Brokeback Mountain ★★★★
ANG Lee’s Brokeback Mountain is one of the great modern romance films.
Initial credit where it’s due – the script is based on a 1997 short story by American author Annie Proulx.
But Taiwanese director Lee also brought his sensitive approach and cinematic flair to the tale of a relationship between two cowboys that navigates decades, negative societal views and the need to have other, completely separate lives.
Beautifully photographed and superbly acted, Lee’s film is as honest a portrayal of real human connection as mainstream cinema is likely to reach.
At the time of their casting, Heath Ledger and Jake Gylenhall were both on upward career trajectories, starting to become bankable stars while also being acknowledged for having some serious acting chops.
Neither needed to take risky roles at this still early stage of their careers but chose to because of the beautifully under-stated yet powerfully emotional script.
In 2005 did they think the film would have a positive impact on society, let alone become a transgressive work of art preserved in the United States National Film Registry for its cultural significance?
Maybe to the first part. But regardless of its social importance, Brokeback Mountain is still just a great story, standing on its own as non-polemical and without pretence.
It’s Wyoming in 1963 and cowboys Ennis Del Mar (Ledger) and Jack Twist (Gylenhall) are hired to herd sheep through the summer in grazing pastures on Brokeback Mountain.
The men are at first taciturn and wary, but slowly start to reveal some aspects of their lives to each other. One night, after drinking heavily, they share a tent and Jack initiates physical contact which eventually results in sex.
Ennis is angry the next morning and tells Jack it was a one-off. But the sex continues and their complex emotional relationship continues to grow on the Mountain, eventually resulting in a fight on the last day of their contract that leaves both men bloodied and confused.
They spend a year apart before returning to the same ranch, hoping to see each other again. But the rancher has guessed what happened and refuses to employ them.
Ennis marries his longtime fiancée and they have two daughters while Jack moves to Texas, meets rodeo rider Lureen Newsome, marries and has a son.
While both men love their families there remains an unrequited love for the person they met and had such a torrid relationship with.
After four years apart, Jack visits Ennis and a series of fishing trips over the years enable them to enjoy each other’s company, even though the relationship impacts Ennis’ marriage.
If you haven’t seen the film be prepared for the gut punch of a final act that will leave most people well and truly in tears.
Apart from the great performances and chemistry of Ledger and Gylenhal, the supporting cast includes Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway, Randy Quaid, Linda Cardellini, Anna Faris and David Harbour
Gustavo Santaolalla scored the soundtrack with its haunting main theme along with well-chosen songs from the likes of Bob Dylan and Roger Miller.
At the 78th Academy Awards, Brokeback Mountain won Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Original Score but lost to Crash, a much more conventional choice, for Best Picture.
Watched on Blu-ray.