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 94 wins & 67 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

A raw, powerful story of two young men, a Wyoming ranch hand and a rodeo cowboy, who meet in the summer of 1963 sheepherding in the harsh, high grasslands of contemporary Wyoming and form an unorthodox yet life-long bond--by turns ecstatic, bitter and conflicted.

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Plot Keywords:

Ranch Hand | Wyoming | Rodeo | Ranch | Cowboy | 

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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 [tw] Pathé [fr]

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

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:

$34,637 (Austria) (7 April 2006)

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

During the filming of the Fourth of July scenes in Fort Macleod, the crew would get the extras pumped up by telling them to act like the Calgary Flames had just won the Stanley Cup.

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Goofs

The tractor trailer rigs are too modern for the time period. At the beginning of the movie the tractor used in the film wasn't the kind rolling along the highways in the 1960s.

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Quotes

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

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Connections

Referenced in Undead or Alive: A Zombedy (2007)
Some music plays in an intimate scene involving the two cowboys, Luke and Elmer, that is very similar to the Brokeback Mountain theme.

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Soundtracks

"Quizas, Quizas, Quizas"
Written by Osvaldo Farrés
Produced by Gustavo Santaolalla
Performed by Rick Garcia

User Reviews

An amazing piece of cinema..

I was fortunate enough to see the North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. That was two days ago, and this film just wont leave my mind. Not that I'm complaining because this is what good cinema is all about.

Ennis and Jack, two cowboys who fall in love. As others have touched on, Brokeback Mountain is so much more than merely a "gay cowboy movie". It perfectly captures what true, unbridled love is all about and this love transcends any issues of sexuality or gender. "Love is a force of nature". Unfortunately for many people and indeed the protagonists of our story, society doesn't always view it that way.

Kudos to Ang Lee who has not shied away from the material at all. This adaptation stays true to the original short story and the two lead actors fit the roles perfectly. Ledger and Gyllenhaal give incredibly strong performances but the supporting cast shouldn't be overlooked either, particularly a somewhat unrecognizable Michelle Williams. Solid work all around and with Mr Ang Lee's vision they have created an amazing piece of cinema that should not be missed by anybody. Without giving anything away, you are going to be moved by this one.