RateItAll: The Opinion Network

First, a true confession. Sentimental, emotional movies rob me of objectivity. I lose my cynicism but also my ability to be critical. That said, this movie deeply affected me. I thought it was wonderful in its ability to make me intensely feel the hugely conflicted emotions of the two principal characters, the deep but confused love, the happiness and pleasure when together, the frustration, loneliness, and sadness when apart. As others have said, it's about common human emotions we all have experienced, albeit in different contexts, but the context of homosexuality adds dimensions that us straight folks probably can't appreciate. How can one not weep for them? God, it's sad, and so touching. Encased in beautiful geography and photograpy, superbly acted. Sorry, but I can't agree that it dragged; I thought the pace was consistent with the story it portrayed. But then movies rarely drag for me, especially when I'm caught up in the emotion and mood of them. This movie became one of my favorites.

UPDATE: I watched it on cable the other day and it was worse than I remember. Avoid.

ORIGINAL COMMENT WHEN MOVIE FIRST CAME OUT: I lost a bet with Martha, and in almost heathenish glee, her payoff was to go to Brokeback Mountain.

Well, dear readers, I have seen it all now. This is a REVERSE chick flick. The women are still blubbering, sobbing and flocking to see it. This shall start a new trend, I'm sure. As to content, BOOORING!

Okay, so it is a matter of opinion. Pure and simple. That movie was stupid! What a pile of bird dung! I don't think that they need to start putting out "Love" story movies about gender-confused people. Give me a freakin' break! You can't go against nature--you're either male or female. Period. Okay, great scenery!

A masterpiece of tense, heartfelt, intelligent filmmaking. A shame so many refuse to give it the chance it deserves, it is about tolerance, accepting people as they are, and giving everyone the chance for love. Deserving of its unprecedented number of Best Picture and Director prizes, the most for any film in history for a single year. An all-time great.

Excellent acting and gorgeous cinematography (where was this movie filmed?), but man was Brokeback a slow movie to watch. The thing was really dragged out - I found myself completely distracted and antsy as I tried to watch this. I'm probably being a little charitable with my 3 star rating. As far as the content of the movie - yeah, it was a pretty sad story. I didn't think it was particularly controversial though. Many of us suspected that it's not a bed of roses to be gay in this country, and that it was probably that much more difficult being a gay cowboy in the 1960's. One mildly political point: there was nothing even remotely glorifying the gay lifestyle in this movie. If anything, it painted homosexuality as a curse - something that will destroy your life irreparably if you should be so unlucky to be born that way. I think the concerns that this movie would influence our youth to be gay as part of some sort of agenda, were uhhh.... overblown. Anyway, I wish I had seen Brokeback on the big screen - if only for the incredible landscape scenes. They really were stunning. But, I'd have to say that if you're looking for a rental for your TV, you can do a lot better than Brokeback.

3 out of 5. yes, beautiful scenery. yes, deserving of acting nominations. at the same time,it moves slower than molasses in winter. actually, i lost attention by the end. perhaps due to the fact that i was watching it on TV.

I like that the movie didn't try to be all things to all people. It tells a story in a straightforward way and events unfold as they quite possibly would have, given the era. These people didn't have many options, after all.

In response to a couple of the other reviews.. the movie was filmed in the Canadian Rockies. Somewhere in Alberta, I think. They apparently had a difficult time with the animal scenes as the Canadian government takes a dim view of overworking sheep.

I agree with Magellan completely. Great acting and scenery...takes place in Wyoming so it may have been made there. It did drag on. I liked how they paralelled the lives of the characters but it was too long. And Magellen was also right in that being gay in the 60's wasn't acceptable.

