In a lengthy new interview for GQ actor Jake Gyllenhaal revisits his iconic role in Brokeback Mountain.
More than 10 years have passed since the film caused a sensation, scoring Oscar nominations for stars Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger, as well as awarding director Ang Lee his first Oscar statuette.
For Gyllenhaal, the success of the film was a shock.
“I think we had been cast for our ‘essences’ without really understanding what our ‘essences’ were – and that’s outside of our sexuality – we’re two straight guys cast in these roles, but who we are, who we were, Ang could see,” he recalls.
“And I don’t know if I could. So when the movie had the response that it had …. I don’t think we recognized what Ang had seen in us so we were blind at the profundity and the echo the movie made … and I don’t think we ever had any idea it would have the impact that it had.”
Gyllenhaal adds that rehearsal played a key role in developing his rapport with co-star Ledger, and in building their characters. He also reels at the ongoing legacy of the film as a classic story of two men in love.
“To make a movie that even just works is a miracle,” he admits. “When it resonates even beyond that, it’s impossible. And it has nothing to do with you in the end.”
“Just being in Brokeback Mountain, that’s the feeling I have. I feel that deeply about it. It had nothing to do with me. It came to me, I was honored to be a part of it, and it is now everyone else’s in a way that I can’t even fathom.”
Related: Director spills the tea on which A-listers turned down “Brokeback Mountain”
Cam
Left out:
There weren’t any out Gay Actors who could have taken the part because Hollywood wouldn’t hire than, and even if any wanted to come out their agencies threatened them.
Sooooo, there’s that.
Stephen
The core issue is chemistry.
We could have a talk about all the known and unknown gay actors playing straight men. What is the difference? None. Sexism is gender bias towards a reverse discrimination in this case
Eng made a classic. I believed the chemistry and essence between them. That friendship was intense, real and shatteringly beautiful. Who cares what they do in their beds at home? Their art is even more a salute to their skill in playing outside the box.
I know the period of time not knowing these feelings had a name. It’s real.
Donston
Stephen, so because you perceived them as “straight actors” it made their performances even more impressive and made you like the movie more? That’s the type of nonsense perspective that allows Hollywood to continue to get away with bigotry, continue to make sure to overlook any openly gay actors for high-profile “gay roles”, continue to pressure people to stay closeted, and it highlights how many gay-identifying men don’t really have respect themselves or their own. We also need to stop whittling down “gay” to what folks do in the bedroom or what your sociology represents. That’s a very problematic view of “gay”, rather you see gay as something that reflects sexual orientation, identity, overall preferences and ambitions and contentment and romantic love, or even lifestyle.
I ultimately don’t care who gets to play what roles. But the hetero worship and gay shame some of you faags endorse and your refusal to even admit being openly gay limits you’re career opportunities in Hollywood- it’s really sickening. I just hope most of you guys are, um, upper aged. Damn near every actor out of the closet has talked about Hollywood’s internalized homophobia, not wanting to hire out actors for high profile roles, pressuring folks to stay closeted. But for some reason you guys just pretend they’re all full of shit. And who are these gay actors in high-profile straight roles? Being closeted does not count. As much as people complain about the younger generation, younger people do seem to comprehend these type of complex political, systematic, sociological, and psychological issues a lot more easily.
I don’t think BM is some masterpiece. The first half was pretty good then it kinda becomes blah. And I really didn’t see all the supposed chemistry between the two males leads. It’s the type of film dudes obsessed with hyper masculinity, white guys, closet cases and wanting to see supposedly actors make-out love. I guess I don’t fit into that category.
Josh447
Donston,
You said of Stephen’s comment:
“Stephen, so because you perceived them as “straight actors” it made their performances even more impressive and made you like the movie more?”
His statement was about “chemistry”. Nowhere does he mention straight actors turning in a more impressive performance making him like the movie more.
Maybe you could clarify your assertions?
Also would you have found Jake more workable in the role if you had found him generally “appealing”? Sounds like he isn’t one of your favorites.
Donston
There’s really no other way to interpret the comment. He literally said he found it more impressive because he viewed them as straight. People often don’t realize how problematic little comments like that can be. And yeah, I thought Jake gave the weakest performance out of the three leads. However, I do put some of the blame on Ang and the script for feeling less towards that character. When I first saw the movie I had no opinion of Heath or Jake at all. So, it’s not as if I was biased. And I have found a couple of his performances since awards worthy.
