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By CityBrokeback Mountain
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Brokeback MountainLove is a Force of Nature
2006-01-27
Article Written by: Sami Jo
Brokeback Mountain is easily the most compelling and daring film of the year (2005) and simply the best love story that’s come out of Hollywood in quite some time. While it just came to local theaters this past weekend, the film actually opened on December 9th. The film recently received seven Golden Globe Nominations and won in four categories, including Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Director (Ang Lee), Best Screenplay and Best Original Song (“A Love that Will Never Grow Old”). Additionally, the film was nominated for Best Actor (Heath Ledger), Best Supporting Actress (Michelle Williams) and Best Original Score. Michelle Williams deserved the award for her dynamic portrayal of a homosexual man’s wife.
Based on the short story by E. Annie Proulx, Brokeback Mountain tells the story of a rodeo cowboy and a ranch hand who meet in the summer of 1963, working on Brokeback Mountain. Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) form a forbidden and secret relationship that outlasts time. While they lived in different states, and each of them married and had children, they met when they could—back at Brokeback— to continue their love affair. The movie follows the duration of their lives and beautifully conveys the agony and torture people feel when they cannot be with the one they love.
Ang Lee (Hulk) directs this remarkable cast to give many extraordinary performances. Jake Gyllenhaal (Jarhead) and Heath Ledger (A Knights Tale), both heterosexual, produce an on-screen chemistry unseen to date. Michelle Williams (The WB’s "Dawson’s Creek") gives an utterly amazing performance as Ennis’ wife, who catches her husband kissing a man. Anne Hathaway (The Princess Diaries) plays a small role as Jack’s wife. Kate Mara (Random Hearts) is an actress to keep and eye on. She plays Ennis’ daughter at age 19. With her wholesome, but mysterious looks and quality performance, she is sure to become a powerful star.
Final Thought: It seems that many people won’t see this film because the love affair takes place between two men…if you are too homophobic to see this remarkable film that has already impacted cinema history, it’s your loss.
