Brokeback Mountain (2006, DVD)

I just watched Brokeback Mountain for the first time last night after renting it on DVD and thought it was excellent. I was surprised by some plot twists which I hadn't heard previously, such as Ennis' wife discovering her husbands feelings for Jack when they (she and Jack) first meet. I also didn't realize that Jack is murdered in the movie. Overall, the acting was superb, especially that of Heath Ledger. It's easy to see why he was the front runner for the Oscar for so long, and actually it seems to me that he created a character from nothing whereas Philip Seymor Hoffman more or less did a good impersonation of Truman Capote (and really, what actor couldn't get mileage out of an easy person to imitate like Capote?). I think the gay theme of Brokeback scared the older Academy voters, who could vote for Best Director and Screenplay, but were fearful of rewarding the movie in the acting categories (Jake Gyllenhall, Michelle Williams and Anne Hathaway were exceptional) and as Best Picture. Crash was an engaging movie but far more flawed than Brokeback. The only real glitch I found in Brokeback was Ennis' sudden bravado when he first sees Jack years after their inital meeting on the mountain: Ennis is so guarded about everything he does, yet he wantonly risks being seen kissing Jack in the open at their second meeting, which of course his wife witnesses so easily from their apartment window. It would have seemed far more natural for Ennis to wait until he and Jack were alone, which they were less than an hour later. I think his lifelong fear of being discovered would have easily overrode his elation at seeing Jack again, especially when he knew they would be spending quality time alone after he introduced Jack to his wife. But overall, the movie is deeply rich in depicting the good and bad of human nature and in telling both a joyous and sad tale of two people in love who are forced to live in the shadows of society by ignorant mores of the day.

A serious and insightful film delving into the Taboo topic of the Gay lifestyle. This is a realistic portrayal of the hardships and internal turmoil as well as the rewards of being gay. It is refreshingly nonsexual story with the exception of the strongly suggested interaction in the tent, of a couple ranch hands finding themselves drawn together. Heath's performance as a gay man, being pursued by Jake's character, fighting the feelings within himself and desperately trying to live a heterosexual mainstream life was brilliant and well captured. Jake equally performed well in his role of the cautious but persistent pursuer. Unfortunately as with many movies of this genre the movie ends on an extremely sour note which ripped away the tone of the movie as a whole. It leaves you wondering about the choices you make and the costs of the ones you don't. Whether you are gay or not, this movie is a Keeper and will be in library. Thanks for reading!