Josh447
Donston,
You said “He literally said he found it more impressive because he viewed them as straight.”
Please quote where he says that. I can’t find it.
Rock-N-RollHS
Heath Ledger was amazing. End of story. Strop the the political correct crap.
Chris
Amen
Cam
It’s always adorable when complaining about bigotry is attacked by saying it’s “Politically correct crap”.
We get it, you’re for blackface and for white actors playing Asian and Latinos as well and not casting any minority actors for anything.
After all, if you have Scarlet Johanssen and Ryan Reynolds they can just play every part.
CurtisIsTheOne
Ang Lee is SUCH a talented director. I am a BIG FAN of his works.
jcoberkrom
Brokeback is a good example where you don’t have to be gay to play gay.
Can you imagine anyone else in these roles.
Another good example is Olympia Dukakis in Tales. She IS Barbary Lane.
Countervail
I’m kind of tired of his “but I’m straight” BS. He slept with a friend of mine under an NDA.
JED08
He also brought a guy with him to the academy awards that year. They just had one of his agents who was female sit in-between them.
Kangol2
What? So he’s straight with a bit of a swerve. Hmm.
jthomasmpls
Does “swerve” mean bisexual? ?
Cam
Just a question…..
So no LGBTQ publication talking about this is going to point out that Big Straight Mr. Jake has never married and hasn’t really been seen with a serious girlfriend since he dated Kirsten Dunst a decade or so ago?
Chrystal
You seem to be a negative person who feels the need to insult anyone who doesn’t think like you. Insulting others is immature and will never accomplish anything.
14 years ago, when this movie was released, times were much different….Actors who were gay stayed so far in the closet they needed a map to find their way out. Finding straight actors who would even consider taking these two roles were few. I love that these two men took the roles and the movie was able to be made….I also feel having two of Hollywood’s biggest actors at the time in these roles and the success of the movie went a long way in shining a light on the personal turmoil a lot of Gay people experience….It also started a dialogue on equality.
I also have a question. Why does anyone need to point out to the world that a actor who played a gay character has never been married and hasn’t been seen with a girlfriend in a decade? Exactly what would the purpose of reporting that be? None of those things indicate he’s gay… I don’t know if he’s truly gay and frankly I don’t care. However, Outing people who aren’t ready to be out is a scummy thing to do.
Brian
If you’re saying that Jake is gay and closeted, wouldn’t that make him the perfect actor to play the role of a closeted gay man? So why are you bitching?
Cam
@Brian
If you watched the movie you’d know that Jake was the one who was somewhat out.
ptb2016
You Guys, hoping everyone you like is gay. Not getting married or having a serious girlfriend and enjoying the company of other men doesn’t make you gay. And of course, Rick Hudson was very good at keeping his private life private, so how do you know Jake doesn’t have a steady female companion? Maybe he’s one of those who likes to have a private life. In this modern world of instant gratification and cameras everywhere it’s a difficult trick to pull off. But do you know what, it can still be done. I know a few actors who tell me if they want to be recognised when they go out they are, while if they don’t want to be they aren’t. Goes with the territory. And as for the actors playing those roles in Brokeback, the whole point was they were straight guys who fell in love with each other. Only late in the story did Jakes character go with other men. So it was valid casting straight guys. Oh and they were both brilliant, and deeply moving.
Cam
Actually I have no like or dislike for Gyllenhall. He’s been in some good movies. Sometimes he’s good, sometimes he’s offputting. But I find it interesting that peope are eager to ignore reality (No girlfriendm no marriage even though P.R. companies would push it….and instead invent a reality “Well maybe he ………”
Sounds like you have more involved in this than anybody else.
jthomasmpls
Wait….”Brokeback, the whole point was they were straight guys who fell in love with each other. ” doesn’t that make them bisexual?
