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"Four Young
Stallions in Heat..." |
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Directed by Ang Lee -
Written by E. Annie
Proulx & Larry McMurtry
Starring Heath Ledger,
Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne
Hathaway & Michelle
Williams
Distributed by Focus
Features - 2005 - 134m -
Rated PG13 |
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Some people are fighting against the label of 'gay
cowboy movie'. But that seems to suggest
that there is something wrong with 'gay cowboy movies'.
"Brokeback Mountain" is a 'gay cowboy movie' and it is
proud of it. |
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Alright... I am only going write the words 'gay cowboy movie' a few
more times, I promise!
This film would not exist without the sexual aspect of the story.
Director, Ang Lee, could not really make the same film without it. It
is the key component in an otherwise typical bittersweet love story.
The reason these two men cannot be together is because they are gay in
1960's America, not because they live far apart or because they are
married. So to call it the 'gay cowboy movie' is not inappropriate or
derogatory. It does not lessen the magnitude or undermine the
seriousness of the love they feel for each other.
However, now that is out of the way, let me elaborate on the reasons
that this is not the best film of the year despite the protestations
of many.
Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger play Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar,
two broke-ass cowboys who end up, in the Summer of 1963, herding sheep
together atop Brokeback Mountain in Wyoming. Alone for weeks on end, a
romance blooms and they are consumed by the chaps of passion.
They agree that it is a "one shot deal", not only because of the
societal stigma, but because Ennis is to marry Alma (Michelle
Williams) later that Fall.
The film follows these two cowboy's lives as they drift apart for four
years, each getting married and starting a family. Jack moves to Texas
and marries a rich young girl named Lureen (Anne Hathaway), who is
pretty enough to make most men switch teams.
Years pass and the two men reconnect, eventually taking multiple
"fishing" trips with each other that raise suspicions with Alma.
Divorces, fishing trips, stubble-filled kisses, more pretend
heterosexual relationships... the film tracks these two men as they
keep each other at arms length for fear of societal retaliation.
The performances are all very noteworthy. I was especially impressed
with the women in the cast. Michelle Williams is emotionally powerful
here. Anne Hathaway has moments that range from coy to sexy to icy.
Linda Cardellini has a powerful scene late in the film. And Kate Mara
is terrific as Ennis' daughter.
The two male leads are both believable in what amounts to a brave
choice of roles. For many actors, this would have been an easy film to
turn down without even reading the script. I did feel that their
performances were both a little mannered. I felt like they were really
trying too hard to remain stoic at times. These cowboys were supposed
to be in love with each other, but they never really feel comfortable
with one another.
The direction is patient and well paced, although a few scenes seemed
to drag. I am not sure that Ang Lee utilized the spectacular landscape
he had to work with. And by landscape I mean the actual landscape and
the emotional scope that the film could have explored.
I also have a serious issue with the lack of a powerful score. The
film's music is repetitive and unemotional. I kept hearing the twang
of a guitar but never really got anything extra out of it. As a
result, the film felt half empty in parts.
And the final reason that this film won't be making my 2005 Top 10,
despite its consistent quality and brave territory, is its answer to
this question... What does it ask of the audience and does it deliver
us the goods to help us in that effort?
I think that this film asks us to sympathize with these two men. I
think the film wants us to root for them... To care about them... To
feel their hurt. However, I had a hard time with these guys. They're
drunks. They're stupid. They're unfair to the women in their lives.
They're incapable of being honest with themselves until it is too
late.
I know a lot of people will say that it is not their fault, that
society forced this situation on them. That is a valid point, but it
made it difficult for me to shed a tear. I think the film wants us to
shed a tear. I couldn't muster one.
All that being said, "Brokeback Mountain" is a quality production with
a fine cast and an original twist on a familiar theme. I am glad that
the film and its theme is getting recognition in the mainstream media
but I don't think it deserves mention along with the best films in
recent years. It is merely the best 'gay cowboy movie' of the year. |
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© Written by TC Candler |
Richard
Propes' Comment
Visually
stunning, but often soulless, "Brokeback
Mountain" will, it seems, capture the Best
Picture Oscar. This is yet further proof of the
Academy's growing irrelevance and tendency
towards rewarding the "flavor of the month" over
the year's best cinema. "Brokeback Mountain" is
not, by any means, a bad film. It is also,
however, not a great one. Ang Lee has adapted
this sparse story with beautiful colors and
poetic imagery but he can't hide the basic fact
that this story, of two cowboys in forbidden
love, really centers around two men incapable of
loving anything but themselves. In attempting to
bring about modern film's first widely accepted
gay love story, Lee has, instead, only
reinforced stereotypes amidst characters it is
nearly impossible to care about. Ledger's
performance is certainly worthy of recognition,
but pales in comparison to Philip Seymour
Hoffman's "Capote." Likewise, Gyllenhaal offers
the same sullen histrionics here that he did in
"Jarhead," and only Michelle Williams is a truly
legit candidate for an Oscar in a weak year for
actresses. "Brokeback Mountain" is a good film
that should have been great.
Jacob
Hall's Comment
Finally, after much of the civilized world has
had an opportunity to view it, "Brokeback
Mountain" arrived at my local theater. I went as
soon as I could, fearing that the limited
audience for such a film would keep it in the
theater for a limited time. Ironically, other
than the fact that this is a love story about
two men, there is very little for those who have
been banning the movie to be offended
about...but that seems to be the ONLY reason.
I will not go into the plot...you certainly know
that by now. I will, however, take the time to
mention that Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal
give magnificent performances here and both
deserved their Oscar nominations. Michelle
Williams...less impressive, but a standout in a
year of week actresses. Ang Lee's direction:
visually stunning. Screenplay: tragic, emotional
and engaging.
The problem: a weak third act, especially
painful since the first two acts are brilliant.
Also, I could not shake the fact that this is
still a basic love story, although a wonderfully
made one. If you take out the gay characters and
put in a man and woman, it would be something
that we have seen countless times before. Some
would say that this is a good thing. For me,
it's a bit distracting. In a future where,
hopefully, homosexuals are tolerated by all, "Brokeback
Mountain" may become a forgotten film.
Everything that makes it powerful is built on
the fact that this is a hot topic. If you strip
that away, once again, this is something we've
seen before.
This will probably win an Oscar for Best Picture
in a few months, so I'm definitely in a
minority...much like how I was in a minority for
"Million Dollar Baby." "Munich" remains, easily,
the best film of the year. "Brokeback Mountain"
is a fine romantic tragedy that packs a punch at
times...but not a knockout.
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