Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Director:

Ang Lee

Writers (WGA):

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

Release Date:

16 December 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Western

Tagline:

Love Is A Force Of Nature

Plot:

Based on the 'E. Annie Proulx' story about a forbidden and secretive relationship between two cowboys and their lives over the years.

Plot Keywords:

Wyoming | Ranch Hand | Ranch | Rodeo | Cowboy

Awards:

Won 3 Oscars. Another 78 wins & 64 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Dec. 11	8:00 PM	BRAVO
Fri. Dec. 11	11:00 PM	BRAVO

Cast

Heath Ledger	...	Ennis Del Mar
Jake Gyllenhaal	...	Jack Twist
Randy Quaid	...	Joe Aguirre
Valerie Planche	...	Waitress
David Trimble	...	Basque
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

Also Known As:

Souvenirs de Brokeback Mountain (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, nudity, language and some violence.

Runtime:

134 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | Norway:11 | Finland:K-11 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Sweden:7 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:12 | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Singapore:R21 | Spain:13 | Portugal:M/12 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Japan:PG-12 | France:U | Brazil:16 | Taiwan:R-12 | Germany:12 | Belgium:KT | Chile:14 | Poland:18 | India:A | USA:R (certificate #41600) | Ireland:16 (theatrical rating) | Ireland:18 (video rating) | South Korea:15 (uncut) | China:(Banned) | Iceland:12 | Argentina:16 | Philippines:R-18 | New Zealand:M | Denmark:11 | Venezuela:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Company:

Alberta Film Entertainment

Trivia:

Joseph Gordon-Levitt was considered for the role of Ennis, having starred in Latter Days (2003) and Mysterious Skin (2004); and being closer in age to Jake Gyllenhaal and Michelle Williams.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The first reunion of Jack and Ennis is on 24th September 1967. On the next day 25th, they went onto the mountains and at that night there was a full moon. However, the full moon of September 1967 should be at 18th day, not 24th or 25th.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Joe Aguirre: You pair of deuces lookin' for work, I suggest you get your scrawny asses in here pronto.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in The 78th Annual Academy Awards (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Battle Hymn of the Republic

The Heart Of The Matter

I didn't believe for a moment that the film could live up to the hype, or to some of the comments posted here, some of them read like love letters to the film, to the director and the actors. Well, now, after seeing the film, I feel like writing a love letter myself. The film took over my senses and transported me. The tragedy that envelopes the lives of Ennis and Jack is caused by an ancestral ignorance that is part of our DNA and if you don't believe me read some of the hateful comments posted here alongside the love letters. That's the heart of the matter. After the summer in Brokeback Mountain, Ennis and Jack go their separate ways and Ennis hits a wall with his fists crying, trying to destroy his longing, self loathing, guilt, horror. Imagine in a world without ignorance and therefore without hatred, Ennis and Jack could have celebrated their love and attempt an honest life together. Imagine also if things were the other way and heterosexuals were the dark minority, imagine falling in love with a girl and having to keep it secret, never been able to tell or to show publicly your love for her. Men like Ennis, and there are many, have to curve their own emotions and conform, entering and developing unhappy marriages and why? Read some of the comments here and you'll understand why. There is one that condemns the movie and what the movie may do for his kid and his vision of cowboys without actually having seen the movie! That's the heart of the matter. I will go and see the film again tomorrow, if I can get tickets, I'm taking with me a group of people that hate the movie already without having seen it. I won a bet so they will have to. I'm taking them to diner later to talk. I intend to report the results if you let me. But for the time being let me tell you, "Brokeback Mountain" is an extraordinary film. Jake Gyllenhaal, Ann Hathaway and the magnificent Michelle Williams give superb performances but it's Heath Ledger's film. He gives us something that nobody could possibly have expected because what he gives us is not only, honest and moving and powerful but totally and utterly new.