Brokeback Mountain

Just like a children's picture book, this picture puzzle is filmed in an incredibly captivating way and the characters stand out beautifully. However, the film completely misses any deeper emotional impact in its picturesqueness, which is unfortunately due to the very careful handling of the provocative subject matter. This is due to the fact that if the relationship had been developed between heterosexuals, it would have been the perfect essence of kitsch, which, with the subject of homosexuality, seems more like a cheap pose than an effort to demystify not only the Wild West and cowboys as tough guys, but homosexuality itself. (11/05/2006)

Dragged-out like nothing else on earth. Among the plus points we have Lee’s directing in isolated scenes, the acting performances and the believable relations between characters... But everything gets overshadowed by dog-weariness so great, that it doesn’t allow you to immerse yourself in to the movie (or penetrate in this case?). I personally would have appreciated it if Gyllenhaal and Ledger had swapped their roles, because the latter doesn’t fit the silent type at all, even though he does a good job of it. (10/19/2007)

A much more demanding film than it may seem at first glance. Ang Lee approaches a sensitive subject completely differently than I expected, without overflowing with emotions, and the viewer interprets everything solely through glances and sparingly dosed actions. But when it comes to confession, it is powerful. With complete superlatives, given the excessively wide shots, I would spare, but it captivates with atmosphere or the performances of Heath or Anne Hathaway, drawing the audience's attention to the main couple and holding their breath exactly in those moments when I feel that hearts are breaking. (05/13/2006)

I know who would want to watch a movie about two cowboys who have a fling one time out of boredom - yes, both of them are men - and their love lasts until the end, but it really is worth it. This is a story about cowboys, it is a story about love, but also about unfulfilled love. As time changes, so do the protagonists. It shows in their appearance, but also in the fact that their personalities, dreams, and lives change. It may not appeal to everyone. The viewer is already full of prejudices when they find out what the film is actually about. If they are not open to the idea that two guys can simply fall in love, they probably won't enjoy the film at all, maybe they won't even finish watching it. If you want to test how homophobic you are, watch it until the end and see what you feel. Satisfaction or sadness. Based on that, you can finally decide what your stance is on this issue. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2012/05/kung-fu-dewey-cox-zkrocena-hora-12-opic.html (02/17/2013)

Here and now I understand what kind of actor we lost in Heath Ledger. A masterfully written and directed “unconventional western romance” set in incredible exterior compositions, while also being viscerally and powerfully intimate, with hidden emotions and the tragic nature of happiness long held just out of reach. Ang Lee guides the lead and supporting actors in the images and editing compositions as if he is painting a picture. In the atmosphere of the rough American retro-rural setting, he composes a perfectly focused mosaic of quiet desires and dreams, into which the tones of Santaolalla’s subtly complementary music hesitantly bring the cold mountain wind and the dust of the prairie. Every scene is a demonstration of filmmaking precision in constructing characters and telling a story covering twenty years in the lives of two people who could neither live together nor live without each other. And the lives of the people around them, affected by the resulting sad events. ___ Brokeback Mountain devastated me with the minimalist conclusion to the story in the most dignified form of cinematic art – without a trace of kitsch or tear-jerking by any means other than a softly spoken offscreen ending of the story that connects so powerfully with the preceding events that it’s heartbreaking. When they are done right, like Brokeback Mountain and Call Me By Your Name, these sad gay romances have, in the characters’ suffering over their social differences and difficult lot in life, a much more dramatic foundation than conventional hetero relationship films. Another probable reason for that is because it is so much easier to find a new girlfriend when things didn’t work out with the last one than it is to find a strong connection with someone from a group that makes up only two percent of the population. Perhaps it is something like a movie fan coming across a film that’s so well directed only once in a few years. (04/02/2024)