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I always have mixed feelings about watching a movie that has received as much critical and popular acclaim as Brokeback Mountain. On the one hand, I can almost always be assured that I'll be in for a truly fantastic film, which is something of a rarity these days. On the other hand, my expectations for the movie, based on all the praise and buzz I've heard, might be so high that the actual experience can't possibly live up to the standards I've unconsciously set. So I was a bit anxious to see which category Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain would fall into.

Brokeback Mountain stars Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal as two cowboys named Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist. Ennis and Jack first meet in 1963 when they take a summer job herding sheep for a rancher named Joe Aguirre (Randy Quaid). Both men are in their early twenties at that time.

The job requires Ennis and Jack to camp out on Brokeback Mountain for the entire time. One or the other of them is occasionally allowed to go into town to restock their food supplies, but for the most part they are isolated on the mountain together for a few months.

During this time, they obviously have no one to talk to except each other. They slowly start to form a bond of friendship that eventually blooms into lust. The two men then sleep together after a particularly long night of drinking, which leaves both of them confused. After all, both of them proclaim that they "ain't queer."

Their relationship becomes a bit strained after their first night together. While Jack seems to be open to the possibilities of what could happen, Ennis definitely struggles with it. "This is a one-shot deal we got goin' here."

The two men finish out their summer on Brokeback Mountain, and then head their separate ways, doing their best to continue on with "normal" lives. Ennis marries longtime girlfriend Alma (played by Michelle Williams), and Jack marries a rich rodeo star named Lureen Newsome (Anne Hathaway). Both men hold down jobs, have children, and try to keep up appearances. But the women in their lives know something is not quite right, that their men are not quite content or happy. However, neither Alma nor Lureen can figure out exactly what's going on.

Then one day (five years later), Ennis gets a postcard from Jack saying that he would be passing through town and would like to visit. Ennis suddenly becomes very excited and spends a great deal of time getting ready for Jack's arrival. Alma also gets ready, thinking that they will all go out together. When Jack finally shows up, however, Alma gets to see what's been bothering her husband for so long. At first, Jack and Ennis share a hearty embrace. But that soon turns into a fiercely passionate kiss, which Alma witnesses from the window of her apartment.

To say that she is shocked would be an understatement. Michelle Williams does a wonderful job in that scene, showing just from the expression on her face how her entire world has fallen apart in a matter of seconds.

From there, the movie deals with Ennis and Jack's love affair, which spans two decades. The men meet once a year or so for "fishing trips," and must content themselves with spending just a few days together. Ennis seems to be fine with that arrangement, but Jack wants so much more. In fact, Jack thinks that they could even live together on a ranch somewhere and that no one would know the difference. People would just think they were two friends helping each other out or whatever.

But Ennis knows different. Other men would talk, and there could be seriously violent repercussions if anyone ever suspected the true depth of their relationship. Ennis should know, as he saw his own father engage in acts of hatred and bigotry towards a gay man. Ennis's unwillingness to budge from that position hurts Jack, and causes a rift that they never overcome.

I can barely explain my initial reaction after seeing Brokeback Mountain. The film moved me like no other in my entire life -- and that's not simply hyperbole. I was awed at what I had just seen: it was a masterful work all around, from Annie Proulx's original story to Ang Lee's direction to the unbelievable performances by Ledger, Gyllenhaal, Williams, and Hathaway. I had never before seen a move that made me want to watch it again in its entirety before the credits had even finished rolling.

There were so many things I liked about Brokeback Mountain that I don't even know where to start. First of all, the cinematography was just breathtaking. The film, particularly the early scenes on Brokeback, is beautiful to look at -- independent of the story that's unfolding on the screen. Second, Ledger and Gyllenhaal do a tremendous job of bringing Ennis and Jack to life. We see their struggles and we sympathize with them, completely and utterly. Third, the supporting cast is perfect as well. This is Ennis and Jack's story, no doubt, but Alma and Lureen are important to it and Williams and Hathaway don't disappoint.

Overall, I have to say that Brokeback Mountain is one of the best films I've ever seen in my life. Some critics have complained that it's overly long and moves very slowly, but I didn't think so. I needed all that time to get to know Ennis and Jack, and in the end, I felt it was too short. Watch this movie if you haven't done so already!