Heath Ledger was INCREDIBLE in *BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN*!! (Movie First Reaction)

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Thank you for checking out our reaction to the 2005 film, 'Brokeback Mountain' starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal! Make sure to check out our Patreon for the full watchalong to this movie and early access to future Movie Night reactions!
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[@ReelTimeYT]

For the full watchalong to this movie and early access to other movie reactions, make sure to check out our Patreon!! www.patreon.com/ReelTimeYT

[@Knightowl1980]

I’m so happy for your generation. Watching young straight men watch a gay love story without reservation gets to me. Growing up gay I never thought I’d ever see that.

[@Knightowl1980]

@@rachelstewart9244 I dunno. I didn’t clock that, maybe.

[@Knightowl1980]

@@rachelstewart9244 though ironically he does look like someone I hooked up with in college, also named rob. Totally different

[@Rash23215]

Also I hope we stop praising people for doing bare minimum

[@Knightowl1980]

@@Rash23215 the bare minimum? What do you want from them ?….,to fk on camera? “Is it homophobic to not have gay sex?” Not everyone has to be an activist.

[@cameirusisu1024]

yes. What struct me recently was the reaction of people to the last of us episode about bill and frank. The positive reaction really caught me off guard. I did not realise just how much internalised caution about my sexuality I still had, and how much younger generations are thankfully not having to go through it and be burdened by it.

[@MoreJoy79]

When I was 16, I found out my father was gay. He died at the age of 68, having never lived his life the way he was meant to because of his fear and other's hate. This movie will always break my heart.

[@noeliainfante4625]

Fellow Travelers is a mini-series you may connect to. It’s heartbreaking but beautiful.

[@williamberven-ph5ig]

65 yo gay man here. With all the advancements made over my 47 years "out" as a gay man, and they've been considerable, seeing 3 young straight guys analyze a movie about 2 men in love without jokes and ridicule has to be our greatest accomplishment. Thank you gentlemen for your maturity and thoughtful commentary.

[@zammich3649]

I'm half your age and probably only a few years older than the guys that run this channel, and even in my short amount of time, the transition has been HUGE. I grew up thinking I had to keep everything about me secret, or share my interests in certain films etc. with only a select few. It moves me and brings me so much happiness when I see people who aren't gay or LGBT+ just regularly watching things like this and absorbing the messages. It's a beautiful thing.

[@camilaniram]

fun fact: heath dated michelle williams (alma in the movie) and had a baby girl together. jake is the godfather of that girl :') they truly were best friends

[@leep7136]

That's amazing!

[@tlo3571]

They met on the set of Backbroke Mountain. On an Oprah promotion interview, Heath stated that Michelle and he kept their relationship a secret while on the set. Jake started laughing and told him that he did a horrible job as everyone on the set knew they were mad about each other.

[@carolgreene2434]

Heaths best friend Trevor Di Carlo is his daughters godfather. Jake made a joke on Oprah about being a godfather and the media ran with it. They were very good friends though. They knew each other before the movie ever happened.

[@crg4949]

😊

[@amandadougherty6615]

This really highlights that homophobia, and the fear it can instill in people, ruins lives- the lives of the LGBTQ people who are afraid, and here- and hurts people- like Alma, who Ennius probably cared for, but who he didn’t feel about the way she did, and the way he did about Jack. It’s so, so tragic. And it’s just a better way to let people live their truth.

[@LiaaaaaaaaAAAAAHH]

Well said.

[@the_nikster1]

THANK YOU! ❤️

[@rakitoon]

Yes, well stated. And the children as well. That's the major theme of the movie of course. The fact these guys didn't see that...(they seem to have viewed this as just a story about two individuals and their lives and choices)...does it come from them having been raised throughout a time when homosexuality has been more widely accepted? I hope so. In any case, they missed the important point here. Oh well. Not a real crit. I like them. Just a little disappointed.

[@VictorLugosi]

You’re a dunce.. it highlights how aids spread.. phobia means fear, nobody is afraid, they just know a fetish isn’t a lifestyle..

[@jdb101585]

@@rakitoon I watched another reactor that couldn't wrap her head around why they didn't just talk it out (between both themselves and their spouses). It's because these younger reactors are coming from such a profoundly different worldview where such things are *possible* and even expected, when us older (even only slightly older) folks know that that was *not* the case. It's a good thing, even if it resulted in an inability to truly understand what that might be like; which is good, ultimately. I don't *want* someone to know what that's like.

[@erinrutherford1374]

Thank you for watching this movie so openly amongst friends, to truly celebrate the talent and art these actors made together ❤

[@headwound]

It's good to see people reacting to this film these days and taking it seriously like it was supposed to from the beginning. I always think about how Heath Ledger refused to attend the 2007 Oscars because they had asked him to make a joke about Brokeback Mountain so he refused, saying "It's not a joke to me, I dont want to make any jokes about it."

