastic. Heath Ledger completely ditches his image as a teen heartthrob with this mature, complex role. His voice pattern is notably different, as he has achieved a consistent tone of voice for his character, Ennis Del Mar. Ledger deserves the Oscar, at least in my book. Emotionally, there is not a false note in his performance. Jake Gyllenhaal is equally incredible in his part; he plays his character, Jack Twist (or "Jack Nasty"), so very, very well. One of the most beautiful aspects of the two leading males' performances is how beautiful and realistic they make their love for each other seem. If you pay attention to the way they look at each other, how they place their hands, or the ways they react to each other, you'll see how wonderful and romantic their love story is. The two leads, who give AMAZING and heartbreaking performances, have genuine chemistry. I also loved how the writers spend time allowing you to get to know Jack and Ennis and feel for their relationship, and before their first sexual encounter, their true friendship.
As for the supporting performances, all are above-average -- to say the very least. Michelle Williams plays Alma Del Mar with stunning grace; she reaches emotional heights you wouldn't expect from a former Dawson's Creek star. She also provides one of the films many memorable lines -- "Jack Nasty." Anne Hathaway also does great things with her part. Her performance is very subtle and she's wonderful in her part as Lureen. The attention-to-detail that is paid to her character is remarkable and makes for another reason why I deeply adore this movie. Ang Lee, as director, easily deserves the Best Director Oscar this year. I commend Ang Lee and the writers for making this movie honest and real; they did not tone down any of the gay themes. They didn't try to sell it to a PG-13 audience (thank God). They've made this film with breaking grounds and if you cannot handle it, then this is not the movie for you. I am very pleased with the representation of the characters; they are beautifully-written, wholly-developed, and are presented authentically. Lee brings this incredibly heartbreaking story to vivid life in such a powerful way. Watching this movie, I felt like I knew the characters, like this was a true story and the events happen to people I know -- *that* is how incredible his work is. A joyous bonus is the gritty and breathtaking cinematography. The look of this film is almost as beautiful as the emotion at it's core -- and that says a hell of a lot for cinematographer Rodriego Prieto.
Another excellent technical aspect, aside from the fine editing, is the musical score. The score, like Ang Lee's direction, excellently echoes the tone and feel of Annie Proulx's desolate and beautifully-written story. Gustavo Santaolalla composes a wonderful, haunting, and brilliant score that is used effectively and flawlessly in the film. His heartbreaking score, "The Wings," is as fine as music gets. The spare stylings to the score fits very well with the film.
This story has stayed with me for days. You've probably heard people say this movie is "haunting" by now, and they are absolutely correct. Never has a dramatic film so deeply touched me, or lingered in my head for this long of a time. This movie has repeatedly moved me tears -- AFTER I've seen the movie!
Because this movie is such a powerful tearjerker, I've been depressed for days; remembering the stunning events in this movie is like remembering the spirit of a deceased loved one. Brokeback Mountain got me good. Somewhere, deep inside, the pain will always be there.
Brokeback Mountain is a flawless, unforgettable film with many layers. The characters are unforgettable and life-like. The nuances and metaphors in this film are incredible and thought-provoking. And the story is devastating, honest, and bold, making this a film that will forever stay in my heart. This is, for sure, the greatest film I have ever seen.