Director: Ang Lee
Starring: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal and David Harbour
‘A Meaningful Masterpiece’
Not many actors in Hollywood have made films which audiences treasure like Heath Ledger. Since his rise to fame in the 1990’s, Ledger proved to be an actor with a bright future in the industry. Whether it’s closeted cowboys, medieval knights or rebel teenagers, Ledger played several strong characters. Arguably, Ledger’s finest strength as an actor was his strong commitment towards his craft. He was one of those rare actors that always poured his heart and soul into every role. Ledger was never afraid to take risks in his career playing characters that weren’t likeable. However, in 2008 Ledger’s career came to tragic closure when he passed away from a drug overdose disaster. Ledger’s devastating death marked a huge loss for the film industry. In the wake of his heartbreaking death, Ledger left several unforgettable movies which are worth talking about.
I’m a huge fan of Ledger and adore all movies which he has produced in his career. However, “Brokeback Mountain” remains my favourite. Released in 2005, Ang Lee’s movie captured the bonds between queer cowboys. Packed with breathtaking production design, strong storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best LGBTQ movies ever made. At centre of it all is an extraordinary performance from Heath Ledger, who embodies a queer cowboy experiencing danger. Ultimately, what makes “Brokeback Mountain” a masterpiece is bold appeal. Unlike most movies about the LGBTQ community, it tackles strong themes everyone will relate to. It delivers a meaningful message about sexual identity that would resonate with everyone. A mesmerizing masterpiece about queer love, there are many strong reasons why “Brokeback Mountain” is a movie that is worth seeing.
Set in 1960’s Wyoming, “Brokeback Mountain” tells the story of two men forming a powerful bond causing tension. Heath Ledger portrays Ennis Del Mar, a closeted cowboy that seeks to find stable employment. Ennis has always kept his sexual identity a secret from his family that is unaware of his true life. However, Ennis’ life forever changes when he falls in love with Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal). Jack is a gay cowboy with dreams of his own. As the pair of cowboys develop a strong bond together, their bond is threatened by a homophobic era in which gay people face disaster. Facing a dilemma, Ennis questions whether it’s possible for him to have an affair with a man during an era marked by homophobia. Questioning his sexual identity, Ennis wonders whether he will ever be happy at a time when homosexual love is forbidden by society.
Ang Lee is a newcomer towards the stories of queer lovers. Before he directed “Brokeback Mountain”, Lee had never made an LGBTQ movie. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the lives of queer cowboys enduring tragedy but he succeeded immensely. Using captivating cinematography, Lee captures a pair of queer cowboys forming a bond on a farm that’s isolating. Lee effectively employs montages capturing the bond between a pair of queer cowboys experiencing adversity. For instance, montages elevate the farm scene. During this memorable scene, Jack and Ennis form a strong bond taking care of sheep herds together. Through montages, Lee creates a pair of queer cowboys audiences easily relate to. Montages are tricky techniques to use in knives. As Gil Junger’s “10 Things I Hate About You” suggested, montages elevate coming of age movies about teens. Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” claimed that montages are suited to commemorated comic-book movies. Nevertheless, it works well in this movie. Through captivating visuals, Lee captures frightening hardships that commemorated queer cowboys are facing.
Another commendable aspect of “Brokeback Mountain” which deserves appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, the film is extremely well made. Lee’s decision to shoot the movie in real-life farms in Wyoming is risky but works tremendously. Lee effectively utilizes real-life locales in Wyoming to capture the tensions cowboys are facing. For instance, the real-life locations elevate the farm meeting scene. During this unforgettable scene, Ennis and Jack have a tense argument questioning whether it’s possible for them to continue their love affair together. Through utilizing real-life locations, Lee captures hardships that queer cowboys go through. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Gustavo Santaollala’s music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the movie tense atmosphere capturing painful burden queer cowboys bear. Through phenomenal production design, Lee captures queer lovers that decline.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Brokeback Mountain” is a film about queer lovers that’s compelling. The film is extremely well-written, and effectively uses silence to convey queer lovers’ experience. Throughout the movie, Lee uses silence to capture tense barriers faced by queer lovers. For instance, silence elevates the reunion scene. During this unforgettable scene, Jack and Ennis face a moment of joy having an emotional reunion following many years of separation. Through sequences of silence, Lee captures lives of queer lovers facing a disturbance. Silence is a complex technique to use in movies. As Brian Helgeland’s “A Knight’s Tale” demonstrated, silence elevates classic films about medieval knights. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Lee captures the lives of gay cowboys facing a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Heath Ledger delivers one of his best career performances as Ennis. Ledger first earned appreciation for playing rebellious teenagers in dark coming of age dramas. With “Brokeback Mountain”, however, he took on his most tricky role. It isn’t simple to portray a queer cowboy facing tragedy but he succeeded immensely. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most memorable role. With mesmerizing expressions, he captures the angst, grief and resentments of a queer cowboy keeping his sexuality shrouded in secrecy. It’s a powerful performance from one of the most celebrated actors today.
Jake Gyllenhaal is fantastic as a queer cowboy which engages in a doomed affair causing a downfall. Gyllenhaal has always excelled at playing emotional heroes facing pressure, and “Brokeback Mountain” showcased his strength as an actor. Whether he is seeking to confess his feelings for queer lovers or questioning his sexual identity, Gyllenhaal utilizes strong body language to create a queer cowboy which is compelling. It’s a phenomenal performance by one of the most commemorated actors which is working today.
The supporting cast is sensational and also worthy of appreciations. David Harbour is dazzling, capturing courageous nature of a closeted cowboy seeking to keep sexuality a secret causing disaster. Michelle Williams is magnificent, capturing sadness of a woman that faces tension when she discovers that her husband is queer with heavy emotion. Lastly, Anne Hathaway deserves appreciation. As a woman married to a queer man, she brings heartfelt emotion to the movie.
Finally, “Brokeback Mountain” would earn the appreciation of everyone for capturing queer lovers facing tension. Unlike most LGBTQ films, it tackles themes everyone would relate to. It discusses universal themes such as identity, sexuality and grief which would resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be members of the LGBTQ community to appreciate it. In this regard, “Brokeback Mountain” is one of those rare movies about LGBTQ communities everyone will adore.
Fans of Heath Ledger will definitely appreciate “Brokeback Mountain” and so will audiences seeking heartfelt entertainment. A captivating drama about lovers that are queer, it honours an actor that has built a successful career.
Nearly 20 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about queer cowboys engaging in a doomed affair, it’s a riveting reminder of an actor that built an impressive career through his abilities to portray larger-than-life characters in movies which are worth celebrating years after his tragic passing caused the film industry to face despair.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 