Written by: Annie Proulx (short story), Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana (screenplay)
Directed by: Ang Lee
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams, Randy Quaid, Anne Hathaway
Rated: R
Plot:
Two cowboys share a forbidden relationship over the years, only seeing each other at Brokeback Mountain where the first met.
Verdict:
Brokeback Mountain is haunting and mesmerizing. This forbidden love between two men is all the more powerful due to the potential consequences, but what really propels it to greatness is the detail and nuance. Was it Jack's dreaming that annoyed Ennis or the fact that Jack proposed to take care of him financially. The spouses faced the stark reality that not only an affair occurred but not knowing if their relationships with their husbands was a complete sham. The question lingers throughout, what does it mean to be a man? Does a man have to act a certain way? Hide his feelings? Or hold his ground?
Watch it.
Review:
This is a moving, nuanced, excellently directed story. Much of the story takes place outdoors and the scenery is great. The production values expertly capture the clothes, cars, and style of decades
It starts by establishing characters, though it's quite slow about it. I knew the major plot point and became slightly impatient, but soon enough the movie came together.
This relationship is such a different dynamic. Ennis's wife sees her husband kiss another man, and has to deal with not only an affair, but a realization that her husband may not have been attracted to her. It has to be a crushing thought that your marriage may just be a farce.
The film balances the relationship in a realistic fashion. Ennis is prepared to deal with the relationship as it is. He sees no way to change it. Jack dreams about running away despite the obvious obstacles in the way. It's completely natural for that to annoy Ennis. There is no scenario where they could be together. Both of them realize that, but deal with it differently.
I don't know if I buy the moment. It almost unfolded as a comedic setup, Gyllenhaal's character wrapping his arm around Ledger in the tent as they're sleeping, though it's definitely not a comedic moment. I wondered if it was subconscious. It's definitely an odd way to make a move. Ultimately I have to conclude it was deliberate.
We jump into the future quickly. Even though the actors don't look very different, it's not difficult to realize time has passed.
I like the scene of Jack with his family and in-laws on Thanksgiving. The father is over-riding Jack, emasculating him. The father spouts off what it is to be a man and Jack reacts, standing up to his overbearing father-in-law. It's a small, triumphant moment, but it carries an undertone in this movie. Jack and Ennis struggle with how society defines a man.
Production does such a great job with the clothes and trucks. It shows us the economic differences between them, but it's so subtle you could miss it if you aren't paying attention. Does this add to Ennis's annoyance with Jack's idea of running off, Jack providing economic freedom Ennis was incapable of achieving?
The ending is tragic, though I knew it always would be, just not this tragic. Neither men afforded themselves happiness. I wonder if Jack's wife Lureen (Anne Hathaway) knew about Jack and Ennis. She seemed to know something, or at least wonder.
Ennis gave up on Jack and shut down. Jack moved on to somebody else. The shirts from their first summer together that Ennis finds in Jack's childhood room after his death was a nice touch. Jack was always a dreamer, thinking about the next thing, and this was a great memento to ground him and reinforce their relationship.
The last scene is a strong moment for Ennis, holding on to the relationship through the same two shirts, but the shirts and the relationship hang over him. Ennis has relegated himself to longing for a relationship he was never willing to pursue with Jack due to circumstance, society, and opinion. Regardless, he punished himself because of it.
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