Donston
jthomasmpls, I guess you could argue that sexuality and identity is subjective or that ptb2016 is talking about “straightness” and “gayness” from a degree of being aware of who you are. And perhaps they didn’t know who they were til they met each other. But really, there isn’t any ambiguity or wiggle room to Ledger’s character. He was presented as a “gay” and homosexual guy in the most conventional, traditional and complete sense. He didn’t seem to have any type of romantic connection with his wife, was unhappy and frustrated in his marriage from the beginning, didn’t want to sexually engage with his wife, only sexually engaged with his wife while not looking at her face and quickly “getting the job done”, had a ton of passion for Jake’s character, carried on an affair with him for years, had substantial and sustained romantic connections and affections towards him that lasted for years. And when the writer of the short story talked about a potential sequel she talked about Ennis having to deal with being closeted during the AIDS epidemic. No matter how you perceive identity, sexuality and orientation I don’t see how anyone could tag him as a “straight guy”.
Cam
@jthomasmpls
Wow, you REALLY didn’t see the movie. The point of the story was that they were closeted because of the bigotry. This is Why Heath could barely have sex with his wife and pushed away other women, why Jake was moving in on the other guy after he thought he and Heather were never going to work out.
Just a hint “Straight” guys don’t fall into romantic/sexual love with each other.
Donston
I think sexuality and the spectrum is diverse, wide and fluid enough that I don’t have a huge problem seeing people who aren’t entirely, completely hetero or homo as “straight” or “gay”. But it was pretty obvious that both characters are presented as dudes with overall homo-leaning preferences and contentment. They are contending more with outside bigotry and internal resentment than dealing with any confusions or not knowing what they wanted. While Ledger’s character is presented as a rather basic homosexual and gay guy. “Two ‘straight’ men falling in love” was clearly not the story’s intentions.
Rich85
I don’t know for a fact whether Jake is gay or straight, but I work in the film industry and the rumors that usually prove to be true are that he is gay. I do know that he has a glowing reputation for being kind and great to work with which is awesome. If he is straight then I’m sad for him that he seems to have had no meaningful relationship with a woman in his 38 years here on earth. If only he could find a woman he has as much chemistry with as he obviously has with his current co-star Tom Holland in interviews. At a certain point a “straight” red-blooded 38 year old man who is incredibly successful, handsome and by all accounts a really good guy with a great sense of humor not having any kind of serious relationship with a woman becomes at the very least suspicious. Love Jake, hope he is happy and leading his best life whatever that may be.
Josh447
Yup. When added up. He’s gay.
Donston
The whole not wanting “straight guys” to play “gay” roles is always going to be a complicated matter. Yes, Hollywood is full of gay shame and straight/hetero-leaning worship and supremacy. However, this is acting. And sexuality is subjective. There’s the spectrum. There’s fluidity. There’s preferences and ambitions. And there’s about 50,000 identities. So, trying to create cutoff points is almost impossible. As far as the rumors are concerned, a couple of his hetero relationships did seem suspect. He’s apparently had no real relationship in over a decade. And there was a C-list actor who was his “best friend” for a couple of years and then apparently disappeared from his life. But whatever his relationship ambitions are and wherever he is on the overall romantic, sexual, affection, relationship contentment spectrum, at this point he’s very unlikely to reveal. So, why care? Sometimes you just have to move on.
Bruno070
Why oh why do we always wish every good looking hetero is gay. Until and unless he says otherwise please assume he is straight! He is good looking thought!!
Donston
Assuming that the gay rumors exists just due to gay guys’ fantasies is a bit patronizing. It’s also incorrect since the rumors exist for a number of reasons, and many women seem to think he’s into dudes. Also, refusing to talk about being closeted, at least from a general sense, doesn’t allow us to have real discussions about things like why people stay closeted, internalized homophobia, internal struggles, hetero normal pressures, the sociological/psychological/political/economical aspects of identity, sexual behaviors, who people have relationships with, etc. Discussions about someone’s orientation and who’s closeted from a specific perspective does get exhausting. But how about we assume that everyone is their own person and has a right to share whatever they wish to share, instead of assuming everyone is “straight”? Assuming the latter honestly reads as homophobic and promoting shame.
Cam
“Please assume he is straight”
Your comment right there is the foundation of hollywood bigotry.
justyouandi
Every job should be filled based on merit. Never on their sexual orientation. Jake was the best actor to play this character.
Period!
Donston
I actually think Jake was miscast in that role. I’ve felt that way since I first saw the movie in 2005. And it has nothing to do with identity, orientation, lifestyle, sexual/romantic/relationship preferences. I just felt compared to Ledger and Michelle Williams he was kinda blank and awkward. Even in the cast interviews he came off the least connected to the material and to his character and seemed the most awkward discussing the film. He has pretty much admitted that he didn’t regard the material but did the film so he could work with Ang Lee. IMO it shows on screen. I don’t think Jake is generally a great actor, though he has grown quite a bit since that time, and he excels playing more “eccentric” people.
