I finally got around to watching Brokeback Mountain last night. I borrowed the DVD from a friend of mine and it’s been sitting on top of my DVD player for like the last two weeks. I’m not sure why I didn’t get to it sooner — I was perhaps afraid of being let down by the movie. After all, there’s so much hype surrounding it that I thought it would be almost impossible for me to be impressed now.
Boy, how wrong I was! Brokeback Mountain is every bit the spectacular film that everyone says it is. From the cinematography to the score to the acting to the storyline, the movie was just an amazing experience that is hard to put into words. It’s been a long, long, long time since a movie has affected me so much. I cried during the film, of course, and really haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.
Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger were absolutely fantastic as two young men who fall in love while herding sheep together one summer on Brokeback Mountain. They think that what they have going is a “one shot deal,” but it turns into an affair that spans more than 20 years. It’s heartbreaking to watch these two men constrained by society and unable to live the way they want. They both end up unhappy, and, ultimately, alone.
Brokeback Mountain is an incredible accomplishment and has put director Ang Lee at the top of my list of favorites. You must see this movie! Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.