Blu-ray Review: Brokeback Mountain

The Film

Based on the short story by Pulitzer Prize winner E. Annie Proulx, Brokeback Mountain is a complex, emotional film that carries an added layer of tragedy with star Heath Ledger’s death since its release. Ledger may have won his sole Oscar for his haunting Joker in The Dark Knight, but no less memorable will be his turn as cowboy Ennis Del Mar.

Brokeback Mountain quickly gained a reputation as the “gay cowboy” film, but its themes run much deeper than that flippant summation. The gorgeous direction by Ang Lee and beautiful score by Gustavo Santaolalla were well deserving of their Oscars, but it’s still hard to believe that the vastly overrated Crash beat this out for 2005’s Best Picture.

Isolation runs deep in the American West of the ‘60s, where Ennis meets Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) on a shepherding job at the top of Brokeback Mountain in Wyoming. The love affair ignited between them will define their lives over the ensuing decades.

Ennis stays in Wyoming, while Jack moves to Texas, ensuring that the two only see each other every few years, under the guise of fishing trips in the mountains. Ennis ends up marrying Alma (Michelle Williams), while Jack marries Lureen (Anne Hathaway).

Their relationship takes its toll on their families, and the men themselves over the years. Both Ennis and Jack are well-drawn characters, irrevocably linked to tragedy, and both Ledger’s and Gyllenhaal’s performances are strong.

Even more captivating, though, is Lee’s sumptuous and detailed direction. He squeezes every possible ounce of beauty out of the countryside and coaxes a world of emotions out of the various interiors. This is impeccable craftsmanship from a consummate director.

The Blu-ray Disc

Brokeback Mountain is presented in 1080p high definition with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. A visually astonishing film, the presentation is top notch throughout. Mountain scenes are bursting with natural looking color, from the green of the trees to the blue of the lakes to the dirty white of the sheep. The soaring shots of mountain vistas are some of the best nature visuals I’ve seen on high def yet.

Article Author: Dusty Somers

Dusty Somers hails from Seattle, and is a journalism student at the University of Oklahoma. He enjoys spending time and watching films with his wife, and looks forward to their imminent return to the great Northwest.

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