The discussion of who has the rights to what roles is a very complicated one. It involves sociology, privilege, practicality, politics, the nuances of people’s sense of self and identities. But people like to take complicated topics and make them basic as fvck for the sake of convenience.
EliottlovesLucas
Donston, who do you think would have been better for the part? Joaquin Phoenix was attached or considered but I don’t know for what part. Matt Damon was also approached but turned it down. My guess is both were up for Ennis. As far as Jack Twist I have a hard time coming up with names. I think Adrian Brody would have been an interesting choice. Maybe Jonathan Rhys Myers, Ewan McGregor,Orlando Bloom even Ethan Hawk. I also think Matthew McConaughy would have made an interesting Ennis.
Donston
I wouldn’t have minded seeing “softer” guys like Elijah Wood or Tobey Mcguire take a stab at it. Maybe James Franco (as annoying as I’ve always found him). Jonathan Rhys Meyers would have been interesting only because he was so pretty and yummy at the time. But I don’t think he could have pulled it off, and his American accents have always been wonky. Gyllenhaal didn’t brought the energy or sensitivity to balance Ledger’s indignance and gruffness. And there just wasn’t much chemistry between the two leads. That hurt the movie for me.
Cam
@Donston
You could be on to something. A closeted guy may have subcouncious fear of the role. Sort of the way Anderson Cooper stayed away from gay reports when he was closeted.
Josh447
On second blush, if Depp had played Jake’s role I would have gone to the movie due to the other high powered actors.
Josh447
Heath played the soft receptive male and Jake played the hard projective male If you will. And their parts reflected that. Movies are always based on creating opposites so having two soft males in hard and soft roles in this movie, could have actually failed it.
Jake’s roll was the hard hitting alpha fast-talking loverboy. Sexy as hell he did an awesome job. However I don’t think you find Jake sexually attractive so that could bust the movie for you I suppose. Most people find him extremely attractive. Heath’s role was about being the passive quiet understated oil tanker about to explode at any moment. He did it brilliantly.
Jake was in no way miscast in most people’s minds, after all he was nominated for an academy award. However I do know when I don’t like an actor, that movie is out even if it’s nominated. I.e….. I can’t STAND George Clooney or Johnny Depp, and can only watch their movies if special effects are a draw and other high powered actors are involved. Either way the movie gets diluted. If Johnny Depp had played Jake’s part, I would not have even gone to the movie. Anyway, that’s my two sense.
EliottlovesLucas
I think Lee Pace and Ryan Gosling would have been interesting. Lee is such an interesting “what if” . If he had gotten the role of jack with the acclaim and award nominations do think he would have ever come out?
Jared MacBride
They cast him and Ledger to make money, the same reason Hollywood does everything.
EliottlovesLucas
Neither Ledger nor Gyllenhaal were box office draws at the time.
Condor221
I fell in love with BBM. In love with the the mountains, Jake and Heath, and the story. In fact I have the large poster of them, framed, on my wall. I wanted to use my connections to get them both to autograph the poster, but fate had other plans.
Josh447
They actually signed many posters right when the movie came out. I bought a bunch of them. One large poster has signatures of the entire cast including Ang Lee. Not sure what they are worth today but they weren’t cheap back then.
paulmodibe
I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO WORK ON THE CREW THAT CREATED ”BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN” I WAS PRIVILEGED TO SEE AND WORK WITH HEATH LEDGER AND JAKE GYLLENHAAL AND TO SEE THEIR FRIEND AND THEN RELATIONSHIP BLOOM ESPECIALLY IN ISOLATED SCENES ON THE MOUNTAIN IN ALBERTA, CAN WHICH SERVED AS BROKEBACK. I REGRET THAT ANG LEE FELT HE HAD TO CUT SO MUCH FROM THE SEX SCENE ESPECIALLY INSIDE THE TENT, AND THE NUDE SHOTS OF THEM FOLLYING AT THE CAMPSITE. THANK YOU HEATH, JAKE AND ANG FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME TO EXPERIENCE GREATEST IN A WORLD OF MEDIOCRITY. DAMN THE ACADEMY MEMBERS FOR NOT GIVING THE OSCAR TO BROKEBACK, HEATH, AND JAKE.
