Why Brokeback broke the mold
Everywhere you look on the Internet today, you’ll see it …
Heath Ledger passed away yesterday.
I’m not going to pretend that I knew him, or talk about how great he was and this and that because, quite frankly, I didn’t know him at all. What I knew of him was that he was an amazing actor with an even more amazing smile. I first saw him in the cult classic, 10 Things I Hate About You. There was something about him, a sort of star quality, in which I just had a feeling he’d be around for awhile. But it wasn’t until I saw him in Brokeback Mountain that I really and truly appreciated him as an actor, an individual, and someone who hadn’t fallen prey to the pitfalls of Hollywood by compromising his art.
I didn’t know Heath Ledger. But I respected him greatly. And for that reason, I decided to post the column I wrote about Brokeback Mountain two years ago for Outcome Magazine, here.
Thank you Heath for doing this movie, despite all the risks involved. You not only did the role of Ennis DelMar justice, you made the character as real to me as my own brother. I’m sure Annie Proulx, the author, was just as proud.
While I praise you, others will not. Forgive their ignorance. May you rest in peace.
Why Brokeback broke the mold
(March 2006)
Being that March is Oscar time and, let’s face it, most gay people LOVE the Oscars, I decided to focus my attention on the movie that’s been making headlines for a few months now. And not just because it’s a “gay cowboy movie.” 
Brokeback Mountain isn’t just a story about two gay cowboys passing the time while herding sheep with a few romps in the hay. To anyone who addresses it as such, please rephrase. The truth of the matter is this; Brokeback Mountain is a timeless love story. It’s timeless because it will stick with you even after the credits have rolled.
I admit that I was a bit skeptical about the movie before I saw it. I read through the critic’s reviews as swiftly as I would read the back of a cereal box. There have been countless times where I have gone to see a movie simply because it had gotten such rave reviews, then afterwards I find myself wondering if I had maybe missed something that everyone else saw.
When it comes to gay-themed movies, there have been many that have left a dissatisfied taste in my mouth. Either they center on sex, portray reckless behaviors or are done in poor taste. While I may know that these movies do not accurately portray the majority of the gay population, some naïve heterosexuals may rely on these movies to define how they view homosexuality. But after seeing Brokeback Mountain I thought, “This is it. This is the movie that will open up people’s minds.” And how can it not? The adaptation of Annie Proulx’s literary masterpiece is so tastefully and accurately done, it’s as if you are watching the short story unfold page for page upon the screen. Add in some exceptional acting, sprawling scenery and impeccable direction and you’ve got the making of an Oscar winner.
This is a powerful story of two young men, Jack Twist and Ennis DelMar, who meet in the summer of 1963 sheepherding in the harsh, tall grasslands of modern-day Wyoming and form an unlikely yet undeniable bond that spans a lifetime.
The plot of the story focused on a love so intense and unavoidable, that it kept the most two unlikely partners coming back for more. It’s the kind of love that swallows you up whole with the force of a title wave, and leaves you treading ferociously in its aftermath. All you want to do is to be able to keep your head above it, so you don’t end up drowning in it. It’s the kind of love that doesn’t see color, race,or even sexual orientation.
It’s the kind of love that just is.
For anyone who saw this movie and left the theater wondering, “Did I miss something?” I implore you to pick up a copy of the short story, sit down with it in a comfortable chair and indulge. Let the words sink in and I promise you will get it once you are finished.
Being billed simply as a “gay cowboy movie,” doesn’t do it justice because Brokeback Mountain is more complex than some care to admit. It will rest on your mind like an awkward moment, tugging at you for attention while you try to forget it. But you can’t forget it. You’ll find yourself a pinch close to falling asleep, when a scene will suddenly pop into your head, or bit of conversation exchanged between the two main characters will race through your ears. You’ll mutter, “I wish I could quit you,” just like Jack Twist and you’ll merely carry on with your life.
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