Holding a unfavorable view of this film is not a matter of tolerance but rather a matter of taste--- and this movie, by any objective standard, is poor. The acting is decent--- but both the story and the film itself are too drawn out and even at the end there is still a sense that nothing has been resolved and that two and a half hours of the viewer's life have been wasted. The entire film could have been shortened substantially--- even to thirty minutes--- in order to get the point across, and even then it is doubtful that my opinion of it would be any less unfavorable. Those who claim that not liking this film is some indication of being intolerant toward homosexuality are using a heavy fallacious argument--- the two are not related. This is just a bad movie--- plain and simple. Any acclaim it received was purely obligatory, as on its merits "Brokeback Mountain" is worthy of little acclaim.

I'm glad this movie was made. It's a slice of real life whether you like it or not. Homosexuality has been around since the beginning of time--it's not going away folks. Instead of constantly persecuting these people, maybe it's time to try and understand them. I think this movie is a small step in the right direction. I think all the "Brokebutt" comments are so juvenile and ignorant. People need to grow-up. Maybe it's time we focus on more pressing issues that are really affecting society. I really have a problem with my tax dollars being used to raise the children of people who are too stupid or lazy to practice birth control.

The feel-good comedy of the Christmas season!!! The Michelle Williams character to the Heath Ledger character : " I knew you two were up to something on your fishing trips when you didn't bring home any TROUT..... " You said a mouthful, honey. But beware... lots of man-cuddle action. Kind of like Mid-night Mass for the Gay community, no jokes allowed.... ever so serious & we must be ever so reverent & not joke about like sounding titles of a humourous nature..... boom-boom mountain, smelly tent mountain, nervous sheep mountain, KY mountain bloody stool mountain etc etc etc ad infinitum.... amen. We kid around because we love. Actually unlike any movie any of us have ever seen...... worth 9 bucks, I suppose.

EXCELLENT..........a long over due movie. love is love regardless of the gender of the person you love.

When I first saw the preview for Brokeback Mountain, I cringed. Not because of the gay sex--I'm gay--but because of the Lifetime Channel dramatics. I had to ask myself a question somewhat different than that most straight men would have had to ask themselves: would I see this movie if it did not have a gay theme? The answer was: probably not. It's a rare love story that I enjoy. Neither actor has ever interested me very much, and Ang Lee has proven a wildly inconsistent director, often within the same film (such as the Ice Storm). My partner was more interested in Brokeback Mountain and convinced me to go. Although not a great movie, this was certainly a very good one, with a truly remarkable performance by Heath Ledger. The film is not political or preachy, and it's homosexual characters do not always act admirably. They are human and flawed, sometimes violent and selfish and stupid. But it would take a cold heart indeed to not empathize with them and their situation. Straight men have told me that they have no particualar homophobic fear of the movie's theme, they just cannot relate to it. This is a senseless argument. They might not be able to relate to two men making love, certainly, but anyone can relate to a love that can never be fulfilled, a common topic of so much great art, from Romeo and Juliet to There's Something About Mary. I cannot relate to having grown up African-American in a ghetto, but I can still admire great films such as Boyz N the Hood and New Jack City. Brokeback Mountain is not the best film of the year--or even the best gay love story on film--but it is a very good one, and well worth seeing.

This is an awesome move. The movie was beautifully directed and skillfully acted. I am sorry to break it to all those who have not seen this movie and refuse to see it because of their homophobic fears but I foresee at least one oscar coming for the movie. The sexual seens and the kissing were a very small part of this movie. It was a story of true love and the results of what happens in life when men try to please society rather than their hearts. Ladies and Gent.... this is life!!

Update; having seen this excellent film, the soul-love portrayed transcends the sexes of the people involved, and takes us on a human journey of love that, through fear of society's constraints (not God's)they are unable to naturally express. To conform, they get married and in the process hurt more people, yet not so much as they are hurting themselves. A film through which you will experience the depth of their love and understand that love is greater than the two protaganists.Superbly acted. Norainbows, if you didn't understand it, you've got a problem. Not only has this film won the top prizes at Cannes and Venice but the Film Critics and Reviewer's Top Award. It sounds a cracking good film and can't wait to see it. For those who think it's just a gay film..well, above all, it's a love film and for those who think it's misrepresentative of cowboys, what do you think went on when guys were up in those mountains on their own? Louie: King Kong! My fears are confirmed that you have a lot of growing up to do, Louie.

