Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Pros: This is an overall superb film, portraying an elicit love affair between wannabe rancher Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and rodeoer Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) who take a summer job in the mountains camping and guarding sheep though that goes sideways, at least as far as the sheep are concerned. Instead, they form a tender relationship which rapidly becomes the most important in their lives despite them both eventually marrying others and starting a family. The acting is just utterly incredible, you don't question or even believe that Ledger and Gyllenhaal ever acted in anything else, but their past becomes what their characters have done. The supporting cast is also top-notch though the strength of the roles vary. Even the setting and attention to detail in the set decoration and score are incredible.

Cons: Probably my only con is that the first love scene between the two men is that it is not exactly consensual. Neither says no but consent is never asked or given and that is a problem. Consent is sexy.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A

Side Notes:

-The women in the lives in Ennis and Jake include Anne Hathaway as the wealthy Lureen who Jack marries, Linda Cardellini's Cassie as a waitress who tries to date Ennis after his divorce, Anna Faris as the perky blonde with whom Jack states he has an affair with and the best of them all, Michelle Williams as Alma, Ennis's wife, who is likely the only one who figures out her husband's secret and she punishes him strongly for it.

-Though Cardellini and Faris get the billing over Hathaway and Williams, Faris's role is little more than a cameo and Cardellini's role is also relatively tiny.

-Williams fully deserved her supporting actress Oscar-nomination.

-Kate Mara also delivers a great turn as Ennis's teenage daughter though his second daughter oddly disappear.

-The reason for the ending of Ennis's and Alma's marriage is great, she refuses to have any more children with him until he can support them better. The $250 per month he's ordered to pay in child support must be crippling to him.