Brokeback Mountain DVD Review

In the summer of 1963, ranchers Jack Twist (Gyllenhaal) and Ennis Del Mar (Ledger) meet as they work the sheep flocks on Brokeback Mountain. Over the months together up on the mountain, they form a bond that escalates into a physical attraction. As the work ends, the two go their separate ways, living their lives, getting married and having children but never forgetting that relationship up on the mountain.

Director Ang Lee takes a break from the excesses of the comic book and martial arts worlds and returns to the character based drama that got him noticed by Hollywood in the first place.

After excesses of ‘Hulk’ and ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ it is easy to forget that Ang Lee forged his craft with character driven pieces. More in keeping with ‘Ride with the Devil’ or ‘Sense and Sensibility’, ‘Brokeback Mountain’ is another period piece that is much more than just a ‘gay cowboy movie’.

Set over a twenty-year period starting from their first meeting in 1963, the film charts the relationship between Jack and Ennis and the effect that it has on their lives and their family’s. This was a time when any gay relationship was distinctly taboo, especially in the US, so it had to be kept a secret for the whole of that time. This is not a film that preaches about gay rights and freedoms however, it reflects on the difficulties that these relationships caused when Jack and Ennis simply just wanted to be together. It is this anguish and longing that makes the movie about forbidden love and not a political or social statement.

The taboo of a straight actor playing a gay character isn’t as strong as it was in the previous millennium. The once career threatening choice is now not such a big deal as much of the developed world has become more tolerant and open towards of gay relationships. In decades past the roles of Jack and Ennis would have been considered career suicide for big name, heartthrob actors like Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal but now the roles just show the diversity of their range and the skill of their acting ability. The two main actor’s portrayal of the characters is as far removed from the stereotypical Hollywood view of gay men as you could possibly get. Both Jack and Ennis are the epitome of Western manliness, cowboys through and through and they never act camp or do anything that Tinsel Town would refer to as outrageously gay. This approach is very beneficial to the film and the characters, taking the emphasis away from the fact that this is a gay relationship and concentrating on the fact that these two people are soul mates who have found each other but convention, society and family is keeping them apart.

Both Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal are exceptional in their roles. Each of them are no strangers to big budget blockbusters but they refined their craft in smaller budget character driven pieces, where Hollywood noticed them in the first place. ‘Brokeback Mountain’ has the scale of a bigger budget production but has the characters and story of a smaller budget, indie movie. This combination enables the actors to create believable characters, whose trails and tribulations over the twenty-year period will endear you to their plight. These roles will finally get these talented individuals the recognition they deserve.

The film is mainly about the performances of Ledger and Gyllenhaal but the supporting cast also have their roles to play. Michelle Williams is exceptional as Ennis’s long-suffering wife Alma. She is a simple woman, wife and mother who grows suspicious of the amount of time that Ennis spends with Jack and has to cope with coming second in his life. The role of Lureen, Jack’s rich and tempestuous wife, is a real departure for former teen sweetheart Anne Hathaway. The actress finally sheds her princess screen persona and reveals the true talent that she has been hiding for many years. This is a big step forward in her career and one that should propel her into more dramatic roles. When you add to this good performances from Linda Cardellini and Randy Quaid, you have a very solid cast.

‘Brokeback Mountain’ is a real return to form for director Ang Lee. This is a story about forbidden love, fear and missed opportunities that are far beyond the ‘gay cowboy’ movie label that the film has been unfairly tarnished with. While is might be slightly overlong and slow in places, it is the characters and the emotional story that draw you in and make this such a well played, beautifully shot and expertly directed movie.

Film Star Rating = * * * *

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 with Dolby Digital 5.1, the movie is presented well, highlighting the astonishing cinematography.

BONUS FEATURES

On Being a Cowboy (5.44 mins) Director Ang Lee, executive producer/co-writer Diana Ossana, stunt coordinator Kirk Jarrett, animal wrangler T J Bews, wrangler Don Gillespie and stars Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway talk about the training they received for ‘Brokeback Mountain’.

Directing from the Heart: Ang Lee (7.27 mins) Producer James Schamus, executive producer/co-writer Diana Ossana, executive producer Michael Costigan, Rodrigo Prieto, costume designer Marit Allen and stars Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Randy Quaid, Anna Faris, Linda Cardellini and Anne Hathaway join director Ang Lee to talk about his career, this directing style and his approach to the film.

From Script to Screen: Interviews with Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana (10.53 mins) Director Ang Lee, producer James Schamus, executive producer Michael Costigan and stars Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Randy Quaid, Linda Cardellini and Anne Hathaway join co-writers Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana to talk about adapting the original New Yorker short story by Annie Proulx into a full-length screenplay. They reveal which elements they had to flesh out and how the finished screenplay was considered the best script that would never get filmed until producer James Schamus and Ang Lee became involved, all because of the controversial nature of the storyline.

Sharing the story: The Making of Brokeback Mountain (20.47 mins) Director Ang Lee, producer James Schamus, co-writers Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana, production designer Judy Becker, composer Gustavo Santaolalla and stars Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, Linda Cardellini and Anne Hathaway appear in the Logo Movie Special for ‘Brokeback Mountain’. The programme looks that the story and characters of the piece and the difficulties of bringing the film to the silver screen. With behind the scenes footage from the film, the cast and crew talk honestly about the film and what it was like working with director Ang Lee.

Trailers Previews of ‘Pride and Prejudice’, ‘On a Clear Day’ and ‘Something New’

OVERALL

The DVD package for the Oscar winning drama ‘Brokeback Mountain’ is a bit of a mix bag. The featurettes are good and cover most aspects of the film’s production but the lack of a commentary track or even deleted scenes mean that some fans maybe slightly disappointed. The film is presented superbly however, highlighting the beautiful cinematography. Fans should be pleased with this release.