Read Mixed User Reviews for Brokeback Mountain

4

FilipeNetoMay 13, 2018

This film addresses a homosexual affair between two cowboys. Although the press and the gay-friendly publicity tried to sell the idea that it was a true homosexual romance, I was not convinced. Watching the film, I found that the scriptThis film addresses a homosexual affair between two cowboys. Although the press and the gay-friendly publicity tried to sell the idea that it was a true homosexual romance, I was not convinced. Watching the film, I found that the script suggests something different: two lonely men whose unfulfilled emotional needs lead to a homosexual affair, despite their marriages and individual commitments. There is no love in this. The film is essentially about doubts, unfulfilled emotions, moral and emotional conflicts, the breaking of taboos and the consequences that it has afterwards, in the life of the one who did it. In any case, it is undeniably one of the most remarkable films of Heath Ledger's career. The actor deserves applause for his work in this film, where he dominated and stole the limelight from his own colleague Jake Gyllenhaal. This actor, for his part, has always been much more obliterated and the way he interpreted was not so interesting or consistent. Ang Lee did a decent job, but he seemed to be particularly focused on giving the film a good scenery and cinematography, with great success in that. Even so, the result of his work was a lukewarm, slow-paced film, and that makes it annoying, cutting off the connection between the audience and what they're watching.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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6

richardbuddenhagenJan 2, 2006

First, let me say that I really hate it when the hero gets killed by a deus ex machina.
In many ways like Million Dollar Baby, another Hollywood tear-jerker where way too attractive actors & actresses pose as real people in a naturalisticFirst, let me say that I really hate it when the hero gets killed by a deus ex machina.
In many ways like Million Dollar Baby, another Hollywood tear-jerker where way too attractive actors & actresses pose as real people in a naturalistic world full of artifice. I did feel a smidge sad when Heath found his shirt (though I saw it coming when the shirt went missing in reel 2), but mostly I felt that these two dudes were too mopey and existential to be real gay cowboys. I mean, unless I missed something, they're not supposed to be French, are they? They behaved like starry-eyed teenagers past the point (and age) of believability; as much as I could buy the first half hour of meet-cute and the last five minutes of human loss, the big fat middle was a dull TV message-movie. Did Matthew Shepherd really die for this? And brand me a stereo-typer, but (in my limited experience) of most of the gay couples I've met, at least one of the partners displays way more of a fey affect then either of these two stoic shepherds ever showed.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful

6

NecromusDec 6, 2012

My girlfriend dragged me out to see this: A movie about two male farmers that fall in love but hardly say anything to each other throughout the whole movie, all while pretending to be straight even having female wives. An overrated movie, myMy girlfriend dragged me out to see this: A movie about two male farmers that fall in love but hardly say anything to each other throughout the whole movie, all while pretending to be straight even having female wives. An overrated movie, my girlfriend even apologized to me for taking me to see it because she didn't like it either since the gay couple hardly ever said anything to each other. It's an okay drama that also shows the dangers and hostile perceptions gay men experience in society, worth watching once, but doesn't live up to the hype. 6/10 for a mediocre movie.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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6

SnowDayAug 15, 2011

A boring "love story" about two gay men that only want to have sex. Basically, this movie is a non-explicit pornography. I don't understand all the hype.

3 of 15 users found this helpful312

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5

TonydannieJun 15, 2006

Wow! Talk about overrated! The most unforgatble Love Story becomes excatly that! Forgatble! I was actually looking forward to seeing this movie. But as I sat there watching couldnt help but feel a little cheated. People say it is Greek Wow! Talk about overrated! The most unforgatble Love Story becomes excatly that! Forgatble! I was actually looking forward to seeing this movie. But as I sat there watching couldnt help but feel a little cheated. People say it is Greek Tragedy or what have you. To me the story could have been more. There are some nice moments where we feel the characters pain having to deal with this uncontrollable feeling. They are very well directed. However there really was not that big of drama! I have an open mind and that is why i wanted to see this movie. but it really did not deliver to me. I dont know what it is. it just was not there. I guess it has to be moments where Hey they get spotted acting a little to friendly with each other but nothing happens... This is a sad story. Well worth at least one time glance but nothing more. Just Over rated! Now Ang Lee can get back to more important movies Like "Hulk II"… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful

