Not what you'd expect

Rating: 9/10 (3 January 2006)

BBM was quite a bit different from what I expected. I thought it was going to be a "gay cowboy flick", as the late-night comedians were saying, but it turned out to be a very deep drama. The two cowboys (actually sheepboys; they met while herding 1000 head of sheep across Brokeback Mountain in Wyoming) were placed in the year 1963, but it almost seemed like 1863, since there was little difference in how they felt about themselves and about homosexuality from what someone in some past century probably felt. It was all very tightly wound and almost as frustrating and sad to watch as it was for the characters. While critics have been throwing awards at all the cast, the whole picture really rested on Ennis' character (Heath Ledger) who was AMAZING. His intensity for showing love--in ways that were absolutely forbidden for his time and culture--is a real accomplishment and a wonder to watch. (And watching two hot actors kiss and sleep together without apology or homosexual panic who are actually straight in real life is also a treat!) If he doesn't get the Oscar, then there is still 1 ounce of homophobia left in the Academy.
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