A very good love story, but (possibly based on hype) not as great as everyone says.

Rating: 8/10 (4 February 2006)

I was expecting to leave this movie relatively unsatisfied. I had both read and seen all of the hype surrounding it, but based on the trailer, previews, and clips, I figured that the movie would be yet another generic love story featuring fantastic performances and a nice score. Thankfully, I was wrong, but it isn't great. At least not as great as I think everyone has been saying it is.
First of all, let me say that I think that all of the actors and actresses were fantastic. Heath Ledger wowed me to no end with his excellent performance. What an actor. The same goes to Jake Gyllenhall. These two had fantastic chemistry, stellar performances, could pull off their accents, and looked very cute as a couple. I applaud the two of them for accepting the opportunity to take on these challenging roles that are quite a far step for two heart-throbs (because, let's face it, they are--I can't picture, oh say, Ashton Kutcher being in this movie).
Michelle Williams is also fantastic. Her performance had me glued to the screen. Her character is so sympathetic and full of all kinds of feelings that she can't express in front of her husband. Once they are divorced and she finally confronts him is a scene that featured two spectacular performances on Williams' and Ledger's part. Wow. Bravo. Kudos, and whatnot.
I loved that the film took its time with establishing the characters and the love story. After a long series of moments involving Gyllenhall and Ledger herding sheep and drinking whiskey and laughing and being scared by bears or whatever, the first sexual experience between the two is treated with maturity. It just happens and you understand that this has been building between the two of them and it works very well. Thank god there wasn't any awkward dialogue and cheesy "May I kiss you?" moments before it happened. No, it just happened and I loved that.
However, my problems with the film are almost trivial in comparison with what I have with most films. I just felt that the film worked as a good love story. These two men love each other in a time when two men loving each other was considered very, very, very beating-said-man-to-death worthy. That's it. It didn't break any new ground (which is what friends and reviewers have been saying it has). I was actually surprised that it wasn't a barrage of sappy, melodramatic moments (although there were only a couple--sappy, not melodramatic). I felt for every character. I understood their flaws and the death of a particular character affected me.
Yet the film still didn't really strike me as great. Maybe it's a personal thing, maybe not (I'm gay and all of my gay friends love it up, down, and sideways...yet it didn't really do anything for me, emotionally). It may have been the hype. I get the feeling that if I had seen this movie not knowing anything about it, I would have loved it. But, as I sit here typing this, I can say that I just came away from the flick thinking to myself, "It was good, very well made, but I can sleep at night knowing that I don't really want to see it again."
But it is very well directed. While I don't think it is Best Picture material, I feel that it really showcases Ang Lee's directing ability. This is a man whose films I have watched with a continual fascination. None of his films are the same and they show his versatile storytelling ability. One movie he does features a dreadfully unhappy family, another features gravity-defying martial artists who skip on water, and the other features a big, green goliath dealing with an over-acting goliath named Nick Nolte. I was thrilled that this man directed a film that deals with cowboys in the '60's and treats it with respect.
The cinematography is also gorgeous. Kudos.
It's a very well-crafted love story and film that people should experience at least once. But, in my case, once is enough.