5

GaryD.Jan 23, 2006

My wife & I just saw this film and we both came away generally bored, unmoved, and feeling duped by all the hype. Beautiful scenery and cinematography, reasonable depiction of herding sheep on summer range, good cast, and fair acting My wife & I just saw this film and we both came away generally bored, unmoved, and feeling duped by all the hype. Beautiful scenery and cinematography, reasonable depiction of herding sheep on summer range, good cast, and fair acting (nothing special, as others seem to think). BUT: The story is just not engaging. There's no chemistry between the lovers, no flirting nuances, no buildup. In fact, their initial lovemaking seems more like an impulsive act of rape. Like one of the other reviewers herein, I think I must have missed the "love" part (maybe I dozed off). And much of the rest of the story is either implausible or uninteresting. Will they finally get together and live happily ever after? We simply don't care. One of the "great films of all time"? No way. Even if you narrow the category to gay films, it's not even in the same league as "The Crying Game". I'm always perplexed when I'm in such disagreement with the reviewers, especially the "user comments" on this site, with which I normally agree. So I analyzed the data a little more carefully. For the weekend of Jan. 13-15, BBM (in its 6th week) grossed $5.8M, which is in ninth place. Seems odd that, by now, word of mouth for this monumental film would be doing at least as well as "Memoirs of a Geisha" or "Fun With Dick & Jane". I know, "there's no accounting for taste". I also looked at the Top 10 films of 2005 where, based on critics' reviews, BBM is #6. Excluding BBM, the average number of User Comments for the other top 9 films is 43. BBM, on the other hand, has over 460 User Comments. Seems odd that a film that is generating so much positive feedback from users would not be doing better at the box office. Or could it be that the ballot box is getting stuffed by folks with an agenda, trying to generate interest and help its chances for an Oscar. Just a thought.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

4

DavidS.Jan 30, 2006

An overcontrived love movie. Honestly, politics aside, it's just a love story but with a guy instead of a gal. Rated so high out of fear that they'll be accused of being a homophobe. Really, nothing special here.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

4

JulioPedroF.Jan 1, 2006

Why is this film garnering so many 10s from us individual critics? The only thing worthwhile about this film is the theme, and that is never enough to create a good story. For my part, I live in the desert, and am no stranger to its Why is this film garnering so many 10s from us individual critics? The only thing worthwhile about this film is the theme, and that is never enough to create a good story. For my part, I live in the desert, and am no stranger to its seduction. When I wake up in the morning, I see scenery just as beautiful if not more so than in the film, and this landscape is populated by plenty of people whose lives will never be celebrated in particular or archetype. The form of the story is excellent, but the story itself is painfully old fashioned and the obsessive focus on the lovers was truly tiring. Why was further attention not paid to the wives? The children? The community? The supposed murderers? Surely their characters are just as interesting as the two dimensional (though beautiful) Ennis and Jack. Just because it's about gay cowboys doesn't make it worth the filmstock it was printed on. It may have been remarkable, but it is not truly great.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

4

BillL.Jan 25, 2006

This movie is definitely overhyped. The photography is beautiful. Gay love needs to be more tenderly presented by people you care for, and in this movie it seems more like lust among the shepherds. The real issues involving families with This movie is definitely overhyped. The photography is beautiful. Gay love needs to be more tenderly presented by people you care for, and in this movie it seems more like lust among the shepherds. The real issues involving families with children by the gay lovers is only superficially explored and the script seems dry and lacking in passion. It`s not the actors fault but this message needs a real loving and profound script. It will win awards for its hype and daring to show homosexual intercourse for the mainstream first time, but it could have said much more and much more elegantly. I don`t think it will further the cause it is supposed to be supporting.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

5

LizzyQFeb 9, 2006

I think this movie was way over-rated. The animal abuse was almost too much to bear. The cinematography was beautiful, I think because the scenery was beautiful. I was not impressed.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

5

ToddF.Mar 13, 2006

Everyone else misses the point. This is not a beautiful love story, this is actually a tragedy...a tragedy for the families these men ripped apart trying to fulfill their "forbidden love". Real men stick to their commitments and provide Everyone else misses the point. This is not a beautiful love story, this is actually a tragedy...a tragedy for the families these men ripped apart trying to fulfill their "forbidden love". Real men stick to their commitments and provide support and love to their families first, their illicit lovers not at all. Reminds me of the guys from high school who leave their wives to revive the teenage affair after a 20 year reunion, only to find their lives, and the lives of those they should love most, ruined. Sad, just sad. With this being Hollywood's version of a beautiful love story, it is no wonder Hollywood marriages last 3 months and Hollywood kids are drug addicts.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

