Brokeback Mountain (2005)

The story of a forbidden and secretive relationship between two cowboys, and their lives over the years.

Director:

Ang Lee

Writers:

Annie Proulx (short story), Larry McMurtry (screenplay)

Stars:

Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams

Won 3 Oscars. Another 131 wins & 121 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Heath Ledger	...	Ennis Del Mar
Jake Gyllenhaal	...	Jack Twist
Randy Quaid	...	Joe Aguirre
Valerie Planche	...	Waitress
Dave Trimble	...	Basque (as David Trimble)
Victor Reyes	...	Chilean Sheepherder #1
Lachlan Mackintosh	...	Chilean Sheepherder #2
Michelle Williams	...	Alma
Larry Reese	...	Jolly Minister
Marty Antonini	...	Timmy
Tom Carey	...	Rodeo Clown
Dan McDougall	...	Bartender #1
Don Bland	...	Biker #1
Steven Cree Molison	...	Biker #2
Anne Hathaway	...	Lureen Newsome

Storyline

Two young men, Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, meet when they get a job as sheep herders on Brokeback Mountain. They are at first strangers, then they become friends. Throughout the weeks, they grow closer as they learn more about each other. One night, after some heavy drinking, they find a deeper connection. They then indulge in a blissful romance for the rest of the summer. Unable to deal with their feelings for each other, they part ways at the end of the summer. Four years go by, and they each settle down, Ennis in Wyoming with his wife and two girls, and Jack in Texas with his wife and son. Still longing for each other, they meet back up, and are faced with the fact that they need each other. They undeniably need each other, and unsure of what to do, they start a series of "fishing trips", in order to spend time together. The relationship struggles on for years until tragedy strikes.

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Plot Keywords:

gay relationship | male nudity | homosexuality | mountain | ranch | 

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Taglines:

Love Is A Force Of Nature

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality, nudity, language and some violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Taiwan] Pathé [France]

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

13 January 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Secreto en la montaña

Filming Locations:

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$14,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$547,425 (USA) (9 December 2005)

Gross:

$83,025,853 (USA) (14 April 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Focus Features, River Road Entertainment, Alberta Film Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

134 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

After playing an LGBT character in this film, Heath Ledger went on to play the Joker in The Dark Knight (2008). The same thing later happened to Jared Leto, who played an LGBT character in Dallas Buyers Club (2013) and then later played the Joker in Suicide Squad (2016).

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Goofs

During the rather important kitchen sink conversations after the family holiday dinner, a props tag is plainly visible on a dish's underside. As the dish is conspicuously hand-washed under running water, the underside faces the camera and the large masking tape tag with marker lettering goes unacknowledged by the cast.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Jack Twist: [he kicks the cargo box of his old car] Shit.

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Connections

Referenced in Mortal Kombat (2011)

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Soundtracks

The Cowboy's Lament
Traditional

User Reviews

A dream...

I saw Brokeback Mountain at the Venice Film Festival (with Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hatheway, and Ang Lee in attendance)and it's been haunting me ever since. I had read Annie Proulx's short story in the "New Yorker" years ago and it haunted me as well. What is it about this story? It's a love story that starts out without love--and finishes with a love that never ends. Congratulations to the director and the entire cast, you did a great job. I wish you much success, although with the theme being so "delicate", it may have trouble finding a big audience in the U.S. The audience here in Europe, I can say, thought it was great.