Brokeback Mountain

A story of forbidden love.

Ennis del Mar arrives at Brokeback Mountain with only the idea of making enough money to support himself and his wife-to-be. The introverted, tight-lipped young adult's prospect of a quiet summer herding sheep is shattered when he meets friendly, rodeo cowboy Jack Twist. Jack is the exact opposite of Ennis; loud, impulsive, a dreamer - and despite their difference, they grow closer. What starts off as a steady friendship develops into something more and the summer ends too quickly.

They go their different ways; Ennis to get married to fiancée Alma and Jack to a barrel racer. Both men have children who they love dearly but it is clear there is an emptiness within them, wanting to be filled with something they both can't explain. Three years since the summer on Brokeback, Ennis comes home to find a postcard from Jack, telling him the man will be in town for a day or two to visit him. Jack comes with the intentions of rekindling their friendship but it's very clear where their 'friendship' is heading. And thus continues an affair that stretches on to become a 20 year relationship between two men, both very torn between what they want and what they are expected to do with their lives.

Originally a short story written by Anne Proulx, "Brokeback Mountain" was adapted into a screenplay and floated around Hollywood, begging to be made into the movie it was by a daring director. When Ang Lee, recovering from the blows of his criticized 'The Hulk', was instantly enraptured by the story. The cinematography was breathtaking with shots of beautiful landscapes. It had a very film-like quality about it, as in the slightly grainy feel, which gave it more sense of timelessness.

In terms of eye-candy, the protagonists are quite appetizing. Soft-spoken, blue-eyed dynamo Jake Gyllenhall plays rodeo cowboy Jack Twist whilst the late Heath Ledger plays the quiet, tight-lipped ranch hand. They look more the type of cowboys fit for a Malboro commercial than ranchwork but hey, it's Hollywood.

As for the supporting characters such as Ennis' wife Alma, they have much depth and play important roles in the progress of the story. Alma is very real and her knowledge of her husband's affair with another man is painful for the viewer; she is no ditsy, ignorant woman - rather a strong woman with strong morals.

The sex scenes were done quite tastefully - the hetero scenes more graphic, as in more nudity, whilst the single one between the men is more suggestive than visual. As for the kissing...wow, lip-locking seems to be a talent; the steamy kiss when Jack meets up with Ennis three years since their first summer together won the MTV Award for Best Kiss.

A story of forbidden love, society's pressures and the push and pulls of any relationship, Brokeback Mountain is definitely a must-see. (Though a box of tissues is much in order.)