[@jamiegreenberg8476]

i know it wouldnt have but i wish the joke wouldve been something like the huge upset that crash won best picture when everyone was gunning for brokeback

[@carlitosbrown1970]

He was right.

[@keanspivey9803]

The part at around the 11 min mark where they have to part ways for the first time Heath Ledger’s character, Ennis, wasn’t sick. He was grunting, punching a wall, and falling to his knees because he’s fighting back tears and literally having an internal battle with himself to stamp out his feelings for Jake Gyllenhaal’s character, Jack. Ennis grew up in a completely homophobic environment. He was raised to never cry or have feelings, especially not about another man. He can’t fathom what he is feeling for jack or even come to terms with it. That’s also why you see him almost start fighting Jack when he first makes a move on him in the tent. I love the subtlety this film has about sexuality and exposing toxic masculinity.

[@the_nikster1]

I love what Zuff said about them wasting time with their families instead of being together because, for me, that's kind of the point of the story. they were only with their wives *because* society didn't allow them to be together. if Jack and Ennis were alive in 2023, they would have been living together happily on a ranch. I mean I do feel sorry for Alma because she didn't deserve what she went through but then again, neither did Jack and Ennis. they were all just victims of homophobia at a very close minded time in our society. thanks for another great reaction guys and Happy Pride! 🏳‍🌈

[@theresebell1198]

Jack and Ennis were victims of homophobia. Alma was a victim of Ennis.

[@the_nikster1]

@@theresebell1198 disagree. I think that if they had been living in 2023, Alma and Ennis would never had gotten together. because of the homophobic time they lived in, Ennis couldn’t be honest with her for fear of literal physical harassment and/or death. they lived in a time where even being accused of being gay could get you jailed or beaten to death.

[@soullesschicken4069]

@@the_nikster1 homophobia didn't force him to marry her lol. he could have been single or found a wife that's either fine with him being gay or is gay herself and had a marriage for appearances sake. there was no need for him to ruin another person's life. she should have honestly divorced him as soon as she found out but she probably stayed for awhile hoping it would get better and for the kids. frankly the kids didn't deserve all that shit either

[@the_nikster1]

@@soullesschicken4069 I’m not saying that she nor the kids deserved any of it but you have to view the movie through the lens of the times they were living in. being single and not marrying or having kids was just not a thing that people overlooked easily. besides, how was he going to find a lesbian in that small town without outing himself and risking going to prison or being killed? hell, Jack almost outed himself by simply buying a rodeo clown a drink and even though he was married to Lureen for all those years and had a kid, he was still beaten to death for being gay. as far as Alma is concerned, this was also a time when people stayed together for the kids a lot more often than not and didn’t really know how to deal with things like that. the conversation of “I’ve discovered I’m gay” was just something that didn’t happen back then. I’m not saying it was ok for Ennis to hurt his wife; I’m just saying that not everything in their situation was so simple. homophobia made it so Ennis had to put on an act. homophobia made it so that he couldn’t even utter the words “queer” or gay anywhere else but Brokeback. homophobia made it so that Ennis, Jack, Alma, and Lureen were trapped in marriages that they didn’t want. it’s unfair and it’s all because being gay was punishable by imprisonment and death back then. literally. hell, there are still countries in the world today where that is the case.

[@XxforevercandygirlXx]

Happy July American pride 🇺🇸

[@curtisrose7426]

The fight scene at Jack's death was especially heart-wrenching, because this movie was set in a fictitious Wyoming, but less than a decade before Matthew Shepard was murdered in Laramie in that same way. Taken out in a field by two strangers and beat to death.

[@yutisima]

jesus

[@jamiegreenberg8476]

the short story was written a bit after shepards death so some people think jacks murder was inspired by it

[@fellini2011]

@@jamiegreenberg8476 the short story was written two years before Matthew Shepard was murdered.

[@user-kj1pq6zh3x]

I thought about that too. Poor guy was murdered in the same manner in the same place

[@LorraineVirginie]

One very clear distinction between Jack & Ennis, from the very beginning. Ennis is afraid, and Jack isn’t. Everything Ennis does comes from his fear, the extreme reactions and violent outbursts. Jack’s lack of fear is what ultimately ends his life but arguably his life was slightly less miserable (or could’ve been if he’d fallen for another man who wasn’t afraid).

[@Erika-br8xo]

Not just afraid, full of internalised hate. Growing up hearing gays are wrong and disgusting and then have these feelings for an other man..

[@highheartwellness]

This movie (and written story) is also a great depiction of anxious (Jack) and avoidant (Ennis) attachment styles.

[@priscilabee583]

I love how mature, sensitive and respectful you guys are when watching all types of love stories.

