Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Director:

Ang Lee

Writers (WGA):

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

Release Date:

16 December 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

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:

Sheep | Hunting | Intolerance | Homosexual | Bear

Awards:

Won 3 Oscars. Another 77 wins & 64 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. July 28	4:00 PM	BRAVO
Tue. July 29	12:00 AM	BRAVO

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

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

134 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Company:

Alberta Film Entertainment

Trivia:

During its first weekend of release (playing in only five US theaters), this set a record for the highest per-screen gross of any non-animated movie in history.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Leading up to the argument that sparks the Del Mar divorce, Ennis is lounging on the couch watching an episode of Kojak and Alma states that it is Saturday night. Kojak didn't air on Saturday nights until its 5th season (Fall '77 to Spring '78) and the judge reveals to us that the Del Mar divorce takes place on November 6th, 1975.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ridin' High on Bareback Mountain! (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

I'll Be Gone

Powerful, Numbing

I just saw this at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) to a packed house (with Ang Lee present for today's screening). And I have to say, it absolutely transfixed me and was worth the watch. Out of 24 movies I screened at the TIFF this year, this was the only one I rated a 10/10! Three things really stood out for me making this a stand-out of a film:

1) HONESTY: Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal really pulled this off. I wasn't expecting performances so real and nuanced, and was warmly surprised. Kudos, also, to Mr. Lee for making such a poignant and refreshingly honest film!

2) STORY: Great story-telling. In fact you're not actually being *told* a story. The story unfolds and the viewer watches what happens pulling you in. What a great experience! In fact, I want to experience this story again -- I'm going to look for the short story.

3) NUMBING: In a thought-provoking kind of way. I left the theatre digesting the story even as I sat on the streetcar thinking about the characters. I cared for them, and wondered what could/might happen to them after the screen went black. My mind was playing out scenarios and in that sense, it was numbing, in a thought-provoking, emotionally heavy way.

This is powerful cinema and is definitely worth checking out. It's the best Ang Lee film I've seen to date (I've seen most, but not all of his feature films).