I was at first frustrated by the movie. I loved the breath-taking cinematography, the acting, the score, the subtle messages of confusion and the over all story but I did not feel a connection between Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar. I did not understand why, when they were not consummating their relationship, they were distant; apart. I felt that this was a flaw in the movie that weaves in and out of a 20-year “love affair.” Then I realized the brilliance of this movie- it examines the relationship between two real men who are struggling with their own sexuality and identity while trying to express a pure love they do not understand. They simply don't know what to do with their with their intense feelings, except to express with child-like frolicking, fierce testosterone driven anger and fierce love-making (there are only two brief scenes so straight men can watch it easily). GO SEE THIS MOVIE for the subtle topics it tackles, love, loss, the blame society must take for robbing these beautiful creatures of their pure love, and for victimizing people who simply want to understand themselves and the one they want to love. This is by far a breathtaking masterpiece and the best movie of the year.

Great movie. Have you noticed that all of the negative ratings were by people who haven't even seen the movie? It's amazing how homophobic closeted people are.

I loved this very beautiful, sad and poignant movie about wasting a LIFE and LOVE because of fear--fear of others and of living honestly. We've all experienced this fear to some degree in our lives and have paid a price for it. That's why this movie's appeal is universal. We can all relate.

Best movie of the year. The acting great, filming excellent, writing and directing beyond belief. Finally something worth spending money to go see and not a remake of a big ape running through New York or a family who never heard of birth control. TRULY OUTSTANDING!

With a small amount of trepidation, I walked into the theatre with my spouse to see this film yesterday evening. Once I got past the gratuitous/obligatory homophobic case of the heebie jeebies, I settled in and realized why this picture is being nominated for awards left and right. It is an excellent movie. And homosexuality is not even particularly "central" to the theme. Brokeback Mountain is a love story. And it's a sad one. I noted above that the "gay" component of this film is not central to it because lots of love stories are sad. Romances between people fail to flourish or "succeed" for any host of reasons. This is not a human experience limited to queers. The doomed nature of this relationship is as much a result of the choices the protagonists make as it is of the unwillingness of many in larger society to accept gay couples and relationships. The performances by both lead actors, particularly Ledger, were sensitive and not over the top. Ledger's character was truly the most haunted/conflicted by the relationship the pair develops as young men. The price of the tickets to Brokeback Mountain were a good investment and I'm glad I saw the movie. I left the theatre feeling rather sad for the fates of both characters and the story I saw has had me thinking all day.

Update: If it bothers you so much then don't watch it for pete's sake. Problem solved. No one is poitning a gun to your head. They rated it R so it's not as though they're hiding the content of the movie behind a lower rating. I simply think it's ridiculous to trash a movie you've never ever seen simply because it involves homosexuals. I have to admit I'm intrigued. Sounds as though the movie has potential and a sound script. Now you just have to add them eating pudding so Trey Parker and Matt Stones premonition of a "Gay Cowboys Eating Pudding" movie can come to pass. ;o) Louie, I seriously doubt that their careers will be over. Ever see Philadelphia? Notice Tom Hanks career after he made that movie? (Saving Private Ryan, Green Mile, Apollo 13) How about Hilary Swank in "Boys Don't Cry"? Now correct me if I'm wrong but these Oscar Winners went on to make more Oscar winning movies (Million Dollar Baby and Forrest Gump anyone?). Thankfully most of America won't be like you and let homophobia overshadow a good script and a good acting performance.

Please e-mail me with suggestions, stories, or lies to help me get out of taking my wife to see this movie. . .she's already mentioned it and I need an escape plan. HURRY!

I want to see it. I think it would be interesting to see these two hot guys going at it.