[@yutisima]

seriously, maybe for some the reactions may seem bland, but i love reactions where they pay attention to what they're watching, and are silent, just as if they were truly watching it without a camera

[@videohistory722]

Heath Ledger was asked to present at the Oscars with Jake with a parody of this movie, and he, no joke, said, "Hell no!" People tried to be like, "Its just a joke." and he said, "Not to me." We didn't just lose the Joker tied for first with Mark Hamill for best, we lost an ally that understood the assignment from day fucking one. 💔

[@123newjersey3]

i think the way u worded this made it sound like he was against presenting the movie

[@videohistory722]

@@123newjersey3 only one saying that is you.

[@123newjersey3]

@@videohistory722 oh ok maybe I read it weird

[@tsukimilo]

​@@123newjersey3Probably you did, it's clear that Ledger respected the message of the movie enough not to make jokes at its expense, even back when it came out (heh)

[@woody5551]

Not sure what your point is. Heath Ledger was committed to the character to the last detail. It makes sense that he pushed back against anyone that made light of the movie.

[@Venslor]

This movie was a great way to introduce straight audiences to the idea that "the closet hurts everyone," because it surely does. How many people lived their entire lives miserable and in being miserable, made others miserable because they didn't live in a world that would accept them for who they truly are?

[@JeffKelly03]

As great as Heath Ledger was in The Dark Knight, I maintain this was the best performance of his career. He does so much while doing so little, if that makes sense. He barely emotes and yet you can read everything going on in his eyes, the way he speaks, body language, etc. And the final sequence when he's hugging Jack's shirt... so unbelievably heartbreaking. Gyllenhaal was great as well, of course, but in a much showier role. Heath was just a powerhouse. Also: the musical score in this is spectacular. The main theme is gorgeous.

[@johnnyboy7144]

Not only do I agree that this is by far his best acting performance of his career but it’s honestly one of the best performances I’ve ever seen in general for an actor

[@Noxofspades-lh7bj]

I'm still upset that Heath didn't get an oscar for this. And that this role doesn't get nearly as much hype as his joker. I've seen all his movies. It's great that he pulled off the joker when he never played a villain. But he's been in many dramas. It's mindblowing how I'm used to seeing him in romantic and dramatic roles, yet this performance is drastically different and more mature.

[@videohistory722]

Friendly reminder that THIS was the source material: Jack took the stairs two and two. They seized each other by the shoulders, hugged mightily, squeezing the breath out of each other, saying, son of a bitch, son of a bitch, then, and easily as the right key turns the lock tumblers, their mouths came together, and hard, Jack's big teeth bringing blood, his hat falling to the floor, stub ble rasping, wet saliva welling, and the door opening and Alma looking out for a few seconds at Ennis's straining shoulders and shutting the door again and still they clinched, pressing chest and groin and thigh and leg together, treading on each other's toes until they pulled apart to breathe and Ennis, not big on endearments, said what he said to his horses and daughters, little darlin.

[@Fhornergal]

This was published with no punctuation..?

[@tiffm1699]

I can’t watch this movie without crying. It def pulls at the heartstrings. Jack was enniss’s person to love and they never got to love each other the way they wanted

[@XxEvilTiggerxX]

I always hold it together the entire movie until he has the the shirt hanging up on the door at the end. Then I just start sobbing 😭

[@camillemayers103]

This movie gutted me. I watched it in the theater in the USA. When it concluded the audience was very still...and crying. Never saw a reaction like that before, and never since. RIP Heath.❤

[@Rash23215]

I hate the fact that people underrate jake gyllenhaal in this movie just because he's alive.... Also I hate the fact that people underrate jake as an ally, like everywhere I see comments about heath being very possessive about this movie but jake was too, just because he's not dead doesn't mean he doesn't deserve credit....

[@valmacclinchy]

Jake won a well-deserved BAFTA for his role in this movie. He should've won the Oscar too, but don't get me started on that...

[@joshthompson1176]

It's amazing people don't realise Jack's mother gave Ennis his ashes, wrapped in the shirt. Look at how bulky the shirt looks and how gently she puts it in the bag.

[@thisisbillgates]

there's no reason to think this though, it doesn't look like there's enough bulk there for ashes as well, just looks like two shirts.

[@woody5551]

An interesting point I've never heard before. You are free to interpret the Lightning Flat scene any way you want.

[@rovertnitram123]

Yes! I thought that too!

[@greyngo]

A cool theory but definitely not "a fact". Definitely can't say "amazing that people don't".

[@videohistory722]

Fun fact: The DVD cover is meant to be a play off of the Titanic one, to show they're star crossed lovers.

[@rogve5868]

I remember when I saw the movie cutout at the front of the cinema. The kid me immediately knew they were lovers because of the titanic cover resemblance.

[@Celestial26]

The movie is literally the epitome of “TENSION.”😢😢 I wanted Jack & Ennis to have a happy ending.

[@TheMahlyenkidyavol]

19:50 I always look forward to Rob's signature jaw drop. Makes me laugh every time 😂

[@Maxwellish]

i remember going into this film initially, (being a prick at the time) expecting to laugh at it, ended up bawling my eyes out, and now it’s one of my favourite films of all time.

