Two shepherds fall for each other, but their relationship becomes complicated when they both get married to their respective girlfriends.Two shepherds fall for each other, but their relationship becomes complicated when they both get married to their respective girlfriends.Two shepherds fall for each other, but their relationship becomes complicated when they both get married to their respective girlfriends.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
- Won 3 Oscars
- 141 wins & 133 nominations total
Dave Trimble
- Basque
- (as David Trimble)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
7.7409.8K
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Summary
Reviewers say 'Brokeback Mountain' evokes profound emotions, exploring love, loneliness, and societal repression. The film is praised for powerful storytelling, exceptional acting, and beautiful cinematography. Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal's performances are highlighted for depth and authenticity. However, some find the pacing slow and the plot lacking. The portrayal of a same-sex relationship in a conservative setting is both celebrated for its boldness and critiqued for lacking emotional depth. Overall, 'Brokeback Mountain' is seen as significant and impactful, though opinions on its execution vary.
Featured reviews
Six years later, it hits even harder.
I've always admired this film to a certain extent, but I think the thing that always kept me from loving it was that it never resonated with me emotionally. I would get attached while watching it, but all of those feelings would leave me fairly soon afterward. It had been about five years since I'd seen the film, and in that time I have grown up a lot, fallen in love, had my heart ripped to shreds and fallen back in love again and I think this growth personally has really opened me up to a place in my mind and heart to embrace this film more than most other screen romances that exist. Almost immediately it hit me harder than it had before and after a day since I watched it, the pain and heartache I experienced during it still remains at my core.
It's a love film told non-traditionally, but not because it's two men, that doesn't even factor into the depiction of it. It's nontraditional because it's two people fighting against the love and it's accuracy in this is startling. How there are times where you can hate the person you love, hate so many things about them and hate that you are in love with them, but you can't give it up at all. You can't walk away from it because it's like an addiction and I think this film more than any before it captures that remarkably.
A lot of this lies in the writing, but of course the performances from Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal certainly play a key factor in capturing it. Their characters take the love in different forms, Ennis fighting himself over it and Jack fighting the world because of it, but both actors capture exactly what they need to and bring this magnetism that really sparks. Gyllenhaal's openness is beautiful, his determination to make the love work and to just exist the way he wants to, he definitely provides the emotional anchor for the film and gives a heartbreaking portrayal.
It's Ledger, of course, who steals the show though, with a kind of transcendent performance that we're treated to maybe once a decade. He becomes this character in such a vivid way that you don't even recognize the actor inside the role anymore. Gyllenhaal is Jack and hits the surface notes expertly, but you can still see Jake Gyllenhaal in there. Heath Ledger is completely gone and from the very beginning of the film we have Ennis and we have him until the very end. This character is an incredibly difficult one to take on, he could have easily been someone who was hard to like or sympathize with due to his internalizing and his refusal to fully embrace the relationship and who he is, but that's what makes it hit even harder, thanks to Ledger's brutal work.
You see the pain in this person living a lie in every moment we have with him, with that turned in mouth and speech pattern that always sounds like it's hurting him to let anything out because he's afraid of how people are going to react. It's a performance unlike any other out there and in the end it's one that brings me to my knees. "Jack, I swear," was always a line that floored me when I was watching it but now it's at a point where just thinking of the line and the way that Ledger delivers it brings some water to my eyes.
It's a love film told non-traditionally, but not because it's two men, that doesn't even factor into the depiction of it. It's nontraditional because it's two people fighting against the love and it's accuracy in this is startling. How there are times where you can hate the person you love, hate so many things about them and hate that you are in love with them, but you can't give it up at all. You can't walk away from it because it's like an addiction and I think this film more than any before it captures that remarkably.
A lot of this lies in the writing, but of course the performances from Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal certainly play a key factor in capturing it. Their characters take the love in different forms, Ennis fighting himself over it and Jack fighting the world because of it, but both actors capture exactly what they need to and bring this magnetism that really sparks. Gyllenhaal's openness is beautiful, his determination to make the love work and to just exist the way he wants to, he definitely provides the emotional anchor for the film and gives a heartbreaking portrayal.
It's Ledger, of course, who steals the show though, with a kind of transcendent performance that we're treated to maybe once a decade. He becomes this character in such a vivid way that you don't even recognize the actor inside the role anymore. Gyllenhaal is Jack and hits the surface notes expertly, but you can still see Jake Gyllenhaal in there. Heath Ledger is completely gone and from the very beginning of the film we have Ennis and we have him until the very end. This character is an incredibly difficult one to take on, he could have easily been someone who was hard to like or sympathize with due to his internalizing and his refusal to fully embrace the relationship and who he is, but that's what makes it hit even harder, thanks to Ledger's brutal work.
You see the pain in this person living a lie in every moment we have with him, with that turned in mouth and speech pattern that always sounds like it's hurting him to let anything out because he's afraid of how people are going to react. It's a performance unlike any other out there and in the end it's one that brings me to my knees. "Jack, I swear," was always a line that floored me when I was watching it but now it's at a point where just thinking of the line and the way that Ledger delivers it brings some water to my eyes.
This movie broke my heart.
