there aren't any real spoilers, but if you're trying to avoid reading ANYTHING about it, don't click
Wow. So, my expectations were really high for this film. I respect everyone involved, I really enjoyed the short story, I'm a sucker for love stories, and, you know, gay cowboys. But I can honestly say my expectations were exceeded. The movie was really different from how I imagined it, but the surprise of how slow and beautiful and well-paced it was just made it that much better.
Heath Ledger is incredible. So many times when I hear a lot about a performance, it's because there's a really strong gut emotion that's conveyed -- usually in the form of some kind of angry/sad/ecstatic FREAKOUT. While that works sometimes and all, I think it takes a much stronger actor to portray a stoic character who's faced with incredibly complex, conflicted emotions. Ledger's tiniest expressions and movements conveyed so much to me and really made the movie for me. I surprised as far as when I became overwhelmed with emotion, because it wasn't at the most climactic moments so much as seconds when his face made those moments finally sink in. During the Q&A with the screenwriter-who-isn't-McMurtry afterwards, she said that while filming one particularly tough scene and doing take after take, Heath was overcome and just ran out of the house, disappearing into the prairie for half an hour. Yeah, it's that kind of performance.
I was also just really impressed with the direction. The story is kind of a meandering one, it covers a lot of time and there's a lot of open space and unsaid emotions to deal with, but Ang Lee's choices really frame everything concisely and illuminate the emotions perfectly.
Yeah. See it when you can, dudes!