[@BoxOKittens]

I love the big time-jumps, with our only real 'present' moments being when they meet up again, because that's the highlight of their lives. When they're fully awake and in the moment, not just going through the motions.

[@randydickison2304]

My mom, and stepdad rented this movie when I was almost fifty years old. I couldn't believe that either of them wanted to see it, or even that a movie like this could be made. My mom and I cried at some parts of Brokeback Mountain. She knew I got emotional and cried at movies sense I was a kid. She never knew that I was gay. I could never bring myself to tell her. She even once told me it was my fault that she never had grandkids. That was long after I saw this movie for the first time with her. This movie meant a lot to me. I knew just how the characters would have felt if they were real.

[@loopstationyt]

This movie makes me sob every time I watch it. It’s so beautiful 😭

[@alliel9970]

I always thought the cutaway scene to where Jack was getting beaten was what actually happened, but that was a good point that it could've just been what Ennis was imagining happened instead, given the story he told about what he witnessed when he was a kid. Such a sad ending, but a great movie overall!

[@DOtherWhiteMeat]

Yeah, I’m rethinking that scene now too. Great reactions always make you see something new.

[@williamdrake6711]

It is actually what happened, what the wife said was the practiced story of how he died... Ang.. said there was a scene in a draft script that had the 3 garage mechanics witnessing Jack saying goodbye to Randall Malone the ranch forman....which lead to Jacks murder.. this scene was deleted very early on as Ang did not want to dwell on Jack's violent end.. and the only place he could have inserted the scene was when Ennis comes to vist Jacks parents.. Ang said he felt it was unecessary and would distract from the focus ...which of course is Ennis's grief .

[@fellini2011]

@@williamdrake6711That scene with the three mechanics was requested by the studio while filming was taken place. The studio felt the audience wasn't going to understand the whole homophobia emphasis without those men seeing him. The on-set producer didn't want that scene with the mechanics; she was one of the writers.The writers explained that during the call with Lureen, Ennis was imagining his worst fear all along ~ that one or both of them would be murdered if they lived together. It's up to the audience to see/feel what they believe about Jack's death. It could have been the tire rim blowing up into his face; or murder.

[@rovertnitram123]

Yeah - the murder was in Ennis's mind. Jack dies in an accident when the tire blew up. ennis had seen the corpses to two old gay men who had been tortured and murdered so he presumed (in his own mind) jack dies in the same way. That is the tragedy: ennis's inability to commit to Jack and live with him because of his internalised homophobia after seeing the murdered victims when he was 9 years old

[@christianivancastillo3192]

@@rovertnitram123rightft

[@AshleyGarcia-ck2ki]

I remember growing up in a very ignorant, Fort Worth, Texas community, this film was always made fun of. I had never watched it, only knew what I heard. I watched it last year and loved it. Not only was it ahead of its time, but shows the realism of what it’s like to be gay in that time. Great movie.

[@mariamlikimani4044]

This movie breaks my heart every time I watch it. Did anyone else get the impression that Jack's Mum knew about Jack and knew who Ennis was to Jack?!

[@NumberFiveYT]

I didn't - but when I saw what happened, my mind immediately raced to either his wife or his wife's dad.

[@mariamlikimani4044]

@@NumberFiveYT I didn't mean that his parents had anything to do with his death. But that when the Mum was speaking to Ennis about Jack, he offer to let Ennis into Jack's room felt like she was acknowledging that Ennis was important to Jack.

[@NumberFiveYT]

@@mariamlikimani4044 ahh yes oops. I admit I completely misunderstood your original comment - I thought you were referring to Jack’s mother-in-law. 🤦🏻‍♂️ In that case yes, I also got that impression. Not just with this mum, but also his dad. Which is heartbreaking cos it made me think that they understood who Jack was and kind of accepted him.

[@karstynmcdaniel]

They both knew I feel like

[@jb689]

Yes, they both knew. And I think Jack's mum told Ennis to go up to his room because she knew of the shirts and she wanted Ennis to find them. It was like she was pushing his shoulder to go to Jack's room.

[@johnnyboy7144]

My god was Heath ledger insanely TALENTED

[@lynnhettrick7588]

I wish he had been able to grow old and make many many more films. Miss him so much.

[@Noxofspades-lh7bj]

Best perfomance as lead actor. This role deserved as much hype as the joker

[@Markyajv]

I remember watching this in the theater and, besides the fact that I bawled my eyes out, the performances, writing, cinematography was amazing. Kudos to Heath and Jake for taking these roles when others wouldn't for fear of their "I don't want to be labeled gay" reputation. It's a beautiful film.

[@azimhulaimi]

I'm a straight guy and back then when I was younger, when i heard about this movie and people said it was a gay love story film, i thought to myself, would i wanna watch that? And mind you, movies like this in my country would never be allowed to show in cinemas, so naturally had to wait for DVD to come out. I decided to watch it anyway cos of Heath and Jake of course and I thought I would be uncomfortable but as I really watch the whole movie, by the end, I thought to myself, this is not really a gay love story, this is a LOVE story. Period.