Josh447
Yes the award went to a total B movie Crash I think the name was. What a snub.
just me
Who gives a damn about who the actor is in real life and who they are attracted or not attracted to? what matters is the world of suspended disbelief created for a brief moment inside the movie venue (cinama, home or whatever). actors act, they pretend to be someone else, and if they’re good they become that someone else for the duration. hopefully, after the last scene is filmed, they are able to go back to whoever they were before.
Donston
This type of idealistic perspective only exist in a world where Hollywood doesn’t pressure folks to stay closeted and where actors who are openly homosexual/gay/same-sex leaning/unabashed non hetero-leaning actually have a fair shake at top tier roles, especially top tier gay roles. It’s not mostly about the product. It’s about social and political implications.
one more thing
Hollywood still has an aversion to making movies with gay characters……Netflix has very few choices too, it’s so lame!
GymMan456
I dont think it ever will come anything good out of Hollywood/LA.
I have been hoping for some studio to film theatre and sell videos – of a different mindset and of course fantastic dialogues, written by real authors, not the LA bots.
I have come to hate even the way they tell their stories, their clipping and their constant flirt with unreality or surrealism. Their cast set up & profiling shouldn’t be needed mentioned. And i have ceased to automatically identify with their main role, i rather wish them dead.
I never cared to watch the mountain, i rather watched some good porn – like active duty in 2004 -2012. Great period. Thats real stuff. Impressive.
But face it, Hollywood and the rest of US big film industry is in the hands of big money, and these are no LGBTQ friends. They do not rule details in films, but rule by hiring their friends and family plus editorial profile and such which may be very unwritten codes.
They will never really accept gays, and the way they play with us can be seen in Game of Thrones.
There every gay was killed, like some kind of poetic justice.
Donston
GoT’s “queer representation” was a bit problematic. Yara was given a fair shake and presented as brave and heroic. The males got the shorter end. Renly was presented as a self-obsessed poof who aimed for attention and admiration. He had no real right to the throne and could have easily assisted his brother’s victory, but he had too big of an ego to do so. Loras was presented as an air-headed pretty boy who took nothing seriously and was all about getting dick. Oberyn was presented as a whorish, ego-maniac “bi guy” who only used teenage boys for sex. And none of them ended up being fully fleshed-out characters who had big impact on the “game”. But so many characters died on GoT. Their deaths alone shouldn’t equate to disrespect. And that show had so many issues with its writing and characterization in general, especially in the latter seasons.
Condor221
I wrote a book series and a screen play of one of them. It was about a gay President and no one had time to read it. Maybe Condor One will see the screen after I’m dead.
rogue4gay
My view, this was a movie about two straight guys who repressed the gay side of themselves. Who better to play that than two straight guys who are in touch with who they are.
What does it mean to be straight? What does it mean to be gay? Especially in the context of a movie. If the movie is primary about two guys living a str8 life in a str8 world, these two had that experience. They also could easily represent that awkward experience of the first time having sex with another guy. Which was exactly what the sex scene was, very awkward.
If the movie is primarily about a gay guy in a gay culture, then best to have a gay guy. Especially if its a stereotypical gay culture. Sean Hayes on Will and Grace is an ideal example. He is his character. Will Truman as a str8 actor is a great balance to Sean. A gay guy would likely have been more influenced by Sean to be more stereotypically gay.
And all the comments about Jake being gay? I have fantasized about being with Jake. Does that mean he’s gay? The gay world gets all caught up in trying to out famous actors they consider heartthrobs. I get we want more examples of gay men and women in leading positions, but pushing on someone to come out as gay says more about the individual who is doing the pushing than the person they are accusing.
Donston
Why do so many supposedly “proud gays” end up saying stuff that makes them come off as both ignorant and anti-gay?
