| BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN |
 2005 - USADirector: Ang Lee
- Reviewed by Linda
Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) meet in a dusty parking lot, waiting to meet their new boss (Randy Quaid), who will give them their summer sheep-rustling assignment. Ennis is leaning against the wall, hat pulled low, practically folded in half upon himself, not wanting to be noticed. Jack steps out of his truck and leans back against it, heel resting on the door, and arm flung along the side of the bed. He has a look of confidence, his eyes say, "I'm a sexy cowboy!" and dammit if he isn't. But Ennis is staring at his feet, and they barely exchange two words until they are setting up camp up in the woods of Brokeback Mountain. When Ennis finally opens his mouth, it is as though it is full of marbles and mashed potatoes. I swear he is channeling Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade, except the difference is that I could actually understand Billy Bob. This boy is so shut into himself, that I think his jaw has rusted shut. Unfortunately, if you want to understand this man of few and mumbled words, his enunciation does not improve throughout the film. Jack, on the other hand, is boisterous and a bit of a braggart, flaunting his rodeo belt buckle, and finally getting Ennis to crack a smile. They share lots of whiskey and beans and stick their boots in the fire to keep warm. But still, I have to admit, it came as a surprise when Jack and Ennis suddenly got busy in the pup tent on a particularly cold night. Huh. It is the beginning of a busy summer. When they come down from the mountain, since it is 1963 Wyoming, it seems that that is that. The young men separate, torn asunder, but are unable to admit it to each other, much less do anything about it. The second half of the film follows their lives as they each get married, have kids, and attempt to recapture their fire together on covert "fishing" trips away from the women. They are both miserable in their home lives, but feel stuck by society. When they are together, they still seem miserable, because it is so fleeting. We see them continue this for 20 years, with the passage of time portrayed mainly by awkward facial hair changes for Jack, and growing daughters for Ennis (who looks exactly the same throughout the film). Their frustration over the years grows... something's gotta break, and, of course, it eventually does. Now I have to point out that Brokeback Mountain is a very quiet, very restrained film. These guys have pent a up misery that they very much keep to themselves, except for occasional violent eruptions of flailing fists. They don't know how to deal with emotions, except to bury them. When they do actually emote, it comes across as rather shocking to the audience who have been lulled by the stoic faces. There is much talk of Heath Ledger, especially, getting an Oscar nomination for this, and I can name the scenes that will lock it in for him. When he loses it, he is as surprised as the audience. He may be the first Best Actor nominee from an English-language film to be almost completely unitelligible in his role (and I know it wasn't just me who couldn't understand him!). When I saw Brokeback Mountain, I was so wound up with expectation that I was left trying to align my made-up vision of the story (I had read Annie Proulx's short story a couple years ago) with the movie that was unspooling in front of me. I remember consciously thinking that I'd probably like the film more upon a second viewing (which I still think is true). In the meantime, the first viewing is good, but it may not be what you are expecting from a Western, or a love story, or even a gay love story. These guys hold their secret close to their heart, and they require the audience to be patient—very patient—before they let you in. |
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You have no idea how much I wanted to love love LOVE this movie. I couldn't wait to say, "It's a triumphant return to form for Ang Lee! The actors are outstanding! The scenery is gorgeous! It's the best movie about The Gays ever, especially because it doesn't pander to straight audiences!" Well, I can say all of the above, but much more toned down than I expected or hoped. Brokeback Mountain is a fine film, but it wasn't what I expected. It is as spare and sparse as the lonesome prairie, as the wind whooshing through the pines, as the distant babble of a creek. It is impressive, but I felt it was just beyond my grasp. I wanted to clutch at this film and sob, but it kept me at arms' length and wouldn't give me eye contact. We all know that cowboys are loners, but I wanted to be let in.