By By Richard James
In the past year, strides have been made in the continuous battle for equal gay rights. Unfortunately, there have also been setbacks. Resurgences of anti-gay behavior have been frightening to witness. Whether a negative viewpoint of gay marriage or the overwhelming ideologies of the Holy Bible, the lives of gay men and women have been much like a game of chess: one step forward, two steps back.
It should come as a surprise, then, that the release of “Brokeback Mountain” happens to be during such a volatile time. Controversy has surrounded the movie as being just a “gay cowboy movie”, but “Brokeback Mountain” is beyond all that artificial terrain. Winning Best Picture at the Venice Film Festival and receiving accolades from the Toronto Film Festival, “Brokeback Mountain” is a stirring, remarkable portrayal of not only how great love can be but also how omnipresent it is to us all.
The movie is set in Wyoming in 1963, a time when, as it had been previously, the word “gay” or “homosexual” were not present in the cultural lexicon. To be a cowboy is to be a heterosexual, grab-the-bull-by-the-horns type of man. At first glance, this seems to be the role ranch handler Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and rodeo cowboy Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) are trying to fit. Both men apply for a job as horse wranglers and sheepherders on Brokeback Mountain in the middle of the summer.
Due to Ennis’s shyness and repressive nature, the two really don’t get along at first. However, Jack, who is more freewheeling, finally gets Ennis to open up. One stormy night, with only one tent, the two men spend a life-changing night together. They have sex, unexpected on both their parts, but choose to forget about it the next day.
That’s easier said then done. Over the span of 20 years, they continue their love affair, much to the chagrin of their wives. Though their feelings are ones of strong conviction, homophobia and internal regimentation leads to ultimate tragedy.
The movie is spectacular in conveying the physical and emotional impact, due to its simple cinematography and open spaces. “Brokeback Mountain” is one of director Ang Lee’s best looking films. Emotionally, you won’t find a movie this dead-on. Gyllenhaal is terrific, so are Michelle Williams and Anne Hathaway, who play Ennis’ and Jack’s wives, respectively. But, ultimately, the movie belongs to Ledger, whose Ennis is so maddeningly suppressive towards his feelings for Jack that his performance is awe-inspiring.
There may be criticism simply because the movie features two guys who fall in love. However, no person on this earth, regardless of sexual orientation could deny this movie’s effects on the one-sided way people often view the world.
Final Grade: A+