A Review by Phil Calabro
2005, Focus Features, Dir. Ang Lee - Starring Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Randy Quaid, Anne Hathaway, Michelle Williams, Linda Cardinelli, Valerie Planche, Graham Beckel, David Harbour, Kate Mara, Roberta Maxwell, Peter McRobbie, Anna Faris, Scott Michael Campbell
'Brokeback Mountain', although it is a well-composed story, is nothing more than a regular Ang Lee film. The movie is dexterously paced, shot in locales that is nothing short of an impressionist masterpiece, and contains efficient performances from both of its protagonists. Sadly, this movie has been vilified in several regions of America mostly because of its position of sexual orientation - since both main characters maintain a lifelong homosexual relationship. It's a terrible state of affairs when some audiences are detracted from a good movie just because of typically fogyish morals, when the love story that connects them is quite connecting and heartwrenching in the same aspect. 'Brokeback Mountain' is not a great feature as the press has been raving, but still a piece with plenty of merit buried within the prospectus of the character's relationship with one another, climaxing to the point where they realize it can either exist or disintegrate.
The story is simple: Ennis Del Mar (Ledger) and Jack Twist (Gyllenhaal) are freelance laboring cowboys who take a job from fatcat boss Aguirre (Quaid) to transport some sheep across the mammoth Brokeback Mountain of Wyoming. A long and tiresome job, the two cowboys bond rather quickly, despite their ultimately different lifestyles. But one night, they have intercourse with one another and their entire lives change. Questioning their sexualities and wondering how this will affect their lives, the two ranchers part and start wholly new lives. Ennis marries Alma (Williams) and has two children with her, while Jack marries Lureen (Hathaway) and has a son with her. But as the years go on, they never forget one another, and they meet up occasionally to return to Brokeback Mountain to be with one another. But as each of their heterosexual relationships ebb because of the men's love for one another, they question their futures again. Ultimately, a decision must be made or regrets will replace them.
If there is one thing 'Brokeback' should definitely be lauded for, it is the triumphing performances from Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal. Ledger, as Ennis, develops a flawless Midwestern attitude and accent, which proves to be a big change from his Aussie roots. As I watch his marriage(s) crumble due to his concentration on his heartfelt passion for Jack, he performs a meditative soul-searching that is nearly impossible to watch. It is passionate, and ultimate tragic for Ennis - a fact that since homosexuality is so intolerable in his region, it is nearly impossible for him to fully devote himself to Jack. Gyllenhaal responds to this with a deeper focus on Ennis, so driven by his past love to Ennis that it is almost hard to really love his wife Lureen. Jack Twist is a character tied up in confusion, ecstacy, and pathos. His character trails the film in a direction of a 'damned if I do, damned if I don't' attitude, and really sets a difficult decision between both. How can the relationship exist if one wants it, but the other one can't face the consequences?
Ang Lee has been heralded constantly for his aerial and landscape cinematography, which can only be described as a chip of the American field of dreams. Ironically, the film was shot in Canada, but each view of the hilltops and mountain edges serves as a placid memory for the audience. I could've sworn I was looking at an early John Constable artwork when we watch Ennis Del Mar keeping watch over the sheep in the early evening. But the real talk about 'Brokeback' has been the simplest reason of them all: the topic of homosexuality. The fact that some groups have boycotted the film due to its "taboo" material is downright disappointing - 'Brokeback' isn't any activist movie with an agenda, but a heartfelt love story. Anyone who is swayed otherwise by this unnecessary hype should ignore it, and let the picture talk for itself. Although 'Brokeback Mountain' isn't the most original idea this year in film, it still is a worthy feature to check out.
'Brokeback Mountain', although it remains rather predictable, enraptures the audience with its luscious depiction of Midwestern America and its unfeigned tale of love lost and regained. Ang Lee's direction and Ledger and Gyllenhaal's thesping is top notch, making the movie one of the year's most enjoyable romantic dramas.
