Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain, filmed in Alberta, initially generated buzz as a “Gay Cowboy Movie.” Now that it has been released, it is generating buzz for Oscar night instead, and for good reason. The film is absolutely stunning; beyond a doubt one of the best pictures of the year.

The story is about two cowboys, Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal of Jarhead and The Day After Tomorrow) and Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger of A Knights Tale and The Brothers Grimm), who meet when they are hired to tend sheep on Brokeback Mountain. One night they go a little heavy on the whiskey, and while they huddle together for warmth, their desire for each other breaks free.

Eventually they leave Brokeback Mountain and go their separate ways. Ennis marries Alma (Michelle Williams of Dawson’s Creek) and has two daughters, while Jack eventually settles down with Laureen Newsome (Anne Hathaway, The Princess Diaries) and has a son. The story progresses over twenty years, as the men plan regular “fishing trips” in order to be together. Yet they still remain apart because, while Twist desperately wants Del Mar to be with him in all aspects of life, Del Mar yields to the harsh pressure of society despite his wish for the same. He is haunted by a chilling childhood experience, which is enough to convince him that they can’t be together except when they are alone in the wilderness.

While the cinematography is gorgeous, it is the tragic story and talented actors that make the film stand out. Ledger and Gyllenhaal put on the performances of their lives – they transmit their pain, love, lust, and heartache with their body language or a simple look. Subtle changes in their make up, personality, and voice age them from young men to mature adults pushing forty. Williams deserves a best supporting actress nomination for her role as Alma, the wife who discovers her husband’s secret and has to deal with her own pain that stems from it.

Much has been made of the gay theme of Brokeback Mountain. To dub it as just a “Gay Cowboy Movie” is unfair and inaccurate. This is a classic story that has been told before; inter-racial lovers, upper and lower class, Romeo and Juliet. It’s a story about wanting someone with all your heart, but life just won’t allow you to keep them. It’s about being human – a story that anyone can identify with. As I write these words 24 hours after seeing the film, I am still thinking about it, its images and story still linger in my mind. This is common, judging from others who have seen the movie, and I can expect it to remain with me for a long time to come.

A movie that leaves one so emotional and awestruck is truly brilliant filmmaking.

Brokeback Mountain
Now playing in theatres
www.brokebackmountain.com