I have absolutely never seen anything like this movie before. You have to see this movie.

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

This one hits you right in the feels. 13 years later and I still sob like a baby every single time. Beautiful. Wonderful. Amazing acting. Amazing plot. Absolutely needs to be on everyone's watch list.

Consistently referred to as the "gay cowboy" film, a description that acts as a disservice to what is a much more emotionally involving drama. Two young men are recruited to wrangle sheep in Brokeback Mountain over the winter season, where their friendship rapidly escalates to a forbidden platonic relationship. Acknowledging the tricky situation, they both decide to resist their hearts and lead normal lives where they start families. Controversially, this is renowned for losing the Best Picture award to 'Crash' and I can now understand the outcry. This is an intricate romance that feels both selfish and sorrowful. Two individuals that inflict damage upon the ones that love them and themselves. Falsifying love in an attempt to live as happy families ironically cause them self-destruction, but the screenplay gently explores the reasoning behind this. You gain an understanding as to why they made these choices, even though they are both hurting themselves, which consequently allows emotional attachment to the story and characters. Following typical western genre traits, the pacing is perhaps excessively leaning towards the slow side (especially the first thirty minutes), however it allows the characterisation to seep through the dialogue and compliment the natural beauty of Wyoming's mountainous landscape. Lee's direction is purely focused on the actors, ensuring that their talent is at the forefront. Both Gyllenhaal and Ledger were absolutely outstanding as Jack and Ennis, their chemistry was beautifully enigmatic. The internal torment and sorrowful friendship that blossoms is often spiky as it is loving, yet at no point is it conveyed falsely. The highlights and low points were progressed with natural humanity. Williams and Hathaway in supporting roles also enhanced the ferocious onscreen talent as two wives that inevitably feel betrayed. I did find the scene where Gyllenhaal violently drags a sheep by its back legs as distasteful. However, this is a majestic romantic drama that is as feral as the rodeos it portrays.

I watched Brokback Mountain two days ago, 11 years after it was released, and I was deeply touched by it. Such a strong film. I cannot clearly tell why but I simply cannot get it out of my head, being haunted by scenes from the film during the day. I've been feeling absolutely melancholic for two days now. Both Ledger and Gyllenhaal acted so well at such young ages, the look in their eyes, the passion, the melancholy of impossibility, Ennis's innocence and shyness, their determination to carry on... It was all so beautiful. I suppose Ledger not being alive today makes it harder for me. Although I'd be sure that he would not read it, I could still write to him about the way his character made me feel.

Part of the major appeal to this movie is the majestic setting, the rugged mountains and wilderness. This played a defining role in the first part of the movie, when the central characters established their lifelong bond. The other appeal were the two fine actors who played the gay cowboys. I was drawn most to Jake, the dark haired, blue eyed, baby faced actor. Whenever the camera lit upon his eyes and face, it was easy to fall in love. Both actors depicted masculine, young, impoverished, rural men who were trying to find ways to eek out a living. They smoked a lot, ate a lot of beans and drank moonshine in their coffee. On camera, they did everything typical cowboys might do except burp and fart incessantly. I suppose underneath it all, they were true gentlemen. The director did a good job at convincing the viewer that these men were indeed gay, but were forced to assume a straight lifestyle due to immense societal pressure. Bisexual men, for instance, in those circumstances, probably would never have kissed so tenderly or established the lifelong intense bond these characters had. If it's just about sexual release or getting off, kissing and longevity are the first to be dismissed. In any case, the ending was somewhat disappointing because Ennis never evolved. He never overcame his paralysis about being gay and in love with another man. He was going to live ashamed and concealed for the rest of his life - this, despite it being the early 1980s, when gay culture had already evolved substantially.