4

DougP.Apr 12, 2006

This movie does depict the trials and tribulations that some gay men go through (less so in these modern times) but the movie was a big dissapointment. I thought after watching it I could tell my heterosexual friends to watch so they could This movie does depict the trials and tribulations that some gay men go through (less so in these modern times) but the movie was a big dissapointment. I thought after watching it I could tell my heterosexual friends to watch so they could have a better understanding of the gay life, but the movie itself is not worth the recommendation. I'm not saying that in the end everything should have worked out and they lived out their lives together, but the ending was terrible, I was struggling to even bring a tear to my eye because it was obvious that Ennes didn't share Jack's feelings about love and happiness, granted it would be difficult in those times to live a happy life as a gay couple, but Ennes also displayed little emotion at the end of the movie, and I really can't say anything else besides this movie was dissapointing. I would recommend "Beautiful Thing" , it more closely reflects the challenges a gay person faces in these times and it has a happier ending.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

4

JosephKeslarJan 15, 2006

You know, I expected to be crying buckets but I wasn't. I wasn't crying. Why? Because I cry for joy, not pain. It was a classic gay Hollywood love story, all right- the faggot who seduces gets what coming to him, death, whileYou know, I expected to be crying buckets but I wasn't. I wasn't crying. Why? Because I cry for joy, not pain. It was a classic gay Hollywood love story, all right- the faggot who seduces gets what coming to him, death, while the beloved is left to be lonely the rest of his life. Lost his wife, kids are becoming adults, his fancy boy went and got himself killed for being too uppity. You know I wanted to love this movie but I just don't. I haven't read the book yet, but I have one thing to say if it ends the same way as the movie- Shame on you, Annie Proulx! I wanted to love this movie, but it was truly disappointing. No way to give either of the queers a little happiness, even in 1983, long after Stonewall? Perhaps another case of overhyping-expectations lead to resentment. At least they got two guys to play the parts.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful

5

MattMar 15, 2006

This movie was not all that it was hyped up to be. I went there expecting to at least see a love story that was unique at best, but it ended up being depressing because how careless these guys were about their families and such. I justThis movie was not all that it was hyped up to be. I went there expecting to at least see a love story that was unique at best, but it ended up being depressing because how careless these guys were about their families and such. I just couldn't stand the two main characters and felt absolutely no sympathy for them. The only reason i give it points are for michelle william's performance and maybe a bit of Anne Hathaway's. This was more of an anti-love story that depicted gays in more of a negative way than a positive way.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

4

PeterD.Feb 25, 2007

Beautiful and moving nature photography of mountain scenes and sheep and evocation of realistic ambiance of cowboy town. Brilliant casting and directing and the movie has it's heart in the right place.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

5

OrsonO.Jan 20, 2006

There are 17 reviews rated here "100" and only ne less than "50." Can this really be veridical? - truthful? - accurate? Or does this extraordinary ranking merely reflect the PC sensibility - the Gay "cowboy" romance everybody MUST love - There are 17 reviews rated here "100" and only ne less than "50." Can this really be veridical? - truthful? - accurate? Or does this extraordinary ranking merely reflect the PC sensibility - the Gay "cowboy" romance everybody MUST love - that afflicts the latte drinking New York Times reading chattering class? I'm betting the latter. That doesn't mean this isn't worth seeing. But I remember when films about "men who couldn't talk about their feelings" were literally a dima dozen, a few decadesa go. And whom am I to say that new generations shouldn't redicover a timeless theme in a new setting? Ang Lee is also one of our best directors. SO why not see it now? I will see it, but only long after the buzz is gone and the self-righteous moralizing of the Leftist zombies who monopolize reviewing - probably when I can see it for two bucks. Why? Many friends say the short story by Annie Proulx is considerably better. Even reviewer "Neepy" writes "it is too safe. I didn't feel much chemistry, bonding, or even lust between the two cowboys." Thoughts others have echoed - it simply isn't as good as it's made out to be. It simply isn't as good or believable as Ang Lee's "The Wedding Banquet," another gay themed film about tragic love. So why do reviewers love a film that indulges in all the negative stereotypes about westerners and Mexicans? Because gays are a priviledged "minority." This is the "Philadelphia" or "Angels in America" of our time. The lemmings are out this season, ruining a good film for those who aren't bird watchers. Too bad they don't simply leave their agenda driven baggage at home and simply let the art speak for itself.… Expand