[@11ibi]

This was the first lgbtq film I heard about in the mainstream growing up every time I watch it it breaks my heart seeing how societal homophobia affects everyone around them because depriving themselves of happiness also affects their family and the love they deserve also deserved to win best picture a beautiful film loved the reaction

[@danielcarr1479]

30:34 as hard as it is to watch you have to remember Ennis' father literally showed him a gay mans dead body as a way to tell him not to be gay, I can imagine that to him (and probably just statistically true for the time) being outed means death... Just a tragic situation all around

[@kevinchan661]

So many symbolizations and implications. I love the one that Jack tried to use the lasso to catch Ennis and Ennis struggled. The more Jack try to keep Ennis around the more they get hurt. Just like their relationship. Most of the people think that its a movie about gay marriage, but in fact its all about love.

[@uex356]

Bryces reaction to Anne Hathaways car scene killed me 🤣🤣

[@agirlhasnoname567]

“You good over there?” “Idk” 😂😂😂

[@Fhornergal]

He got pink!

[@natasha7760]

I think it's such a well acted film and was so needed at a time when there was barely any queer cinema. Although I do think it being the first queer film I, a gay person, remember watching did kind of screw with me - like the amount of queer death, tragedy and misery in queer cinema (particularly early on) is hard to fully capture. So I'm 27 and I have more fingers on one hand than LGBTQ+ representation I saw on screen as a kid. I was a full blown adult before I ever saw two women grow old together in film/tv and if you don't see versions of yourself just being content, loving and being loved, it imprints in you that those kind of endings and stories don't exist for people like you. Again this is a special film, Heath and Jake were amazing, and I really think we shouldn't shy away from depictions of queer pain on screen. Queer joy can be nice to see too (and thankfully we have more stories in the last decade). Just rewatching with you guys dredged up that old wound that this was the first gay story I watched where I knew what I was idk. Although my parents and aunt innocently renting this, knowing nothing, from our local video store when I was 11 and us all awkwardly sitting in silence watching it is a more funny part of the memory. (Long comment alert whoops)

[@jdb101585]

I'm a bit older than you, but "kill the gay" (whether through AIDS, su!cide, or violence) was such a common trope for so long in every movie, that at this point I still really just want a few more Disney worthy happy endings!

[@randysmith3794]

The short story by Annie Proulx, which is the basis of the film, says of Ennis and Jack, "Neither was twenty years old," when they met in 1963. Also, regarding Ennis going to the side of the road and being sick after his parting with Jack, the story has him tell Jack about it when they meet again four years later. He tells Jack that he was sick because "I shouldn't a let you out a my sights." Two sad scenes later in the movie tie into an earlier scene, when Ennis tells Jack about each of them having other lives and "If ya can't fix it, ya gotta stand it." Jack asks, "For how long," with Ennis answering, "As long as we can ride it ... but this ones got no reins." Near the end, the answer starts to develop when Jack tells Ennis, "Sometimes I miss you so much, I can hardly stand it," and later still, Ennis collapses into Jack's arms saying, "I just can't stand this anymore, Jack." I'm in my 70s, so I lived through the era covered by the movie, and it was very common for guys to get married, to cover their tracks (I suppose the same was true for women), because being found out was very dangerous for a gay person's livelihood, because employers could fire a person just for being gay; and of course, there was the fear of personal safety, as the story deals with the murdered gay man shown to Ennis by his father. So, when your post appeared, I thought, "Hm, I wonder what these young guys will say?" (although I'm aware how much more open minded your generation is). So I started watching and after a while I thought, "Hm, no judgment... yet. Okay, this scene will do it ... nope." I super enjoyed your reactions!

[@jackgomes3861]

Everything indicates that Jack's accident is true, and that the beating is a response from Enis' brain to his trauma inserted by his father who said that if he had a relationship with another man, he would die. It was for this reason, this trauma, that Enis always denied her love. In the end he can realize that this trauma was what prevented him from living his entire life fully, and that denying love prevented him from even being there for his daughters. In the final scene he says "Jack, I swear..." I would say the sequel would be "...I will never run from love again."

[@tlo3571]

Heath Ledger was an amazing actor. That he could play Innes which was so closed off and barely talk, then the very next movie he played the Joker who was so just in your face attests to his brilliance as an actor. He died days before Oscars. The academy had to add his picture last minute to the tribute piece that acknowledged the people in the industry that had died. It was the last picture they showed. It was heart breaking.

[@misshell]

Heartbreaking, how people can't live their truth and be who they are.

