Brokeback Mountain

Title: Brokeback Mountain
Rating: 4.5/5
Genre: Romance-Drama
Starring: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams
Director: Ang Lee

Some of those who will watch this film would watch it with the idea of a "gay cowboys film" imprinted in their minds; this is not how I found this film. This is the story of "Ennis" (Ledger) and "Jack" (Gyllenhaal) who end up working together alone in the mountains. At one moment, driven by an instantaneous spur of passion, they have sex. This shall eternally affect their lives. What I truly enjoyed in this film is that we are presented with a work focusing on the human side of two individuals that shared something considered "taboo", the others would treat them as fiends if they found out, these two themselves don't know what are they exactly experiencing, and what we experience is a tale of "forbidden love" that we find it reminiscent to many other romances of older times. "Ang Lee" brought us this subject with such delicacy that it shall affect us all if we are willing to watch what is presented, rather the "gay cowboys film" .

"Ledger" and "Gyllenhaal" took on such difficult roles, other actors would have had some preservation which would ruin the film's credibility and message, but these couple would let us live and feel what the characters feel. They were bald and tender. The love scenes show passion, something genuine rather than filth. We see "Ennis", someone who is haunted by what his father had narrated to him when he was a kid, and how a fundamental concept in his raising was to hate "homosexuals". When he starts the affair, we can see his disgust at first, he marries, he becomes a father, he tries to ignore what he did and felt, however passion can overwhelm anyone. Even at the end of the film, it is left for us to determine if he was one or not, but one thing we can't deny, he felt love. "Jack" is someone who was raised to hate his own feelings, not to be sure of what to feel, then comes "Ennis" to whom he forms a bond with. While it is clearer with "Jack", it is still not in your face. These two presented the film with dignity and utter sincerity, and to this alone, they deserve applaud.

"Lee" was crafty in seizing what he had. We see him utilize well the open spaces and natures beauty in the mountains, and most of all, he utilized well the talents that he had. He had a vision, and he fulfilled it while letting each of the cast feel free. Considering the heaviness and burden of such a film, and especially when taking into knowledge his previous experience with "The Hulk", I thought at first he wouldn't live up to it. I thought wrongly. He also made the smart and caring move with not "showing it all". There is no "big picture" in "Brokeback Mountain", just "the picture", and for that more credibility and sincerity is felt. Sometimes, it's not "how much" that you do that matters, but "how less". "Lee" did it well.

The film needs the viewer to be open minded. The topic isn't that casual, and most certainly I wasn't represented in a casual manner. I believe each individual contributing in this effort gave his/her best. From the moving soundtrack composed by "Gustavo Santaolalla" to each of the actors and actresses we are moved by all. This is a great drama that isn't shy of it, and for that, it earns my admiration and love. And when end of the film is near, we are left with nothing but of emotions and a hint of what might have taken place. The look in "Heath's" eyes show how good an actor he was. A bold film that crosses what some consider being taboo, it went far more than the stupid clichés it's attached to. It might feel a bit strange to watch it at first, but as the moments pass, we'll notice how good a film we're being presented, how great a drama we see unfold.