“Brokeback Mountain” has “few, minute good points” (Print-friendly)
02/16/06
By Renee DeFloria,
Staff Writer
My body pulsated with anticipation as I was handed my ticket. It was wrapped in a pure rant, rave, and enthusiasm about how beautiful and great the movie was. “Enjoy the film!” the cashier beamed. A little more excitement rushed through me.
Nearly two months earlier I anxiously waited for the highly acclaimed release of Ang Lee’s “Brokeback Mountain.” I even boasted my eagerness in the December 8 issue of the Setonian under the upcoming winter flicks.
Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal star in “Brokeback Mountain”
My friend and I swore we would see it the following day for its release, but were disappointed to find that it was limited to New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. I began a new mental countdown until it was out on DVD so I could rent it and cure my insatiable satisfaction to see Jake Gyllenaal and Heath Ledger in contentious, but poignant roles.
Good news was delivered to my e-mail box as my friend told me the film was gracing the city of Pittsburgh. The very night of its release, we headed to Loews Theatre at The Waterfront where my short-termed goal was fulfilled.
“Brokeback Mountain” chronicles the lives of two young men seeking summertime work at a nearby ranch.
Ledger’s character, Ennis, was more quiet and private while focusing on the task at hand whereas Gyllenhaal’s character, Jack, is more playful and lives for the moment. As time unravels, Ennis begins to open up to Jack in the few moments that they do get to spend together (they each work apart on the ranch). Jack tells of his love for the rodeo and Ennis voices his father’s disapproval of it.
As the situation would have it, a cold night leaves Ennis sleeping outside by dwindling campfire, while Jack sleeps in a warm and protected tent. Hearing Ennis’ struggle to not shiver from the cold, Jack demands that Ennis sleep in the tent with him.
One moment the two are sharing a tent together and two seconds later the audience is viewing a very oddly introduced and placed love scene. One second the actors are getting to know one another, and the next they are sharing a romantic scene. What I thought was going to be a sweeping story of the testaments of true love was starting out like every other Hollywood film, “first date results in sleeping together.” I guess you can call me old-fashioned?
Of course, throughout other scenes in the film you get to experience Ennis and Jack’s relationship and friendship growing, but all the while I felt there was something missing. I was surprised to find that the movie was unfolding exactly how I thought it wouldn’t.
The actors’ relationship was built entirely upon their limited time spent together while working on the ranch and continues with random meetings and hideaways throughout the rest of the film. At one point, Ledger’s character even gets married (to Michelle Williams’ character, Alma) and has children but continues to sneak off with Jack to “Brokeback Mountain.” Alma sees Jack and Ennis kissing in a hallway outside and learns early in the film of his true relationship to Jack, however she says nothing about it until the nearly the end. Eventually Jack meets his own wife Lureen (played by Anne Hathaway) and the two have their own child. This of course does not keep Jack from sneaking off to see Ennis. I’m assuming this was intended to show the trials and tribulations of a forbidden love in the 1960’s, but I didn’t feel anything for the main actors. Possibly because I just wasn’t persuaded that this was a story of true love rather than a secretive lust for something different in their lives.
Overall, I felt very distant from this film for the entire two hours.
Personally, I find that a good, believable love story is one that should make the audience feel as if they too are falling in love and living the film’s conflicts and resolutions. This just wasn’t the case in my opinion of “Brokeback Mountain.” Even in the film’s most tragic and heart-rending scenes, I struggled to connect with the actors and with the overall plot. Not even a tear was shed on my part (which is highly unusual, seeing that I’m an avid viewer of Hollywood’s sappy and not so sappy love stories).
This was one of the most highly acclaimed films of the year and collector of eight Academy Awards. I left feeling confused and possibly biased because I could not understand what the Hollywood hype was about. The only great remarks I can make about the film is Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal’s courage to portray such controversial roles as well as the vast and sweeping cinematography throughout the film.
Other than its few, minute good points, critics can argue with me but I’ll rest with a C- for Lee’s current effort.
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