Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Director:

Ang Lee

Writers (WGA):

Annie Proulx (short story)
Larry McMurtry (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

16 December 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Western

Tagline:

Love Is A Force Of Nature

Plot:

Based on the 'E. Annie Proulx' story about a forbidden and secretive relationship between two cowboys and their lives over the years.

Plot Keywords:

Wyoming | Ranch Hand | Ranch | Rodeo | Cowboy

Awards:

Won 3 Oscars. Another 78 wins & 64 nominations

Cast

Heath Ledger	...	Ennis Del Mar
Jake Gyllenhaal	...	Jack Twist
Randy Quaid	...	Joe Aguirre
Valerie Planche	...	Waitress
David Trimble	...	Basque
Victor Reyes	...	Chilean Sheepherder #1
Lachlan Mackintosh	...	Chilean Sheepherder #2
Michelle Williams	...	Alma
Larry Reese	...	Jolly Minister
Marty Antonini	...	Timmy
Tom Carey	...	Rodeo Clown
Dan McDougall	...	Bartender #1
Don Bland	...	Biker #1
Steven Cree Molison	...	Biker #2
Anne Hathaway	...	Lureen Newsome

Also Known As:

Souvenirs de Brokeback Mountain (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, nudity, language and some violence.

Runtime:

134 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | Norway:11 | Finland:K-11 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Sweden:7 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:12 | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Singapore:R21 | Spain:13 | Portugal:M/12 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Japan:PG-12 | France:U | Brazil:16 | Taiwan:R-12 | Germany:12 | Belgium:KT | Chile:14 | Poland:18 | India:A | USA:R (certificate #41600) | Ireland:16 (theatrical rating) | Ireland:18 (video rating) | South Korea:15 (uncut) | China:(Banned) | Iceland:12 | Argentina:16 | Philippines:R-18 | New Zealand:M | Denmark:11 | Venezuela:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Company:

Alberta Film Entertainment

Trivia:

According to an interview that Heath Ledger gave to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Steven Rea, there was a sequence that was filmed for the movie in which Jack and Ennis help some hippies get their car out of a river. According to Ledger, the scene took three days to shoot and was disliked almost immediately by everyone involved. The scene was written by James Schamus as an attempt to show Jack and Ennis in a heroic situation, but it does not appear in Annie Proulx's original short story, the published screenplay, or the final cut of the movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene when Jack tells Ennis "you have no idea how bad it gets", Jack's gloves switch from his right hand to his left hand.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Joe Aguirre: You pair of deuces lookin' for work, I suggest you get your scrawny asses in here pronto.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 2006 MTV Movie Awards (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

D-I-V-O-R-C-E

An amazing piece of cinema..

I was fortunate enough to see the North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. That was two days ago, and this film just wont leave my mind. Not that I'm complaining because this is what good cinema is all about.

Ennis and Jack, two cowboys who fall in love. As others have touched on, Brokeback Mountain is so much more than merely a "gay cowboy movie". It perfectly captures what true, unbridled love is all about and this love transcends any issues of sexuality or gender. "Love is a force of nature". Unfortunately for many people and indeed the protagonists of our story, society doesn't always view it that way.

Kudos to Ang Lee who has not shied away from the material at all. This adaptation stays true to the original short story and the two lead actors fit the roles perfectly. Ledger and Gyllenhaal give incredibly strong performances but the supporting cast shouldn't be overlooked either, particularly a somewhat unrecognizable Michelle Williams. Solid work all around and with Mr Ang Lee's vision they have created an amazing piece of cinema that should not be missed by anybody. Without giving anything away, you are going to be moved by this one.