Brokeback Mountain

Last night I finally sat down with a good friend of mine to watch Brokeback Mountain. Our hubbies were busy gaming on their computers and the kids were happily playing tornados in the bedrooms...:) Anyway, R and I had wanted to see this film for the last year and it was worth the wait. While I don't think it should have won Best Picture (which it lost to another thought-provoking movie, Crash), it was definitely ground-breaking. What sets this film apart isn't not just the love story between two cowboys spannng two decades, but the amazing cinematography that envelops the viewer so completely. The mountain backdrop was grand in scale, lush in scenery, and an amazing sight to see.

I realize the topic is controversial and polarizing, but if the moviegoer can set aside their preconceived notions and/or prejudices they might just experience the simplicity of the movie's appeal. I will admit that while I consider myself to be very open-minded, I struggled at first to accept these two talented hotties, Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger, as star-crossed lovers. I had trouble seeing past the fact that they are both straight as an arrow and well-known for dating Hollywood starlets such as Kirsten Dunst and Naomi Watts. In fact, the actress who played Heath Ledger's wife, Jennifer Williams (nominated for her role), is now his real life leading lady and mother to his child. It is a tribute to their acting skills that they made their affair so believeable and endearing. They were both nominated for Oscars, but lost out to other actors. I would strongly urge everyone to see this film, because it isn't just a movie about two gay cowboys as some chalk it up to be. It is about how love crosses all boundaries and the powerful hold it can have on all of us.