Brokeback Mountain

I entered the theater with trepidation. More times than not, when a movie has been as glorified by critics and the media as "Brokeback Mountain" has been, I get burned. "In the Bedroom" and, more recently, "A History of Violence" were powerful but seriously depressing. Then there was the whole "Sideways" experience from last year. So disappointing! Suffice it to say, "Brokeback" is definitely better than "Sideways", but I still wasn't blown away.

Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal star as sheep-herding cowboys Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist in 1963 Wyoming. Ennis is a man of few words, and barely moves his mouth when he does speak. Jack has done some time on the rodeo circuit in Texas, but neither has made much of their lives. The two first meet in the summer of '63 when they are hired to tend a large herd of sheep on Brokeback Mountain, keeping them safe from wolves and other ranchers.

The original plan was for one of them to tend to the camp while the other kept an eye on the sheep. This soon becomes extremely boring and monotonous, bringing them closer together as friends and tent mates. It doesn't take long, however, for their relationship to develop into a sexual one, with each finding solace with the other, and finally being able to experience and share feelings of love. Knowing they were in Wyoming, and in 1963, both realize their relationship can go no further than that summer on Brokeback.

Years move ahead, with both men getting married, having kids, and establishing lives apart, though still longing for each other. Then, one random day, Jack contacts Ennis. Their relationship soon turns into frequent "fishing trips", though Ennis' wife (an amazing Michelle Williams) begins to notice that no fish ever seem to be caught. While Jack and Ennis continue to maintain a hidden partnership, their lives at home continue to unravel. It's only when they are together that they seem to have confidence in themselves. Without each other, they simply exist.

"Brokeback" would not work if the acting wasn't there, and that truly is its strength. Heath Ledger is simply outstanding as Ennis. It's hard to imagine that this is the same guy from "10 Things I Hate About You". Again, Michelle Williams makes it clear that she has moved well beyond Dawson's Creek. The biggest struggle that I had with the movie was trying to find a chemistry between Jack and Ennis. While the acting is solid, I never truly believed that there was love between the two. It wasn't until the very end that I felt any real emotion. In the end, "Brokeback Mountain" is more than a "gay cowboy movie" as some have labeled it. This is a character-based story, not trying to find a moral to the story or to preach a lesson. Instead, it's a look at relationships complicated by societal expectations and love that cannot be expressed. There are pieces here that are great, but the overall whole keeps me from declaring this to be outstanding. I give it a B.

"Brokeback Mountain" is rated R with a running time of 134 minutes.