Personal Response
Jake Gyllenhaal plays a closeted cowboy in this movie, and I’m not sure if it’s his appearance, his acting, or just the fact that he’s too pretty, but he definitely reads as gay. He doesn’t feel very “closeted” to me. Still, he does a good job showing toughness as a rodeo guy, a family man, and at the same time someone who is more soft-hearted. We can tell he’s the one who wants more, who is willing to take the emotional risk.
Heath Ledger, on the other hand, was incredible. He absolutely portrayed what fragile masculinity looks like. I never saw him as less of a man or feminine, he simply never lets us see through him, which is such a typical masculine defense. He’s amazing at acting mysterious and keeping every emotion to himself. We know he’s bothered by having to hide this huge secret, but he will never let anyone see it. It’s only at the very end, through the smallest gestures, that we understand how madly in love he was. His whole performance is built around this unreadable face that hides everything, and it was honestly awesome.
As for the story, it was heartbreaking. It made me wonder: if Ennis had known that their time was limited, would he have chosen to build a life with Jack? Would he have made the change? This movie is the perfect example of “we don’t know what we have until we lose it.” It would have been extremely hard for them, especially in such a conservative town, but sometimes happiness is worth having the whole world against you.
I loved the detail with the shirts, Ennis’s shirt wrapped around Jack’s, almost like he was holding him. And next to it, the postcard honoring their little sanctuary, their safe space. It was beautiful and devastating at the same time.