Brokeback Mountain

This film really took me by suprise. I expected to like it, but not as much as I am right now. It has this confliction that creates a very human picture. The main characters are masculine yet homosexual. It breaks down stereotypes and creates characters that are whole and human. Most of the time when I watch movies, I really don't pay attention to the performances by actors. If the acting is off-key, I notice it, but usually I don't pay attention to the actual acting. Heith Ledger however made me notice it. His acting is not bad, but fantastic. He creates a character that is inarticulate yet assured. A character that is manly as hell yet homosexual. This confliction with his character makes him human. This film is more of a tragic love story than a message film. It doesn't shove a message like homophobia is bad down your throat. I've only seen three films that were nominated for The Best Picture and the other two, Crash and Good, and Good Luck, basically force audiences to accept their message. Crash is a very flawed film with a message that everybody knows, be kind to other people. Good Night, and Good Luck is an even more flawed film with a message that is basically TV has no balls now and days. Brokeback Mountain has no message, it simply tells a story beautifully and subtly. That is probably why it didn't win the Best Picture Oscar. Homophobia might come into the matter, but I feel strongly it was because it wasn't overblown and melodramatic as hell. Crash is a film with "big" moments. It is a shitty actors' wet dream with constant shouting and everybody on the edge of going ballistic or crying. This film is in the major leagues and Crash and Good Night, and Good Luck are in the minors. It is subtlity that brings this film to such a devastating emotional level. Whenever I watch award shows, I get embarassed seeing the acting clips cuz often they pick parts of great emotion and acting. You don't want to see acting in movies, you want to see people, human beings living their lives and happen to be in a movie. John Cassavetes knew this and that what makes him one of the greatest directors ever to grace cinema. Some people might feel the relationship in the film feels forced since Heith and Jake seem to explode in sexual feelings sometimes in the film. It feels so spontaneous that it could feel fake or contrived. I found it to be suprisingly realistic since these men have been supressing their homosexual feelings for most of their lives. I cannot see any real flaws with this film. I feel this film will become an American classic like most of the critics have been saying. I love this film and feel anyone who watches it should too.

Pros:
-Brilliant performance from Heith Ledger
-Subtle
-Beautiful
-Powerful
-Emotionally devastating
-Mesmerizing

Cons:
-Animal cruelty?
-Butt sex?
-Just kidding?
-Some might feel the relationship is forced