Brokeback Mountain

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Summary:
Two cowboys watch over a flock of sheep in 1963, and even though they aren't 'gay', they become lovers.  Over several years, the pain of their love for one another and the secret to their own wives and kids becomes harder to deal with.

Review:
Upon seeing the previews, I didn't know what to think of this movie going in. I don't mind a movie about gay lovers, that's fine. What I didn't dig were some of the setups cinematically that looked like it was screaming for Oscar (such as the fireworks at night, or some carefully framed two-shots). Add to that the horrible quote, "I wish I knew how to quit you!" which I had only hoped was taken out of the proper context of the emotional value of that scene.
In terms of cinematography, it's decent, but never really blew me away. A lot of the exterior shots out in the boonies were pretty standard stuff, really, and there were hardly any flashy quick-cuts (thank God) and badly paced editing. This is a straight-up drama, and it should rely more upon the actors' performances than anything else. While Lee didn't portray the same visual flare and exhuberance of Robert Redford's work, it did what it needed to do. Plus, the fireworks at night shot worked a lot better for the movie watching it than during the preview. The context of the moment really gives those fireworks some flare! As for the quote, well, it was part of a monologue so it wasn't as painful to hear.
I did like Brokeback Mountain more than I didn't, and I think the last 20 minutes were the best. My biggest complain is that it moves too damned slow. After an hour, I thought two hours already passed, and I was getting impatient. It was still good enough to watch, but I almost felt like leaving because of the dreadful pace. Once the third act strolled in, I was intrigued with both these guys' predicaments, and wondered how things would pan out between them.
Some say they didn't like the ending, but I didn't feel too strongly about it one way or another. What I don't get is a quick-cut to Jack while Ennis was on the phone (no spoilers so I won't go further into it)... I wonder if it was a TRUE moment, or just something that was imagined...? I am a little unclear on that one, and I'm sure it was left for interpretation. It works either way. Ledger and Gyllenhaal both did a great job as Ennis and Jack, but Williams, Hathaway, and Cardellini were also fantastic as the romantic interests over the several years that this movie takes place. ESPECIALLY Michelle Williams; I really felt sorry for that woman.

Not much else to say about Brokeback Mountain. I really wanted to make a funny, pun-filled review, but it's being done all over the net, so I kept with the rainbow colors, and the first sentence of the first two paragraphs, and that's about it. Hehe. It's a very good movie as long as you can handle the painfully slow pacing. The performances are where it's at, as well as the well-handled and unique premise. I can't rate it higher, simply because it was way too slow for my tastes.

GRADE:  B-

Reviewed: 12/18/05