Brokeback Mountain: Review

6th July 2023

Brokeback Mountain: Review. By Richard Schertzer.

It’s a tale as old as time. In this non-traditional love story, audiences are introduced to Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist. The two men work as herders for sheep around Brokeback Mountain. As the two work more closely with each other, they develop romantic feelings for one another.

However, after their stint as ranchers comes to an end, the two remorsefully part ways and marry différent women to hide their homosexuality for fear of being ridiculed. That becomes the main focus of the story as the two men struggle to cope with their sexuality in a world that would not accept them if they did.

Let’s start with the awkwardness that occurs in the first scene alone. Heath Ledger’s Ennis and Jake Gyllenhaal’s performances can almost cut the tension with a knife without even uttering a word. The sex scenes might be a little bit rushed, but it makes for an emotional thrill ride that has entertained audiences for ages.

When getting to the core of this movie, it is very obvious that Ang Lee directs with a sharp precision for emotional detail and a fanatical sense of understanding of that community during that period of time from the 1960s to the 80s. This rift in identity and not being able to live the life that you want is incredibly heart-breaking and we are introduced to a pair of men that struggle with that identity crisis every day.

This film has been hailed as one of the best LGBTQ films of the century. It’s a story of forbidden love and two star-crossed lovers that even William Shakespeare would blush at. Seeing the film almost twenty years later only means that it has aged like fine wine and is still the same landmark film that has astonished audiences since its release.

It’s plain to see that this movie is always going to be relevant in the gay community and there’s a good reason why. It’s unbelievably great.

Rating: 9/10

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