[@jon9257]

‘Oh my, they’re fucking’ 🤣🤣🤣

[@sheilaomalley4055]

The short story - when it was first published - hit like a bomb going off. I still remember it. It's so rare that a short story - on its own - gets the kind of attention Brokeback did. There were multiple reasons for it - cultural and literary - Annie Proulx is one of my favorite writers, and her language is like no other. She comes from/lives in the "West" - the big sky states - and she has her own individualist perspective - not mainstream - and it shows in her language. I think one of the reasons why it landed so hard and made such a splash is that iit included gay people in what is the most classic Americana: cowboys in the West. This was groundbreaking. Because of course there were gay cowboys - even if they didn't use the word gay because they lived in 1872 or whatever - of course they were there. Proulx wrote a cowboy story where the two main characters were gay men and this mattered a LOT. It's like that movie "Hidden Figures" - which you all should definitely react to!! History is told in a certain way - and it leaves a lot of people out - and so it seems like those people weren't there - but of course they were. They were hidden figures. Proulx brought them out of hiding.

[@meio_feio]

"They're fuckin'" -Zuff, 2023

[@karstynmcdaniel]

When ennis goes to jacks home and his dad speaks about his plans to live together I cry every time

[@rachelstewart9244]

I have to watch this movie very sparingly because it makes me ugly cry every time. I felt bad for both of them but especially Ennis. He was truly alone. :(

[@lynnhettrick7588]

Same.

[@NumberFiveYT]

Not really how I see Ennis. For me he wasn't truly alone; he chose to be.

[@jamiegreenberg8476]

i watched it for the first time a week and a half go.... ive watched it 6 times in 12 days

[@hennakettunen8755]

He had his loving daughter though.

[@aagold76]

Ang Lee is probably the best director EVER- Crouching Tiger, Brokeback, Lif of Pi, Sense and Sensibility- the range is enormous!

[@gabrielleroux2333]

Don’t forget Hulk…… ;p

[@aagold76]

@@gabrielleroux2333 not a great one, but does add to the range argument.

[@gabrielleroux2333]

@@aagold76 I would argue that the best directior with the most versatile range is Danny Boyle .

[@aagold76]

@@gabrielleroux2333 Never heard of him- but unless the director is a big name- I rarely know them- I love a lot of films I couldn't tell you who directed them.

[@gabrielleroux2333]

@@aagold76 28 days later, Trainspotting 1& 2, Sunshine, Slumdog Millionaire, The Beach, 127 hours, Steve Jobs, Yesterday, etc. One of the most eclectic filmography ever

[@IsThisThePrizeIveWaitedFor]

This movie was a huge deal when it came out. It was the first time we really saw a gay romance where the two characters in love were the main characters. Not only that, most Hollywood leading men would have considered it career suicide to lead a gay romance. A lot of accolades came Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal’s way for taking those roles, as things were slowly changing by then. Even though this movie was made way later than the era where most of society didn’t accept gay people, it wasn’t so far out from stories where people like Matthew Shepard getting beaten and tortured simply for being gay. So when that was Jack’s fate in this movie, it felt contemporary and salient to the time in which the movie was released (2005).

[@ZimZum4ever]

Good reaction, no bad jokes, good discusion, good video

[@scottlouis]

This is in my top 10 movies of all time. I cry every time I watch it. It’s beautiful and so tragic. Ennis’ monologue to Jack about being nothing absolutely destroys me. Thanks so much for checking it out. 💜💜👍🏽👍🏽

[@kokijavier]

The most painful thing about this movie, and also the story it is based on, is that they know form the very beginning the belong to each other, that fight and Ennis deep reaction to leave the love of his life for the very first time: "Within a mile Ennis felt like someone was pulling his guts out hand over hand a yard at a time. He stopped at the side of the road and, in the whirling new snow, tried to puke but nothing came up." Of course, everything is cleared at the end when we know Jack also knew he have always loved Ennis.

[@NorthernShrew]

I cried more for this love story than any other (other than my own 😊). The scene with the shirts...

[@shaungerald23]

I think part of the reason there was such an uproar is because these two guys were breaking the stereotype of gay men being perceived as feminine and flamboyant. Showing two regular joe cowboys being gay must have been a shock to some people. Like HOW DARE YOU show regular joes be gay. This is how being gay is normalized. Unfortunately there's very little regular joe gay men in TV and Movies. It's changing. But very slowly. That's the only way it will be normalized. When you look at someone and you truly can't tell because being gay isn't about being fem or flamboyant. Or showing your feminine or masculine side. It's just liking the same sex in a romantic and sexual way. That can be anyone. And that's the way it should be.

[@castoono9835]

Yep. And we don't want wives being suspicious about their husbands. Some of those jokes were a bit on the nervous side.

[@felipegomes610]

Interesting how much has changed in the world for people like me since 2005... ...took forever, of course - and a lot of pain has been inflicted - but at the very least it has finally changed quite a lot. ❤

[@artthounasty5877]

I think they kinda missed the part where Ennis turned Alma around in the bed like he did with Jack... (they were saying it doesn't seem like Ennis was really concerned with Jack in his current life) But I'm pretty sure it was intentional, to show that Ennis was still thinking about his summer with Jack at the mountains.

