Gone Fishing

Rating: 10/10 (23 May 2009)

Seeking summer employment, Wyoming ranch hand Heath Ledger (as Ennis Del Mar) and Texas rodeo cowboy Jake Gyllenhaal (as Jack Twist) get a job minding Randy Quaid's sheep up on "Brokeback Mountain" - and the rest, like they say, is history The official synopsis accurately describes this film as "a sweeping epic that explores the lives of two young men...who meet in the summer of 1963 and unexpectedly forge a lifelong connection. The complications, joys, and heartbreak they experience provide a testament to the endurance and power of love." The film is about individual relationships, and features a level and range of human sexual relationships not acceptable in "mainstream" movies at the time of its release.
The story, by Annie Proulx with Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana lives up to its reputation as flawless. The western landscape is spectacular, with cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto's camera coming alive under Ang Lee's direction. Mr. Lee's direction, and Gustavo Santaolalla's musical score, keep the photography and performances in tune. Lee makes the camera an important character adjunct - note how the camera flirts with Mr. Ledger and Mr. Gyllenhaal, when they first arrive on the scene; Gyllenhaal poses by his truck, and glimpses at Ledger while he shaves. Bisexual and lonely, Gyllenhaal knows what he wants, but Ledger is an emotional wreck. From there, we witness their falling in (isolated) love, on "Brokeback Mountain". These are (or, were, at the time) the film's most iconic scenes; but, the film gets better and better, as Ledger and Gyllenhaal lead necessarily separate lives, but strengthen their emotional love.
Their final scenes together, and Ledger visiting Gyllenhaal's parents, are truly amazing cinematic achievements; making "Brokeback Mountain" not only the "Best Picture" of the year, but also an "all-time" great film. Ledger's trip to Gyllenhaal's boyhood bedroom matches the emotional depths present in "silent" movie scenes; Lee knows not only when to use dialogue, but also when it's superfluous. Ledger and Gyllenhaal easily earn their many "Best Actor" and "Best Supporting Actor" honors; the latter's regulation as a "Supporting Actor" is probably due to having less screen time - but, if Ledger's performance had been ordinary, "Oscar" (and some others) could have nominated Gyllenhaal for the lead actor award.
The cast is uniformly perfect, right down to the smallest role. Probably, the "Best Supporting Actress" would have to be Michelle Williams (as Alma Beers), again, due to screen time. But, Anne Hathaway (as Lureen Newsome) is excellent, as well; and, Linda Cardellini (as Cassie Cartwright) turns her sexy secondary role into screen gold (she's the one who tells Ledger, "Girls don't fall in love with fun"). Characters on screen for only moments resonate - witness Roberta Maxwell's understanding looks and Peter McRobbie icy stares (they play Gyllenhaal's parents). "Brokeback Mountain" is a production where story and execution merge perfectly. Lee, his cast, and crew are at peak levels of artistic achievement. And, the positive effect this film had upon society is both arguable and incalculable.
Make sure you see it.
********** Brokeback Mountain (9/2/05) Ang Lee ~ Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway