Brokeback Mountain Reviews

A different approach from Ang Lee

I live in Brighton, and there's a big wave of excitement about this film over here, as you can imagine. So obviously I was tempted to be one of the first people to see it. I was skeptical that it would be nothing more than a poor attempt at a love story between two people of the same gender, but I was very mistaken. This film is convincing, tender and warming.

The story is a hard one to portray, especially for the big screen, but Ang Lee has achieved it beautifully. The film itself is fairly slow moving, but never is it boring.

It starts in the 1960's, with the story of two poor cowboys looking for employment. They are given the hard task of herding sheep across the Brokeback Mountain, and are thus thrust together through their work which involves living, eating and sleeping on the mountains together.

They quickly form a friendship, which subtly turns into something more. The story then relays their lives together and apart, and the struggles that their forbidden love creates.

This story is incredibly convincing, amazingly acted and gripping the whole way through. I am not one to spoil stories so will not say anything more other than to say that everyone must see this film! If not at the cinema, then definitely rent it out. I believe that even those of you less prone to enjoy this sort of genre will atleast recognise the boldness of this film and it's modest portrayal of homosexuality.

[Highly rated reviewer]

A Masterpiece

Forget the reductive 'gay cowboy film' tag as this is the masterpiece that Ang Lee has been threatening to make for a few years now.

The film, about two men who fall in love on Brokeback Mountain, and then find it impossible to ever recapture that moment of fleeting joy is a masterclass in filmmaking. From Lee's sensitive and unobtrusive directing through the actors' beautifully nuanced performances to the stately cinematography the film has all the hallmarks expected of great cinema.

All the performances are wonderful but Ledger and Gyllenhall are simply outstanding and let their looks of longing and torment say more than words ever can. The script avoids overly poetic flourishes and thereby gives the the actors the space to convey the emotions and propel the story.

The film has more in common with the classic cinema of the 70's like 'The Last Picture Show' than it does with most of the pap flung out of Hollywood these days and hopefully its success will encourage studios to spend more time on intelligent films like this.

Do not miss this one!

A lovestory to be appreciated by all

Probably the most romantically painful film you'll ever see. It's beautiful cinematography will leave you breathless as well as the incredible performances by Jake Gyllenhaal and in particular Heath Ledger.

Set in the wilds of Wyoming and Texas it follows the love affair of two very different people who long to be together yet are forced apart by society. Only nature is forcing them back together. The torment is torrential.

Besides being very sexy young cowboys there is an element of empathy that you cannot help but feel for the both of them and can fully understand how and why they conducted their affair as they did.

Although over 2 hours long it effortlessly flows into a torrent of emotions on all parts. The whole film did upset me from previous experience and up-bring ing and took me a good couple of days to calm down afterwards.

All praise be to Ang Lee that will hopefully change a lot of attitudes with this film and break down even more barriers.

You will not be disappointed with the film you will not forget.

Classic

Forget all the 'gay cowboy' furore and watch this film with an open mind and you will be open to watching one of the truly great films of the last few years.

The film is nothing less than a masterclass is directing, writing and acting. The story of the relationship between two men and how it effects the rest of their lives is delivered with intelligence, integrity and sensitivity by all concerned.

The film has more in common with the classic cinema of the early 70's than it does with the loud, dumb films that Hollywood churns out today and it never underestimates the intelligence of the audience. The script is sparse but beautiful and allows the viewer space to understand the feelings and raw emotions that seeth beneath the surface. Lee's direction is flawless; he paces the film beautifully and avoids excess melodrama in favour of real emotions. The acting is quite stunning, the two leads say as much with their looks of longing and quiet despair as they do with their words and they are superbly supported by a faultless cast

This is a film that resounds and resonates. It is achingly human with all the joy and sadness that entails. Don't miss it as this really is an instant classic

2 men mounting

This film is about 2 bi-sexual cowboys and the way they try and deal with their emotions. My wife wanted to see this film and I knew it wouldn't be for me, but at the end even she said that it wasn't that good. A very over-hyped movie, that was really only watched because it was about 2 bi-sexual cowboys. The story was boring and didn't hold any substance. The acting was ok, but not oscar standard, the moustache that came into view part way through the film gave a better performance. I feel the over-hyping good reviews of this film was because people feel they have to give good reviews because its expected, but sorry not for us. The 2 stars were for the fair acting.

Hugely over rated and BORING!!

Yeah yeah, very pretty film. Sure, nice to see a sensitive portrayal of a gay relationship, but this was one of the most boring and slow moving films I have ever seen.

HUGELY over rated, and Heath Ledger's mumbling performance irratated me like mad!

Rent Ang Lee's The Wedding Banquet instead. Much more enjoyable and touching look at a gay relationship.

Y-A-W-N!!!!!!!!!

Dull, boring and not plausible

I honestly do not know how anyone has found this film amazing. It was dull, boring and lacked credibility. Ennis saw what happened to 'gays' as a child, is a churchgoer and respected his father's opinion. So, how can a homophobic suddenly give in to a gay man's advances so easily? He didn't even question it, he went ahead and gave in to his lust?! A bit too surprising... I very much disliked the fact that we weren't able to understand Ennis, what drove him, if he loved Jack or not, what he wanted. Jack at least as a character, added up, we were made aware of his desires. The film moved at an agonisingly slow pace and the dialogue was flimsy. My tastes do not run along the line of Hollywood, and yet, I didn't like this either... Poor film, if it weren't for the scenery, it didn't have anything.

Boring !!

After all the hype surrounding how great this film was supposed to be, I was very disappointed to say the least. There was no real depth or warmth to either of the characters and so I found it hard to feel any sympathy for them.

The story was very dull and drawn out - the one star was for the setting (beautifully shot).

I saw Crash a week earlier and can totally see why it beat BM to best film oscar.

definately worth watching, deeply moving

i have watched this film from a straight person's point of view and i can say that it all seemed so natural. the two main actors are great. the scenery is pictoresque. it is all about love and it's nothing disgusting about it. i think the director did a great job with this film, as this subject is still taboo. it just tackels it in a way that made me think that love is love independent of colour, gender, age etc. it has a sad ending and most people can relate to it indiferent of their sexuality.

Ang Lee's finest...

After the rather trying 'Hulk', it's great to see Ang Lee revert to the more intimate, 'quiet' films he so excels at (see 'The Ice Storm' et al). 'Brokeback Mountain' is one of the finest films I've seen for many a year, and a truly moving piece of work from a gifted director. Ignore the hooplah about this being 'The Gay Cowboy Movie' and go see a beautifully shot, wonderfully scripted, poignant film about unspoken love and repressed desire across the decades. Gyllenhaal and Ledger are absolutely superb as the sheep-tending cowpokes Jack Twist and Ennis Delmar who first meet while working on the titular mountain; there are also great turns from Anne Hathaway and the heartbreaking Michelle Williams, as the respective wives who both eventually learn the shocking truth about what happened between their husbands all those years ago on Brokeback. Quality always shines through: as I write the film has nabbed for gongs at the 2006 Golden Globes (including best film and director), so see this in the cinema while you can. It's epic, sweeping, tearjerking stuff - and if it doesn't win the Oscar for Best Picture in March I'll eat my stetson.