Brokeback Mountain
Overall rating: 88%
Homosexuality is not something Hollywood tends to do well outside of the comic genre. It is often left to the indie or foreign scene to portray realistic relationships. This is probably due to the fact that Western audiences are less comfortable and possibly less accepting of the fact that gay people exist, especially in the US where religion plays a huge factor in society. So when Ang Lee announced his plans to make a 'gay cowboy' film starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, it was met with interest amongst the film literate who were all wondering if he could pull it off.
Brokeback Mountain tells the tale of Enis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal), two men sent to tend to sheep on the hill. The remote location allows the two men to bond and form a relationship that will haunt them forever, long after they have left the job and tried to forge lives outside one another.
The film works because it is not the 'gay cowboy' film that everyone says it is. The relationship between Enis and Jack is never spoken of as being homosexual, they are very much men’s men: they shoot things; they drink whisky and talk in monosyllables. The romance is low key and totally believable; it is dealt with the same way as heterosexual love is in many films. The film is much deeper than a tale of forbidden fruit; it is a heartbreaking look at how living a lie to fit in with society can slowly kill you.
The first act of the film paints a beautiful picture of love and picturesque scenery. Brokeback Mountain itself is the only place where the men feel they can be themselves and the cinematography reflects this rather touchingly. The life after the two men separate and go on to marry and have children is frustrating to watch as you know there is no way the couple can be together no matter how much they want to be.
It is Heath Ledger's performance that really makes this film. Considering he is given such little dialogue, he draws out so much feeling as the tortured Enis who feels most compelled to live the lie; him punching a wall in frustration says more than a drawn out speech ever could. Michelle Williams is perfectly cast as Enis' wife who turns what could be a bitchy character into one you can empathise with, as she realises her husband’s true sexuality which tears her life apart. Jake Gyllenhaal handles the idealist Jack with incredible restraint, never letting the more open nature of his character turn camp.
The film does drag a little towards the end and a lot of Enis and Jack's dialogue can feel a little repetitive as they meet up a few times a year for 'fishing trips' to get away from their shitty jobs and disagreeable wives. However the way it emotionally engaged and often drained me means I can forgive its flaws.
Ang Lee has truly captured male emotion (or lack of showing it in public) in this difficult but beautiful story of two men against the world. Although it may be a struggle to get some people to see this film, I’m sure it could not fail to move the most deep-seated homophobes.
In Summary:
This will not be to everyone’s taste and is a bit of a slow burner. However, the fantastic acting and beautiful storytelling make it worth your while.