Brokeback Mountain

This movie released in 2005, is rated R, and lasts 2 hours 14 minutes. The movie is based on a short story written by E. Annie Proulx.

Directed by Ang Lee, an accomplished veteran who has given us well known movies such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Much of his work has been in Chinese.

Screenplay was adapted from the story by Larry McMurtry. As an author and screenplay writer, McMurtry has worked on many memorable movies, notably The Last Picture Show, Terms of Endearment and Lonesome Dove.

• Jake Gyllenhaal plays Jack Twist. Jake has been in world beaters like Bubble Boy and Jarhead, but I did very much enjoy Moonlight Mile.
• Heath Ledger as Ennis Del Mar. Recently deceased, Ledger has arrived at a place where he fit the brooding man roles, e.g. Monster's Ball, this and The Dark Knight.
• Anne Hathaway as Lureen Newsome, Jack Twist's wife from a family with money.
• Randy Quaid as Joe Aguire the ranch foreman that gives Jack and Ennis the job that pairs them in the woods of Wyoming.
• Michelle Williams plays Alma, Ennis's wife.

As young men two cowboys are searching for summer work in the summer of 1963. Together they are hired watch over a sheep herd on Wyoming Federal land. Ennis has plans to marry in the winter. Jack has had some experience in rodeo, not with success. During their time in the mountains the two sheepherders are often separated responsibility, coming together for meals and supplies. During one especially cold night the two come together at Jack's initiation. After, both men awkwardly avow their heterosexuality, but to little lasting effect, soon the two are coupled again. When the short job is over they both promise to return the next summer for a repeat assignment. Both men leave with the pain of separation. The next summer the job is not available, the foreman, played by Randy Quaid, suggests that he knows what happened last summer, and has no work for men who don't watch the sheep at night. In time Ennis is married and has two children, Jack meets a Texas girl from money and starts a family there. Both men long for each other and begin a pattern of meeting a few times a year on camping trips. Their feelings for each other are strong but their family commitments, coupled with fear of culture keep Jack and Ennis in unchanging predicament. After 20 years frustration on Jack's part leads him to other men and away from Ennis, soon he is discovered in Texas and pays for it with his life. Ennis learns of the death by a postcard stamped "DECEASED" and while they have already parted ways, clearly his heart is broken.
This movie is a tough one for me, I found it hard to watch, homosexuality is not a comfortable topic, but the story's portrayal of love and angst is palpable. This movie gets a score of 42 of 50, a very high score compared to others before, I did not enjoy the movie but do respect the work and suggest that it be watched.

• Character development 8 of 10. Entirely about the strain to expand and the restrictions of responsibility on that.
• Screenplay 9 of 10, the spartan nature of the dialog fits the characters, if not the culture.
• Acting 8 of 10, Ledger is excellent in his mumbling cowboy of the earth role, Gyllenhaal also plays well the partner who has more success in life but is less true to his loved ones.
• Cinematography 9 of 10, Lee's direction places emphasis on the background, many times your attention is drawn away from the actors and to the scenery.
• Concept 8 of 10, from the original short story a powerful message, forbidden love between men who by Ennis's own words, "I ain't no queer".