"Brokeback Mountain": A Gay-Authentic Love Story

Rating: 10/10 (8 April 2012)

"Brokeback Mountain" is more than a 'groundbreaker'. The story involves two men, who have more than an 'affinity' in them. They truly love each other, but an ignorant society and negative influences very divisively tries to break and separate them (discrimination, family influences, folkways, hostility, ignorance, inflexibility, mores, narrowness, norms, oppression, anti-gay parenting, perceptions, perspectives, prejudice, non-family relationships, repression, rigidity, standards, inner and outer struggles, upbringing, and etcetera). Negative influences, and not the men's love for each other, are what makes the film uncomfortable and unsettling. Like "The Boys in the Band", the film infuses stark reality, and takes audiences outside of their 'comfort zone'. But, it is love that legitimizes and validates a gay relationship. Negative influences can hamper, but not necessarily destroy, a gay relationship that is brought together in commitment, dedication, and love (unless those directly involved allow them to). Love transcends death, and it continues into infinity. Although physical presence is not perceived in death, faith, hope and love are the abstracts that render a relationship to become concrete. If you believe, nothing is impossible. In life, or in death.
Some say that Heath Ledger is best remembered for "The Joker". That is not necessarily true. Others believe that he is best remembered for "Brokeback Mountain" and his sensitive, strong, anything-but-weak portrayal of a gay man who, sadly and unfortunately, believes that his gay relationship cannot be. No doubt the film was given an unhappy ending because of a belief that audiences would not accept two men (or two women) legitimately loving. Quoting an old saying, "Oh what a web we weave, when we practice to deceive." Remember that Hollywood is highly invested in making money. Conveying honesty or truth is not a prerequisite (example: in most 'cowboy and Indian' films, 'the white man' is rarely shown as 'the bad guy').
If one uses critical analysis when viewing this film, the gay cognitions of two gay men and their highly-charged emotions in a harsh and judgmental environment, will be better understood. Outside of the two gay men, in this film, gayness is not even tolerated.