Brokeback Mountain: A

Last year's most talked about, most seen, most critically lauded film is a story of ever deepening pain and love. What starts out (and drags on) for 45 minutes turns into addiction. It's like watching a 20-year car crash. Aiding this emotional drug of a movie is the script, which turns the movie into poetry on screen, Ang Lee as director, a man of shocking talent, and performances of exquisite beauty. Especially from Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhal. The story itself is of two poor ranch hands and the life-long connection they form on Brokeback Mountain one summer. A connection that will permenantly devastate any relationship they have from that moment forward, starting with their wives and ending with themselves and each other. Near then end, even when they were alone, Ennis (Heath Ledger) recoils from the relationship, and himself, because of it's shocking and unknown presence in his world. This is a movie that is timeless and painful and engrossing in the best way. You can even forgive it's minor moth-eaten holes in the script because of the rollercoaster your heart will be on.