Brokeback Mountain
Directed by Ang Lee
Written by Larry McMurtry, Diana Ossana
Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger
Release Date December 9th, 2005
With The Power of the Dog exploring themes of sexuality and masculinity in the context of the mythic American west as it transitioned to modernity and civilization, I was reminded of how Brokeback Mountain explored similar ideas in an even more modern version of the West. With The Power of the Dog nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, and rankling the elderly members of the Academy with its modern themes, it seems that now is as good a time as ever to reflect on Brokeback Mountain.
The image of the cowboy in Americana is one of a man who has no emotions, a human callous, not allowed even a tear at the passing of a friend or a good horse. This is the classic American icon that director Ang Lee bravely deconstructs in the compelling, if occasionally meandering, Brokeback Mountain. Starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal,Brokeback Mountain explored explicitly what any number of older films portrayed implicitly or even without intention.
Find my full length review at Pride.Media, linked here.
