Brokeback Mountain
Starring
Heath Ledger,
Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway, Randy Quaid
Rated R
“Brokeback Mountain” is inches away from being
this year’s best film, surpassed only by “Munich.” Both films are controversial
and are being criticized by people who find the subject matter for both films
inappropriate. Usually, these people haven’t even seen the films. “Brokeback
Mountain” is, of course, an easy target for controversy because of its
gay-themed central relationship, but anyone who doesn’t actually watch the film
has no right to slander its reputation.
Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal place themselves ahead of almost
every young actor in the business with their performances of cowboys Ennis Del
Mar and Jack Twist. They meet in the mid-1960s while working for rancher Joe
Aguirre (Randy Quaid), and while herding sheep one summer, they begin a
relationship that many, both now and then, would deem inappropriate. Forced
apart by society’s lack of acceptance, both men lead separate lives, each
getting married to women (Michelle Williams, as Ennis’s wife, deserves the Oscar
for Best Supporting Actress.)
Through the years, though, Ennis and Jack meet
regularly, and are troubled by the fact that their relationship will have to be
secretive for eternity. What follows is a heartbreaking story that is unlike
anything to come out of Hollywood in a long time.
I wonder, though, when will the controversy
end? Anyone who thinks “Brokeback Mountain” won’t win Best Picture at the Oscars
obviously isn’t paying attention. And never before have audiences been so
divided on the clear Best Picture winner – many people say they simply refuse to
watch the film. Of course, as I mentioned in my “Capote” review, the Academy
awards the best films, not the most successful ones. And how can the best
films become popular when half of America won’t even give them a chance?
Note (March 8, 2006): Oddly enough,
“Brokeback Mountain” was not the Best Picture winner at the 2006 Oscars.
That award went to “Crash,” and although I love that film (it ranked #5 on my
2005 top ten list), “Brokeback Mountain” is a better movie, and undoubtedly
should’ve taken the Best Picture award. At least the Academy gave Best Director
to Ang Lee.
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