The only time someone should be required to hire openly gay actors for gay roles is for over-the-top, stereotypical gay roles? That makes zero sense, especially since many straight actors have played over the top gay roles. And Sean Hayes wasn’t even out when he was on Will & Grace. Also, BM is not about “straight guys”. They indulged a same-sex romantic, sexual and emotional affair for many years, clearly were in love with each other and clearly had overall same-sex preferences. And Jack Twist lived with a man before he killed. Ledger’s character in particular was obviously entirely homosexual and gay. That is the movie’s narrative. Not “straight guys” who are confused/liked to experiment. You also seem to stupidly think that gay dudes don’t understand the awkwardness of being closeted or living the “straight world” as if most guys don’t spend a portion of their lives closeted or as if most gay dudes live in Palm Springs or San Francisco. Most gay guys live among the rest of the population. You’re also equating masculinity/femininity with sexuality/orientation/preferences. Furthermore, practically every movie set before the 70’s is going to be about closeted guys.
I do agree that trying to force people out of the closet or to embrace an identity is a mistake that doesn’t do anyone any good. But once again, many women think Jake is gay/homo-leaning. It’s not just about gay guys’ fantasies. I don’t even find Jake that appealing and I can see where the rumors are coming from.
Your whole post is simply moronic babel that feeds into stereotypes, resentments, gay shame, masculine superiority and straight/hetero-leaning worship. Just say anyone should be able to play any role instead of crafting such an incredibly problematic post. You honestly sound like a hetero worshiper, someone who is effemiphobic and another idiot who seems to think “gay” means being an over the top queen. Stuff like this is partially why so many guys are scared to keep it real or they keep a distance from “gay”. You’re a part of the problem, not the solution.
EliottlovesLucas
Since when do “straight” guys have love affairs that last 2 decades. Yes people can experience some fluidity in their sexuality plus Ennis was drunk but once they left Brokeback and married their wives they should have forgotten about each other. They did not. Heterosexual men even fluid ones do not maintain long term affections and erotic longing for other men, hell even bisexual men don’t. These guys were a product of their place and time. There was no such thing as “gay” in the consevative mountain west of the times. They, like a lot of gay men were chameleons. They blended in. They mimicked what other men did.
Donston
EliottlovesLucas, there’s some aspects of your posts that some will see as problematic. But yes, “straight men” do not maintain romantic, sexual, emotional passions and affections and ambitions towards other guys for decades. There wasn’t any contradictory aspects to their orientation, where their overall orientation was more complete towards women but there were some sexual and/or emotional aspects towards guys. All the aspects of their orientation leaned towards guys and stayed that way. And it’s pretty evident in the film and the short story and in the cast/crew interviews. The movie is about the closet and their environment and the time. Even Ledger talked about liking being a part of a project where gay men were not presented as stereotypes. There’s nothing in the film or in the way the cast or crew talked talked about the movie that equates to it being a story about confusions, fluidity, or “two ‘mostly straight guys’ who are kinda into each other”. Folks who see the film that way clearly have issues and are likely straight/hetero-leaning worshipers.
TedV
Kirsten Dunst was his last girlfriend?? Umm, Natalie Portman, Reese Witherspoon and Ruth Wilson would all be really surprised to read that FakeNews.
Donston
All of the women he’s been linked with post Kirsten seemed to be chicks he hung out with for a few months, no substantial relationships in almost fifteen years and no confirmed relationships at all. That could mean he’s a hedonistic player, but he really doesn’t seem like the type. Beard culture has always been a real thing. But really, speculating about actors’ sex lives, who’s dating who, who’s closeted, where someone fits on the spectrum- it doesn’t matter. Even if it’s apparent someone is in a glass closet (which it is not in Jake’s case. He could very well be conventionally hetero and straight) it’s still their lives, and trying to force folks to come out does not help anyone. It also makes “queers” look petty and desperate, and it takes away from the real issues that might actually allow people to feel greater freedom, less desire to manipulate and be more real about themselves and their struggles.
But Hollywood is always going to be Hollywood.
Aires the Ram
In the rural areas of this country, both yesterday & to some degree today, men do not feel in any way connected to the “gay community” in the more populated areas of the country, the cities. They’re men, they have occupations that rural men have, they live in a very male world. Does that mean that they’re all heterosexual, or trying to “act” heterosexual? Nope. As with any population of men, they fall all over the Kinsey scale. At the end of the day, the ones on the homosexual side of the scale are still men, among men, making their living how rural blue-collar men do. This is why I think the portrayal of the two characters in Brokeback Mountain was spot-on. They both played their respective roles brilliantly.
I will say though, if you never lived in a rural area, a rural state, if you never worked amongst blue-collar men, if you are young now and are just seeing the movie now, I’m not sure you would see the movie in the context in which it was intended, and did very well.