Brokeback Mountain (DVD)

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TITLE : Brokeback Mountain

RATING: ****½

CAST: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway, Randy Quaid, Graham Beckel, Anna Faris, Linda Cardellini, Roberta Maxwell, Peter McRobbie.

DIRECTOR: Ang Lee

SCREENWRITERS: Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana

BASED ON SHORT STORY: "Brokeback Mountain" by E. Annie Proulx

STUDIO: Focus ...
...when I saw the film BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, I praised his performance as "quietly haunting," which indeed it was. This was a film that most men (unfortunately) shied away from, because of the bold subject matter (read: homosexuality), though I wasn't intimidated at all. I named it one of the best films of the year, and I agree with other friends that the Academy Awards may have possibly copped out and gave the Best Picture award CRASH, though ... more

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TITLE : Brokeback Mountain

RATING: ****½

CAST: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway, Randy Quaid, Graham Beckel, Anna Faris, Linda Cardellini, Roberta Maxwell, Peter McRobbie.

DIRECTOR: Ang Lee

SCREENWRITERS: Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana

BASED ON SHORT STORY: "Brokeback Mountain" by E. Annie Proulx

STUDIO: Focus Features / River Road Entertainment

RUNNING TIME: 134 minutes

RATED: R (US) & 18 (UK); for strong sexuality, nudity, violence and language.

DVD AVAILABILITY: 6 GBP from Amazon; ASIN# B000E6ULOA

BLU-RAY AVAILABILITY: 18 GBP from Amazon; ASIN# B000IMVMFW

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PART ONE: SEPTEMBER 22, 2008

While I was sleeping, my sister woke me up and delivered some shocking news to me: 28-year-old actor Heath Ledger was found dead in his N.Y.C. apartment. While initial reports suggest that it may have been a suicide, the police still cannot determine if it was so, or---more likely---an accident. Granted, he wasn't one of my favorite actors, though when I saw the film BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, I praised his performance as "quietly haunting," which indeed it was. This was a film that most men (unfortunately) shied away from, because of the bold subject matter (read: homosexuality), though I wasn't intimidated at all. I named it one of the best films of the year, and I agree with other friends that the Academy Awards may have possibly copped out and gave the Best Picture award CRASH, though of course that is pure speculation.

As good as CRASH was, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN was a powerful, richly emotional love story, and I felt it was about time that we had a mainstream audience film that was sensitive to homosexual love and the consequences of it because of a close-minded and prejudiced society. Indeed, the film broke down all cinematic barriers when it came to on screen same-sex relationships, and it I think it's just appalling that the majority of those who saw it in the theater were either a) gay men or b) women. When the film came out, I was still in the military, and virtually everyone I talked to said they refused to see it, despite all the warranted praise it had received. In fact, they started to suspect me as gay myself, just because I WANTED to see it; needless to say, I was pissed at this accusation, though I still went to watch it while overseas and was devastated.

Watching the film again two years later, I received the exact same effect. In fact, I even found it more romantic than AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER, which I had reviewed recently…and that is considered one of the most romantic films of all time! There is just something so compelling in the relationship between Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, because it's not so much the fact they love each other, but the fact they are prevented from being together because of the circumstances they find themselves in. It's also not so much the fact that they are both in conventional marriages that they cannot be together, but the fact they would become outcasts because of a homophobic society. In 1928, when Radclyffe Hall wrote her classic book "The Well of Loneliness," it was a simple story of two lesbians who are rejected and scorned by post-Victorian society, and it was immediately banned upon its publication. Since then, same sex relationships have been virtually absent in the arts, not including literary suggestion and underground film. BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN was more than timely, as same-sex marriage and civil unions have become hot topics…and yet, many people brushed this film off nothing more than a "gay cowboy movie," which is totally unwarranted, especially considering most who labeled the film that way NEVER EVEN SAW IT!

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PART TWO: "I AIN'T NO QUEER, YOU KNOW…"

The time and place: 1963, Wyoming. Two young men come from different areas to tend sheep in the mountains. Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) is a man with a low, rough drawl who has been grown up with past demons, including an episode where he saw two men beaten to death while having an unorthodox relationship. Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) is slightly younger, more active and much more talkative. They get to know each other slowly (and patiently). They eat beans and drink whiskey. It takes time before they suppress their feelings and, eventually, make love on the mountain. The experience may have been casual, as Ennis denies the next day that he is homosexual; then again, it is because of Ennis' constant denial and disguising of his true passions which becomes a major obstacle in the consummation of their love for each other. When the summer comes to a close, Ennis and Jack, reluctantly both go their separate ways.