[@dsheff]

That’s how it’s written in the story. “He rolled her over and did what she hated.”

[@Fhornergal]

Well they watched the whole movie, so they didn't miss it.

[@alicewtrs]

I always think I’m not gonna be such a mess after rewatching this movie but the story and the acting gets me everytime. And oh god, the soundtrack. That final shot. What a great movie! So glad you guys reacted to it!

[@reinadumalisile3812]

I don't know how many times I've seen this movie, but i always shed a tear at the end. Just heartbreaking

[@andyd3447]

RIP Heath Ledger. Amazing actor. 😔

[@kassiogomes8498]

The reactions in 17:16 are hilarious.

[@UrbanDecayLova247]

I literally laughed out loud 😂

[@degummybear]

I see Bryce was ready with the cosplay

[@karstynmcdaniel]

11:00 it was like the physical embodiment of his sadness and frustration about leaving jack

[@woody5551]

While Jack's mom was Pentacostal, in the end she accepted Jack's friend Ennis on some level. I love that scene at Lightning Flats. So good!!!

[@EchanteDante]

Bryce in his plaid button down makes me want to fishing and camping all of sudden ;) haha Thanks for being allies by the way.

[@user-kj1pq6zh3x]

You guys are my favourite reactioners. Very mature review

[@9401maru]

I was way younger when I first watched this movie and didn't remember a lot, as it is. God, I'm a snotty mess here. It's heart wrenching. Great react guys.

[@grumpysocks]

The last scene with Ennis and his daughter always hurts. I just imagine him with his real life daughter Matilda, and how he doesn't get to see her grow up 😭 I still remember the day he died as if it was last week..

[@flor8567]

In the past cowboys would be away for months and they would end up in relationships (sexual or not) because these men needed companionship and far away from the constricts of society they allowed themselves to be emotionally open. It's sad how both Jake and Heath had to defend this movie and their characters and to this day people make fun of it when the subject is no laughing matter and is a very sad reality in the present day. 19:40 Btw that kiss was so passionate that Heath almost broke Jake's nose.

[@kathleenclark815]

Ridiculous isn't it?

[@XxforevercandygirlXx]

God bless America 🇺🇸

[@gabrielleroux2333]

@@XxforevercandygirlXx 1: god doesn’t exist 2: America isn’t a country : it’s a continent. I AM American, but I’m not from the USA. And most other countries in America are revolted by your cultural appropriation of it 😡 It’s arrogant dismissive and narcissistic AF

[@SDoesNotKnow]

What a beautifully sensitive reaction to this artful film. You three have a subscriber for life. Just to add in top of your insightful reaction, including how Ennis grew as a person by choosing to go to his daughter’s wedding rather than take her granted the way he did Jack, but his daughter must have been around the same age he and Jack were when they first met. The way she is able to fall in love so openly with a man and is able to just marry the man she loved as young as she is and is able to start a whole new life with the man she loves… and yet Ennis and Jack couldn’t have that led to some casualties (Alma and Lureen and Ennis’ other girlfriend) though some good came out of it (Ennis’ two daughters and Jack’s son), it’s just too sad for words all around. Plus, the way Ennis smelled the blood on Jack’s denim jacket back at his house and how Jack’s parents wouldn’t even honor Jack’s wishes to have his ashes buried at the place he was happiest due to both the father not being happy with Jack not being buried at the family plot and also because he knew what Brokeback Mountain was to Jack (and Ennis) was also another heartbreaking development.

[@shelleylloyd5396]

I remember seeing this in the theater with two other queer friends and sobbing my eyes out. My students are reading the original short story this month and I can't wait to see their reactions to it.

[@pxqux]

I'll never forget the first time I watched this movie, it broke me. And I also will never forget how bad it was treated by the media when they released it. It was awful, like it was a joke. And to think it wasn't that long ago...

[@YouMe-ru6wi]

Yes this movie is now 18 years old I also remember all the negative jokes many in the media were making about it at the time just awful. But I like to think today we have made a lot of progress in acceptance and understanding.

[@aagold76]

got 3 acting nominations at the Oscars- Heath, bets actor, Jake- supporting and Michelle supporting.

[@shainewhite2781]

Nominated for 8 Oscars including Best Picture but won for Best Director Best Adapted Screenplay Best Original Score. It lost Best Picture to the controversial crime drama Crash, where it deals with racial tensions relations between actors on a movie/TV series, LAPD offcers, as well as a D.A. and his wife.

[@Noxofspades-lh7bj]

I'm still angry about crash beating it. Like come on! I'm upset that homophobia played a part in brokeback losing but damn, they could've at least pick an actual good movie like Munich, capote, etc.

