Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal form a friendship and much more in Ang Lee’s romantic epic BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN. Ledger is Ennis Del Mar, and Gyllenhaal, Jack Twist, two cowboys who together tend sheep along Wyoming’s Brokeback Mountain. 1963 is the only year the men would work together, but their romantic experience on Brokeback Mountain, would lead to several more trips to the mountain range. Despite obstacles, including marriage, distance and time, the two men find moments throughout the years to reunite.
Although BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN has been tagged a gay cowboy movie, the film is a little more complicated for such a simple label. The two men are not necessarily gay, as their attraction is not only limited to their sex. Ennis and Jack’s appeal is more than sensual, as the men share a kinship and bond through their mountainous experiences. Ledger and Gyllenhaal are both effective in roles that demand a lot. Both actors sell themselves as rugged Western folks, but also pull off a romance conveying great sensitivity. Ledger stands out, as his Ennis internalizes his anger, sadness and fear. The screenplay deserves as much credit as the actors, with Larry McMurty and Diana Ossana adapting E. Annie Proulx’s short story into a moving drama that utilizes sentimental items, family ties and last wishes. Director Ang Lee takes each of these aspects to great emotional heights employing imagery, memories and the scenic Wyoming landscape. BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN isn’t just a gay cowboy movie, but a display of a fractured relationship and a man coming to terms with his emotional detachment. BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN is one of 2005’s best films.
Grade: B+
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