Brokeback Mountain

Released: December 9, 2005

Studio: River Road Entertainment, Focus Features

Genre: romantic drama

Box Office (numbers in millions):

Domestic: 83.03 Worldwide: 178.04

Adjusted for Inflation:

Domestic: -- Worldwide: --

Directing: Ang Lee

Screenwriting: Larry McMurtry, Diana Ossana

Starring: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Michelle Williams, Linda Cardellini, Anna Faris, Randy Quaid

Review:

Brokeback Mountain is a “2005 neo-Western romantic drama” ^WK adapted from a 1997 short story by Annie Proulx. “Its plot depicts the complex romantic relationship between two American cowboys, Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, in the American West from 1963 to 1983.” ^WK

The story starts in 1963 when Ennis (Ledger) and Jack (Gyllenhaal) are hired as sheep ranchers in Wyoming. Jack makes a pass at Ennis one night after they’ve been drinking and Ennis eventually becomes receptive. He insists, however, that it was a one-time thing.

The two move on. Ennis marries Alma (Williams) and they have two daughters. Jack marries Lureen (Hathaway) and they have a son. Jack and Ennis get together over the years for private fishing trips and when their marriages disintegrate, Jack tries to convince Ennis that they should build a life together.

Cinematically, “the landscapes astound. The woods and mountains of America’s West convey a sense of serenity, as well as an air of promise.” ^HC The relationship between Jack and Ennis seems to be comprised of “aggression, conflict, and confused passion” ^HC without “any significant emotional or interpersonal growth.” ^HC Sadly, these are men locked into worlds of silent masculinity that keeps them from expressing themselves with complete honesty.

The film generated several controversies. While the movie is now seen “as a turning point for the advancement of queer cinema into the mainstream” ^WK it faces criticism and censorship from conservative media outlets at the time. It was also considered a shock when it lost the Best Picture Oscar to Crash, which has now become infamous as one of the least-deserving wins in Oscar history.