[@sc-wq2tu]

crash is such a crap movie, it did not deserve to win over ANY of the movies that were nominated that year

[@aagold76]

@@sc-wq2tu I always refer to it as 'Trash' not Crash

[@johnnyboy7144]

Crash is not even on the same stratosphere with this movie, the fact that it beat it for Best picture just highlights how ridiculous that award ceremony really is sometimes

[@hleebeg]

Happy Birthday Zuff 😊❤

[@cameirusisu1024]

Attitudes were awful,people had to live lives like this just for literal survival. Even being alone and single could start rumours that could get you killed. It awful, and by current standards its tempting to blame the men for the deceit, but the consequences of not conforming to what society expected could literally be a death sentence (as shown here). That scene with the shirts at the end, even that brief clip makes me tear up, remembering all those that did not make it for one reason or another.

[@naara.g]

I'll never forget watching this movie for the first time. I had no idea it'd be so fucking sad. It kinda traumatised me a little lol

[@1079walter]

Truly great reaction, guys, as usual. "Brokeback" won the Golden Globe Award" for Best Picture, in 2005, and was expected to win the Oscar, as well. But Hollywood's homophobia was (and still is) so disgusting, it didn't win. And when the name of the winning film was announced, the gasps from the audience was so loud, it almost rocked the place. "Brokeback Mountain" is a landmark film, and a truly outstanding film production...great acting, great direction and a magnificent script. Thanks again for this post. Can't wait for your next one.

[@jamiegreenberg8476]

still cant get over the fact that the only reason why people know what crash is, is bc its constantly called one of (if not the) worst oscar upsets in history also jack nickelsons reaction after reading the card

[@melodydgarcia]

Fun fact too, heath, because of this movie, made jake the godfather to his daughter.

[@rh9841]

YES, I was waiting for this!!

[@peglanglois8343]

Thank you for your commentary. Very intuitive and respectful. Heart wrenching movie❤

[@lynnhettrick7588]

I love this movie but I don't watch it often because it's just so sad. I can't handle it too often.

[@knewlwc]

One of my favorite reactions, definitely

[@jsc2991]

I love watching your reactions. Y'all are funny af but I'm glad this was one of the movies you all reacted to. I watched this year's ago and I enjoyed it. I'm glad you all are so open minded. Thanks for the content

[@timothydeweese6931]

Robbed at the Oscars. I lost all respect for Ernest Borgnine who stated on the red carpet that John Wayne was rolling in his grave. He said he couldn't vote for a gay cowboy movie. It was lost on his old ass that people like him would be the reason these characters were unhappy.

[@valentinafangirling]

IMPORTANT TO KNOW: this was the first ever theatre film that centered around queer relationships. And the advertisement for this movie was the first ever to use “straight baiting” aka most posters and stuff were them with their wives and the trailer was confusing too. So lots of people thought this was a typical american movie with straight men and cowboys. Nom for oscars too.

[@aagold76]

ROBBED at Oscars- should have won Best Picture- 'Crash' won (gloried afterschool special)- and there was a big campaign to derail 'Brokeback'- the homophobia was amped up and it lost. Late Night talk shows made a joke out of it for the 2 months running up to the Oscars- the 'Why can't I quit you' scene. Members of the Academy publicly came out against the film.

[@sierrarichardson330]

Omg thank u guys for reacting to this movie it’s one of the greatest/saddest movies ever… 😢

[@ryanje8147]

Great movie choice, boys......great reaction.....cool to see Hopper.

[@anatubaraox]

the "oh my, they're fucking" 😭😭😭

[@Noxofspades-lh7bj]

He was in awe 😂

[@davidbarnes1113]

I saw that movie in theaters 4 times when it came out, I balled like a baby everytime. Another one you guys might like is called “The Inspection “.

[@LuizFelipe-ci3fr]

The score of this movie is amazing

[@md-mf3ld]

both jake and heath are so hot for being confident/open minded enough to be in it, so gooood

[@andreguilherme_]

Bro, this is one of the best films i've ever seen in this genre. Great story and reaction!

[@PSPguy2]

I'd been hoping you guys would do this one, so glad you did! Thanks! 👍

[@Total_Fraud]

Whenever I watched the last scene, I remember Ennis saying "Jack I swear, im gonna kill them" because he was sure that Jack got killed by a group of men and was going to get revenge.

[@Goldun-nah]

I wish there was a Brokeback Mountain movie where they could’ve lived happily ever after. It’s a movie that lives in my mind.

[@igoonx15]

For my own sanity, i pretend that they went to mexico and lived together...

[@randompeople465]

There is a movie that similar to this, its called "god own country" It has good ending.

[@castoono9835]

@@randompeople465 Agree. Not as good, but sweet and enjoyable: "God's own country"

[@jb689]

There is also lots of "fix it" fanfiction. Go read "Somebody New" by Jenna Hilary Sinclair on AO3, it's very good. It is also continued by the "Force of Nature" sereis (Earthquake, Storm, Fire) by the same author.

[@jmichaelbell5434]

Much appreciated. Great reaction. You’ve shown me the the future, the future is beautiful. The future is you!

[@angelsalas3808]

I love the guy in the middle. His feedback and reaction to the story is 😍.