For all of those who are holding back from watching this movie because it is "gay" or has love scenes between two men...oh! This movie has nothing to do with sex...and to be honest, I don't feel that it has much to do with homosexuality. This is the most beautiful and profoundly sad love story I have ever come across, and the fact that it is a love between two men is beside the point. It's about a love between two people who cannot be together, but if human beings were better at being human, and if the world was a better place, they would have lived out their lives side by side. I was so, so moved. AMAZING!!!! A must see.
One perfect summer and a life of cruel compromises - heartbreaking
This movie exceeded my already high expectations. It's exceptionally realised - the direction is superb and the acting is excellent. I was entranced by the story from the very outset. I empathised with the characters to the point of actual heartbreak. This is a film of such honesty; tackling a topic that is still a taboo in today's "liberal" society. How many movies have you seen that portray gay love in a sensitive, non-judgmental fashion? There are several moments when, even if you find it difficult to deal with the physical depiction of homosexual love (even though it's not at all graphic), viewers who value love won't be able to prevent themselves from empathising with the characters - Ennis' reaction when he has to leave Jack for the first time and when, during their argument at their last meeting, Ennis says something that is heartbreaking in its poignancy.
These lovers - the open-hearted Jack and the silent, suffering Ennis - shared one perfect summer and much of the rest of their lives is a cruel compromise - simply because the world won't allow their love.
Like all truly good movies, Brokeback Mountain stays with you long after the last image fades from the screen. It makes you question your preconceptions and hopefully makes you want to make the world a place where all people are free to love whom they want as they please.
These lovers - the open-hearted Jack and the silent, suffering Ennis - shared one perfect summer and much of the rest of their lives is a cruel compromise - simply because the world won't allow their love.
Like all truly good movies, Brokeback Mountain stays with you long after the last image fades from the screen. It makes you question your preconceptions and hopefully makes you want to make the world a place where all people are free to love whom they want as they please.
10adbabin
Brokeback Mountain
Finally got to watch the 'Brokeback Mountain' movie on DVD, and I have found it to be one of the most inspiring love stories - especially gay love stories. I have already watched it two times and plan to watch it some more! Heath and Jake did a very great job portraying these characters of Ennis and Jack. I strongly encourage that everyone watch the movie, and I hope that it will help whoever looks down on gay love relationship realize that there are many different kinds of love for everyone in all aspects. Gay love relationship should not be considered as a taboo, but as a pure love beyond imagination. The movie made me think of how gay life must be like in the early 1960's and how it has changed in the last 40 years. More and more societies are starting to accept gay love relationship, and I am sure this movie will make everyone think. Ang Lee did a superb job making this movie, and I hope he and other directors will make more movies like this one in the years to come.
The Finest Hour for Two Young Actors
I have viewed Brokeback Mountain a total of three times on a 50 inch plasma. I spaced my views almost six months apart so I could grasp more completely and without prejudice, how I would rate this flick.
It is beyond a doubt an American classic and looking back I regret so profoundly the death of Heath, who played Enis. The amount of acting skill and diversity it took to do such a touching and completely honest job, makes this young man, Heath Ledger, a legend.
The scenes in the Brokeback were beautiful and allowed me to imagine somehow I was transformed back in time watch these young men.
The truth is neither one of the characters was entirely gay, rather bisexual, but they did find each other as their own natural soul mates.
Unfortunately cultural prejudice and homophobia prevented them from doing what Jack Twist had dreamed, ranching together on his father's spread.
The final scenes are absolutely acted with such depth of character, the viewer is taken to tears. The Brokeback will not have Jack's ashes, since even in death, the culture denies him his final request, his ashes spread upon the Brokeback.
Many of the bigots who have posted here on this fine cinema should be ashamed as they bray their ignorance for all to read.
A fine film and probably one of the top love stories of all time in film.
It is beyond a doubt an American classic and looking back I regret so profoundly the death of Heath, who played Enis. The amount of acting skill and diversity it took to do such a touching and completely honest job, makes this young man, Heath Ledger, a legend.
The scenes in the Brokeback were beautiful and allowed me to imagine somehow I was transformed back in time watch these young men.
The truth is neither one of the characters was entirely gay, rather bisexual, but they did find each other as their own natural soul mates.
Unfortunately cultural prejudice and homophobia prevented them from doing what Jack Twist had dreamed, ranching together on his father's spread.
The final scenes are absolutely acted with such depth of character, the viewer is taken to tears. The Brokeback will not have Jack's ashes, since even in death, the culture denies him his final request, his ashes spread upon the Brokeback.
Many of the bigots who have posted here on this fine cinema should be ashamed as they bray their ignorance for all to read.
A fine film and probably one of the top love stories of all time in film.
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Did you know
- TriviaHeath Ledger adamantly shut down any homophobic jokes at the Academy Awards, as he felt it demeaned a really moving love story.
- GoofsWhen Cassie dances with Ennis the first time (in the late 1970s), the jukebox is playing Steve Earle's revamped version of "The Devil's Right Hand," which first came out in 1987-8.
- Quotes
Jack Twist: Tell you what... the truth is... sometimes I miss you so much I can hardly stand it.
- ConnectionsEdited into 5 Second Movies: Brokeback Mountain (2008)
- SoundtracksThe Cowboy's Lament
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Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Secreto en la montaña
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $14,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $84,111,816
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $547,425
- Dec 11, 2005
- Gross worldwide
- $179,139,792
- Runtime
- 2h 14m(134 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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