Almost immediately, Ennis marries a girl named Alma (the lovely Michelle Williams) and has two children; as for Jack, he goes back to work on Brokeback, but his former boss Joe Aguirre (the usually comic Randy Quaid playing against type) rejects him because me and Ennis spent too much time "stemming the rose." Instead, Jack decides to go out for rodeo competitions, and eventually meets Lureen (the equally lovely Anne Hathaway), a spirited cowgirl who loves to ride horses…and when she meets Jack, she is more than willing to ride him. They get married and have a child of their own. Indeed, time has passed and their lives have changed, but Jack boldly contacts Ennis, and they arrange a meeting. As soon as they see each other, they kiss passionately; while Alma catches them, she is intimidated but soon brushes it off. What fuels her suspicions is when Jack and Ennis go on several fishing trips…and return every time with no fish!

Needless to say, their relationship is regenerated, though it comes with prices to pay for both of them…

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PAR T THREE: A UNIVERSAL LOVE STORY

The original story of "Brokeback Mountain" was written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist E. Annie Proulx (THE SHIPPING NEWS), and was subsequently adapted into a screenplay by Larry McMurtry (of "Lonesome Dove" fame) and his frequent collaborator Diane Ossana. Both of them won Oscars as well as Golden Globes, which I feel are both well deserved, and the reason why I say that is because this is a realistic love story which is painfully true to life and, yet, this type of relationship hasn't really been explored so much in depth before. (Surely, I can imagine those who could relate to Jack's and Ennis' situation will find the film more difficult to watch than most.) The story may be somewhat traditional (in terms of "forbidden" love stories), though it is still eloquently told; in short, it is written from the heart. Much of the dialogue that was given to Ennis, in particular, is chilling to hear, because of how emotionally complex his character is. The irony is that even though he is the "dominant" one in the relationship, he is more submissive to his emotions in a lonely state; as for Jack, he must look for was to relieve those emotions…like going to Mexico and hooking up with a male prostitute.

Director Ang Lee (who also won an Oscar) gets behind to camera to film BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN and he makes many wise choices along the way. For one thing, he ensures that we understand and share in Alma's pain as well as her husband and Jack's. Secondly, he manages to not only dodge clichés but also prevent any of the tragic characters from falling into laughable lamentations. While respecting Proulx's story as well as the adapted screenplay, Lee remarkably keeps the themes and romance in cinematic check; most of all, he completely avoids gay stereotypes. Aiding Lee immeasurably is Rodrigo Prieto, whose cinematography is absolutely breathtaking. The beauty of the mountainous landscape is captured here exquisitely, rivaling even some of the famous shots in THE SOUND OF MUSIC---an odd comparison, I admit. A third Academy Award went to Gustavo Santaolalla's intensely romantic score, a nice companion piece to his score for another great 2005 film, NORTH COUNTRY. Despite the sexual orientations of the principals, this film has all the ingredients necessary to make it a memorable love story, making it no different than all mainstream films featuring heterosexual relationships.

Some of you may remember that Jake Gyllenhaal burst upon the acting scene as Billy Crystal's son in the hit 1991 comedy CITY SLICKERS. However, his big break came in 1999 when he played the lead in OCTOBER SKY, the winning true story of a high school boy who wants to shoot off rockets. Jake---like his sister Maggie---is one of those actors that may have good looks, however he doesn't take roles to capitalize on those looks. Aside from having real balls to take the role of Jack Twist in BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, he also has had noteworthy performances in THE GOOD GIRL and last year's ZODIAC. Gyellenhaal managed to snag an Oscar nod as Twist, and his character's frustration is just as affecting as Ellis.' It's a great performance (check out his final scene together with Ledger), though I actually rooted for Matt Dillon to win for CRASH; eventually, George Clooney beat 'em both for SYRIANA.

The ladies that Lee chose for this film include Anne Hathaway, who completely shatters her PRINCESS DIARIES image (along with another 2005 film called HAVOC where she played a white "wigger girl"…though that film sucked) with an excellent dramatic performance (complete with a flawless Western accent) as the fun loving cowgirl that falls in love with Jack. Also impressive is Michelle Williams, who I barely recognized, despite the fact I remembered her from certain films like DICK and HALLOWEEN H20; I know, I know, she most recognized from her role as Jen Lindley in TV's "Dawson's Creek." Her realizations (and facial reactions) of her husband and his relationship with Jack is just priceless, that it's almost impossible not to sympathize with her. Anna Faris (the SCARY MOVIE films) has a small role as a bar girl that Ennis meets later in the film, and Randy Quaid---despite only having a handful of scenes---is potent as the Brokeback boss.

