Brokeback Mountain is a tragedy that tugs at emotions, and through Ang Lee’s superior direction it becomes so much more than a simple romance. The love we see on screen becomes representative of all forbidden romances, taking on a far grander meaning than plainly telling the story of two cowboys who share a secretive and deep relationship. Ang Lee’s drama is a stellar example of master storytelling, his sympathy for character shining brightly, and his lead actors all perform admirably.
Ennis and Jack (Heath Ledger & Jake Gyllenhaal) are two young men who in the summer of 1963 get a job tending to sheep up on Brokeback Mountain in Wyoming. Jack is a somewhat outgoing boy, or at least compared to the silent Ennis he is, as Ennis barely opens his mouth at all, speaking only when he needs to. Over the course of the summer the two men bond, and one night after some whiskey they, almost suddenly, have sex in their tent. The two barely discuss the event afterwards, apart from mentioning that it was a “one-shot thing”, and at the end of the summer the two part ways with barely a goodbye.
Some years down the line, after Jack and Ennis have both married and had a few children each, they see each other again and quickly rekindle their passion for each other. The two continue to go away together on “fishing trips” for the next couple of years, slipping away from their routine lives to explore the elusive happiness they experience when together. The two even talk of moving away and buying a ranch together, but Ennis knows that they will never be allowed to be together in this lifetime. When he was a boy, Ennis recalls two men who shacked up together being the laughing stock of the town, and when they were beaten to death his father made sure that him and his brother saw it, forever implanting Ennis with a fear of homosexuality, and indirectly a hate for his own feelings.
Ennis and Jack (Heath Ledger & Jake Gyllenhaal) are two young men who in the summer of 1963 get a job tending to sheep up on Brokeback Mountain in Wyoming. Jack is a somewhat outgoing boy, or at least compared to the silent Ennis he is, as Ennis barely opens his mouth at all, speaking only when he needs to. Over the course of the summer the two men bond, and one night after some whiskey they, almost suddenly, have sex in their tent. The two barely discuss the event afterwards, apart from mentioning that it was a “one-shot thing”, and at the end of the summer the two part ways with barely a goodbye.
Some years down the line, after Jack and Ennis have both married and had a few children each, they see each other again and quickly rekindle their passion for each other. The two continue to go away together on “fishing trips” for the next couple of years, slipping away from their routine lives to explore the elusive happiness they experience when together. The two even talk of moving away and buying a ranch together, but Ennis knows that they will never be allowed to be together in this lifetime. When he was a boy, Ennis recalls two men who shacked up together being the laughing stock of the town, and when they were beaten to death his father made sure that him and his brother saw it, forever implanting Ennis with a fear of homosexuality, and indirectly a hate for his own feelings.
Ang Lee and writers Larry McMurty & Diana Ossana tell a very specific story here, focussing on Ennis and Jack, with no time wasted to try and analyze the societal pressures of homophobia. Instead we are beautifully and boldly shown the tale of these two men, both of whom are trapped in their bodies and minds, unable to truly live how they want to. Ennis has grown to hate himself for his thoughts, and Heath Ledger gives us a powerful and intrinsic performance as the silent Ennis. Jack on the other hand is bolder in his ambitions, praying for things to change, while reluctantly accepting his homosexuality. While Ennis internalizes any pain he has, Jack has more of a tendency to show his anguish, even visiting a gigolo in Mexico to fulfil his sexual needs. Through this personal look at these two characters, we appreciate their story far more, and in a strange way the story of Brokeback Mountain becomes so much more because of it, their tragedy in a way becomes the tragedy of all forbidden desires.
Brokeback Mountain is a wonderfully shot and terrifically acted tragedy of passion. Jack and Ennis share one of the most private secrets in the world, yet because of the time and place they live in are unable to share it even with each other as much as they would like to. Both men approach their situation differently, Ennis with a haunting fear of associating as gay, and Jack with an exhausted desire for acceptance. Ledger and Gyllenhaal present the two cowboys as deep and complex characters, and director Ang Lee puts them in a beautiful landscape and films with masterful skill and attention to emotional characteristics. Co-stars Anne Hathaway and Michelle Williams as the two men’s wives also give strong performances, showing calm and victimized characters cast into Ennis and Jack’s story not by choice. Brokeback Mountain never attempts to preach to its audience, intelligently letting its story play out for itself. The film engages with both emotion and character intently, and is a wonderful movie on many levels.
Brokeback Mountain is a wonderfully shot and terrifically acted tragedy of passion. Jack and Ennis share one of the most private secrets in the world, yet because of the time and place they live in are unable to share it even with each other as much as they would like to. Both men approach their situation differently, Ennis with a haunting fear of associating as gay, and Jack with an exhausted desire for acceptance. Ledger and Gyllenhaal present the two cowboys as deep and complex characters, and director Ang Lee puts them in a beautiful landscape and films with masterful skill and attention to emotional characteristics. Co-stars Anne Hathaway and Michelle Williams as the two men’s wives also give strong performances, showing calm and victimized characters cast into Ennis and Jack’s story not by choice. Brokeback Mountain never attempts to preach to its audience, intelligently letting its story play out for itself. The film engages with both emotion and character intently, and is a wonderful movie on many levels.