Much like The Bridges of Madison County, Brokeback Mountain is about longing for an illicit love. It’s about suppressing a soul-mate in fear of society’s non-conforming standards. In fact, the only key difference between the theses of Bridges and Brokeback is that Ang Lee’s love story stems from the hearts of two men.
Labeled ad infinitum as “that gay cowboy movie,” Brokeback Mountain is an honest, impervious romance spliced together with simplistic grace from a herd of hired hands. Despite a few sloppy scene transitions, the direction is admirable, the score is sensuous, and the acting is stellar.
In the summer of 1963, Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) share the task of tending sheep through the Wyoming countryside. After a few days of fending-off wolves, eating canned beans, and drinking whiskey, the two spontaneously and violently engage in intercourse. The next morning Ennis says to Jack, “This is a one-shot thing we got going on here; I ain’t queer.” Jack replies, “Me neither.”
Once the two cowboys deliver the sheep and descend Brokeback Mountain, they part their separate ways. While Ennis marries his longtime sweetheart, Alma (Michelle Williams), and has two children, Jack marries a feisty cowgirl named Lureen (Anne Hathaway) and fathers a son. Years pass, until Ennis and Jack finally reunite. While Jack urges Ennis to flee his family, so they can start a life of their own, Ennis reminds Jack, “This thing grabs hold of us at the wrong time, in the wrong place, and we’re dead.”
The invariable depiction of the intricate facets in Jack and Ennis’ relationship is a testament to master director Ang Lee’s knowledge of character development. Because of Lee’s unyielding focus, the film strolls along at the leisurely pace of tumbleweed—delicately rolling down a lonely stretch of dirt road. Yet, its progression is comforting, and in no way tiresome. In addition, Gustavo Santaolalla’s simplistic, yet infectious, score blends beautifully with the unhurried aura that Lee already accomplishes.
Article comments
1 - Mark Bellinghaus
Thanks Brandon! Great writing and article, eventhough I was in parts reminded of an Ikea instruction...I wrote a few comments on that matter under Eric's article and are getting tired of hearing that movie's name. I am obviously disappointed and if you could let me know where I can buy a transscript for that so over praised movie...so I have an idea what they really were TALKING - or would you suggest to take a crashcourse in lipreading ?! Ther will be more movies like that ~ for sure. Oscar or not - don't care anymore - whatever makes people happy ! I am a great Ang Lee fan - should correct myself - was! As that was his most disappointing work - watch the ICESTORM etc and you will know what I mean...speaking about Ang LEE - did you guys hear what he said: "I didi not know they were so many gay people! They seem to pop up everywhere!" If that is not causing uproar (not only in the rainbow coalition) - let me help: Someone should simply and fast should have responded: Exactly Mr. Lee - just like the Chinese restaurants, bad movies and now even CARS !
2 - Michael J. West
I enjoyed the review, but felt there was something left out: so what IS the best feature of 2005?
3 - Scott Butki
Good question.I wondereed the same thing.
4 - Brandon Valentine
If there is any justice in the world, Crash will ride in on a dark horse and capture the award it rightly deserves.
5 - Mark Bellinghaus
Sorry pal, if you watch the daily news these days, how can you even hope for something like justice! One scandal after another, corruption and American Idol, Minutemen - who are driving home in their Japanese, Korean or other foreign cars...well; it is a nice word--JUSTICE, but it seems to have mutated into something that fits on a memory card or something...Hooray for Hollywood !My fear and prediction: "CAPOTE will CRASH on a BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN near MUNICH and scream GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK"
6 - Scott Butki
I'd be happy with a Crash victory.
7 - Mark Bellinghaus
How can you say that, Scott?! as of today~February 4th, you admitted not having seen the BM flick! Maybe you will find yourself in it and histerical support that cowgirl flick! But in order to vote or give your opinion on who shoeld win ~ PLEASE all of you out there, "litte Ebert&Roeperts" go and SEE the NOMINATED movies. Why am the only one who sat through 2 1/2 hours of pain( well the sheeps and the mountains made up for the overhyped "acting" in this movie! The controversy over it made it to the object of discussion, and Ang Lee should really start his Thank you speech, and send some Thank you fortune cookies to the senator of Wyoming, the decission not to play that movie in that beautiful but limping in time state, just secured him a big shut at the golden tropy and is worth millions in PR! But maybe your decission not to see it was a psychic input you should follow. Hope your back is healing fast!
8 - Scott Butki
Hi, Mark.
I say I'd be happy with a Crash victory because of the message that would be sent, namely an acknowlegement that society still has ways to go on bias and prejudice.
That doesn't mean it's the best movie - just that it'd send a positive message.