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PAR T FOUR: IN MEMORIAM

I was born on April 4, 1979 in Fairfax, Virginia; on that same day, Heathcliff Andrew Ledger was born in Perth, Australia. Like Gyllenhaal, the actor made his break in 1999, playing in 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU, a teen version of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew." Incidentally, he left for Hollywood shortly before I visited Sydney, where he had been a string of low budget efforts. There is no denying that Ledger had looks, though he refused to be exploited on celluloid because of them. He decided to play Mel Gibson's son in the 2000 film THE PATRIOT, and then got the starring role of Sir William Thatcher in the abysmal (though oddly likeable) A KNIGHT'S TALE. He got even better roles in the remakes of NED KELLY and THE FOUR FEATHERS, as well as the Oscar-winning drama MONSTER'S BALL. A disaster of a thriller called THE ORDER didn't really help, though he soon got the performance of a lifetime in BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, which secured him an Oscar nod at the age of 26.

Ledger's Ennis Del Mar maybe a man of few words, but his brooding delivery and closeted passion makes him a three-dimensional character. Watching the film again, I had forgotten about that powerful moment where he says goodbye to Jack Twist after their summer job on Brokeback. As Jack drives off, Ennis goes into a shed, gets down on his knees and looks as if he is about to vomit. We realize that Jack virtually drove off with his heart and that it is going to take awhile for him to recover. It is only when he insists on making love to his wife from behind that we realize that his feelings for Jack haven't ceased, not including the realization that he just doesn't love Alma the same way. As much as he wants to be with Jack, the only way to make the relationship work in such prejudiced times is to continually meet him on Brokeback Mountain, which becomes their sanctuary…their one place to be honest with each other. When he is off the mountain, he continually battles with what his heart harbors and what his mind makes him do.

Ledger gives the finest performance of the film, and that is exactly what I thought in 2005 when I first saw the film. His death was completely unexpected, and thus it's going to be difficult to watch him as the deranged Joker in the upcoming DARK KNIGHT, Christopher Nolan's sequel to BATMAN BEGINS. While there are many out there who still refuse to see BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, I want to tell those individuals right now that they are missing out on an unbelievable and unforgettable performance. Incidentally, Ledger and his co-star Williams had gotten engaged and even had a daughter, though they had split several months before, which lends itself to the question on whether his death was an accident or a suicide. Still, this is not the time for speculation; the bottom line is that Ledger was an immense talent, and a truly tremendous loss; I wish to dedicate this review to him and his grieving family.

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PAR T FIVE: THE DVD FROM FOCUS FEATURES

In 2006, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN was nominated for eight Academy Awards, for Best Picture, Actor, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress (Williams), Cinematography, Adapted Screenplay, Music Score, and Director, though it only won for the latter three. Granted, I didn't think it was the best film of the year, and while the superior performances by Ledger and Gyllenhaal were noteworthy, they were both up against many seasoned veterans who also turned in outstanding performances (Ledger lost to Phillip Seymour Hoffman in CAPOTE). However, I'm firmly convinced that the Oscars copped out by giving the award to CRASH though, here again that is simply pure speculation. However, the high acclaim and dozens of accolades (including a BAFTA award for Best Film) that were given to BROKEBACK were undeniable, and I believe it did break ground as far as the acceptance of same-sex relationships are concerned, and that perhaps will be the film's legacy. However, the elements, from the script to the direction to the performances, that were mixed together create the film is what really gives it its excellence.

Unfortunately, the DVD of the film is somewhat disappointing. Even though the film looks just as glorious as it did on the big screen (especially in anamorphic widescreen), the special features is where the disc suffers. There isn't a commentary, just four mini-featurrettes: "Directing from the Heart: Ang Lee," "From Script to Screen: Interviews with Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana," "Sharing the Story: The Making of Brokeback Mountain (the best of the lot), and finally "Becoming a Cowboy." The interviews are all good (especially Randy Quaid's), though some border on promotional rather than informative. Sonically, the Dolby Digital soundtrack is perfectly fine, and the film can be viewed in English, French, and Spanish subtitles. Perhaps we will soon get a special edition soon, though we will have to see.

In conclusion, while BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN may be (unfortunately) remembered by some as simply the "gay cowboy movie," I will never forget it because of its superb storytelling and exceptional characterizations. Ledger may be a revelation in this film, though the supporting cast matches him on nearly every level. Granted, many of Ledger's films may be rented this week, though I think this one will be the hardest to get. Plus, while I am looking forward to the THE DARK KNIGHT, I think many will agree with me that there will be a haunting affect while watching Ledger as the Joker, probably much more so than his Ennis Del Mar. Like many young, talented actors like River Phoenix and Brandon Lee, Ledger's passing will became a legend in many circles. The DVD of BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN is available from Amazon for only 6 GBP; it is also available on Blu-Ray for 18 GBP, in addition to the soundtrack and Proulx's story in paperback. Thank you for reading and have a great day! Chris :)

R.I.P. Heath Ledger (1979-2008) 

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