Indie Gems: Brokeback Mountain

Do not call this the "gay cowboy movie."

Seriously, it's one of my biggest pet peeves to date. This movie deserves so much more than that moniker. It's truly one of the greatest love stories of all time.

Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) is a quite ranch hand who takes up a job herding sheep on Brokeback Mountain. It's there that he meets Jack Twist, (Jake Gyllenhaal) a charismatic rodeo cowboy from Texas. Jack attempts to break Ennis's tough exterior, and he eventually does. The two fall in love, but they live in a time where they cannot share this love in public. They part, they marry, Ennis to Alma, (Michelle Williams) and Jack to Lureen. (Anne Hathaway) They have children, they work hard, but they start to meet for fishing trips annually, still trying to hide their relationship. It's only when Alma catches them in a passionate moment that things become a bit more difficult.

It's hard to explain what I love the most about this film. The direction, the sweeping cinematography, the beautiful score, the fantastic breakthrough performances from the cast. Ledger, Gyllenhaal, Williams, and Hathaway had plenty films under their belts prior, but this film really kick-started them as being "critically acclaimed." Oscar noms (and one win) have followed for all four. I found this movie to be tragic to begin with, but even more so after Heath Ledger's death. It's a damn shame we'll never be able to see more of the greatness he provided us on screen. I remember when this didn't win Best Picture at the Oscars my jaw literally dropped. I didn't watch the Oscars when Shakespeare in Love beat Saving Private Ryan, so this was the biggest upset in my viewing years. That final scene of Ennis opening his closet to see his and Jack's shirts hanging neatly together gets me every time.

Recommended: Yes

Grade: A+

Memorable Quote: "Jack..I swear.." - Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger)