Brokeback Mountain
-
Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
-
Common Sense says
Mature, emotionally complex film isn't for kids.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 16–18
What to watch out for
-
Violence:
-
Sex:
-
Language:
-
Consumerism:
-
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Brokeback Mountain was written by Cynthia Fuchs
Parents need to know that this is a mature, emotionally complicated film that isn't appropriate for kids. The movie is focused on a lifelong relationship between two male cowboys. Their meeting and discovery of mutual desire at film's start is pictured in a rough-seeming sex scene (with fairly explicit activity); from then on, their physical relationship is less overt. They argue, wrestle, and occasionally come to sexual-tension-filled blows. Characters curse (including use of "f--k" and homophobic slang), smoke, and drink hard liquor in a "manly" manner. Married couples also argue, as wives come to resent their husbands' "other" interests.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the film's treatment of Jack and Ennis' relationship. How do their lying and betrayal affect their wives and children? Also, families can talk about whether or not it was "brave" for Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger to take their roles.
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on Brokeback Mountain
What’s the Story?
When cowboys Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) meet during a month of sheep ranching in Wyoming, they share lust, passion, and genuine affection -- though in 1963, they can't imagine their feelings defining themselves. Their silence lasts for years: Each goes home, Ennis marries his girlfriend Alma (Michelle Williams), Jack longs for Ennis. They agree to meet again and then feel unable to stop. They can't articulate their feelings, only marvel at their own passion and tell their families they have gone "fishing." Alma discovers the truth (which she keeps to herself); horrified and angry, she silently watches him leave every few months and return with no fish. The men can't acknowledge their relationship as a choice and a commitment, only as a "thing."
Is It Any Good?
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN is a thoughtful, lyrical, eventually frustrating examination of two men's romance over many years. Though Ennis and Jack never call themselves "gay" or "queer," they do love each other and share a sexual relationship. The film is as much about silence and repression as it is about passion. It's Alma's silence that makes the film feel so serious. Her pain is neither exquisite nor elegiac. It's only hard. As soon as she sees the men embrace, Alma becomes the tragic bearer of knowledge.
Ennis' lack of language, initially clench-jawed mumbling, is eventually subtler, especially in his relationship with his daughter, Alma Jr. (at 19, played by Kate Mara). She observes her father closely and does her best to keep him from taking up -- after his divorce from her mom -- with a perky barmaid. "You don't say much," notes the girlfriend as the two sit together at a table, watching Ennis lean over jukebox. "But you get your point across."Brokeback Mountain gets its point across, too: The men are anguished. They act on their pain in different ways, and the big wide Wyoming landscape -- so mighty, so simple, so overwhelming -- reflects their efforts to be together, to stay apart, to resist expectations and to succumb to them.
Movie Details
Studio: Focus Features, Director: Ang Lee
Run time: 134 minutes
Theatrical release: 12/9/2005, DVD release: 4/4/2006
MPAA Rating: R for sexuality, nudity, language and some violence.
Run time: 134 minutes
Theatrical release: 12/9/2005, DVD release: 4/4/2006
MPAA Rating: R for sexuality, nudity, language and some violence.
Our Members Say
See all 35 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
-
I rate this title off for age 17 and give it- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Negative role models
-
I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
- My highlights are:
Fine for Teenagers
If your child WANTS to see Brokeback Mountain, they are probably old enough to see it. It's not like some movies; they don't want to see it because of the hot chicks or the cool fight scenes or because everyone else is seeing it. Sometimes, I find this site slightly offensive. Anything with even the slightest thing in it homosexual (the single kiss in the BULLY games) is immediately listed as something the parents should watch out for. You don't want your kids to know gay people exist? You would a toddle see a man-woman kiss, what's the difference? You can't shelter your kids from gay people. It's impossible, short of raising them in Amish Town.
-
I rate this title on for age 16 and give it
This film should have won Best Picture
Brokeback Mountain is a beautifully filmed love story set in a time when men could be brutally killed for engaging in homosexual acts. The pain each of the two men feel is palatable. I recommend this movie.
-
I rate this title pause for age 14 and give it
One of my favorites
this is one of my favorites movies,its amazing,heath ledger is amazing.
-
I rate this title pause for age 14 and give it
One of my favorites
this is one of my favorites movies,its amazing,heath ledger is amazing.
-
I rate this title pause for age 15 and give it
Not Bad
I watched this film recently and I thought it was well-done. The problem many people seem to have with it is that they think the movie's message was it's okay to cheat on your wives with another guy. I don't think that was it it all. It's just a story about two imperfect human beings living in a time where homophobia was everywhere (actually, it still is,) and I think the movie had great sympathy for the wives. I thought it was pretty good, but I'm not in a rush to see it again. P.S. Check out aspergiansarah's movieblog on Xanga.
-
I rate this title pause for age 15 and give it
This movie is AMAZING.
WOW. I don't think I've ever cried so much from watching a movie - it will affect you so much. A beautiful and tragic film that I really recommend - it will definitely affect your views on homophobia and such. And beyond that it's just an amazing love story. Be warned though: there's definitely a couple sex scenes that you should be cautious about, although they're brief and not nearly as graphic as I thought they would be (they are slightly shocking at first, but you get used to it and eventually view it in the same way as typical sex scenes). There is some violence, but definitely not nearly as graphic as commonsense implies. I would give the violence part a PG-13 and the sex part something between PG-13 and R. Basically I think that this movie is ok for 15 and up. It's well worth watching.
-
I rate this title off for age 0 and give it
absolutely wonderful
I'm not big on dramatic movies, but I love love stories and this goes down as one of my favorites. Some people call it the "gay cowboy movie". I call it an "unorthodox love story". Simply put, the movie is brilliant, and Heath and Jake put such passion into their roles. As for the sex scenes (only one graphic one, everything else is implied), well...you can't not have that when it comes to an adult love story. Anyway, watch it, but make sure the kids aren't around. If you don't like guy/guy stuff, by all means don't watch it.
-
I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Powerful
This is a film that forces you to challenge how you feel, not only about Gay cowboys, but about passion...about love and about what makes us human. It was not until after I left the theater that the power of the film hit me and now, over a week later, I cannot shake the feelings it has aroused in me. The recognition of what is important in life, doing what you love and finding the one thing that brings you great joy and fulfillment, since life is all too short. For a film to do that, for a film to make me want to see it again (something I never do)I give the director, cast and crew the four stars they deserve.
-
I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Teaches kids to care - better than violent crap
I would take my kids, ages 10-17, to see Brokeback Mountain in a heartbeat. It would teach them to be compassionate human beings, just like God wants them to be. On the other hand, I am still mad that there was 30 minutes of beheading and killing in the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, which I wish I hadn't taken them to see.
-
I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
-
I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
A MUST see
For months and months I saw the trailer for this movie on TV. I was devastated when it didnt come out in my hometown right away. Then, finally, it came out and i couldn't wait to see it. I rushed to the closest theatre playing it and bought a ticket. The movie was everything I had hoped for and more. It made me laugh, made me cry, made me angry, and most of all, it made me think. Yes, it is a movie about "gay cowboys" but that is a cruel simplification. Moreover, it is a devastating love story. It tore my heart into pieces seeing these two PEOPLE in love, and them not being able to be together. It made me sick seeing the prejudice and hate that people have for other human beings. Everytime they had to leave each other, my heart broke over and over again. I know this is a story that I will carry in my heart all my life and I hope everyone who has a chance to see it will. It will change your life.
-
I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
For mature teens only
Brokeback Mountain is one of those films that makes you think. I found this film extremely emotionally powerful, and it caused me to spend quite a long time thinking about the movie and its message. This movie made me reconsider my opinions on homosexuality. I agree that this movie is not for kids my age unless they are mature enough to handle it. It does contain a lot of sexuality, and violence. However, if you (or your children) feel that they are mature enough to handle this, I highly reccomend this movie. However, no kids under 13 should see this movie.
-
I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
great film for kids of all ages
I luvvvvvvvvved this movie!!!! the cowboys were so awesome!!! i didnt really understnd all of the silly love scenes and stuff but the movie was really coool!!!! great for kids of all ages!
-
I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Touching, powerful and realistic
I thought this film was great for showing a realistic portrait of the turmoil that many homosexual people went through as they tried to conform to society's demand that they be heterosexual and denied their true feelings. Although the wives of the main characters were given relatively little exposure in the movie, the film gave a powerful indication of how family members are hurt by the deceit Ennis and Jack felt was necessary to live in an intolerant society.
The only caution I would have for younger children is the sequence that showed the man who had been killed for living with another man as a couple. That kind of violence is shocking for adults and may be too much for younger chiidren.
Overall, great movie!
-
I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
-
I rate this title off for age 0 and give it
Sukky..
The most viloent blunder of a catastrophe i have ever seen. Oh, and the gay part is not cool either (for me anyway).
-
I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
though provoking, beautifully filmed
I went expecting the love scenes would make me squemish but they didn't. One of the most touching movies I've seen in ages. My heart ached for the character of Ennis as he struggled with what he has done & how he feels about Jack & himself. An excellent movie to take an older teen to followed by a trip to a coffee shop for a discussion on sexual identity & fitting in. Everything abt Brokeback was well done.
-
I rate this title off for age 0 and give it
Whoever made this movie, there is something wrong wit u
sheesh this movie was supposed to be a serious, emotional movie but the whole gay cowboy thing just turned it into a big joke for me. i try not to laugh when i hear of it. whoever made this movie has some serious issues. how could he think that this movie would be taken seriously for one second?
-
I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
I'm not sure about this one
when i first started watching this movie i could not get past the love scenes and i actually turned it off and then a couple of days later i decided to watch it again and try to finish it. when i finally watched the whole thing i realized that it was a good movie. i would not recommend this movie for children but for adults i would so go for it you will probably be surprised at how good it really is.
Give Recommendations, Get Them, Too!
Become a member and get recommendations from other parents based on your child's age.Tell us your child's age:
Already a member? Log inOur Members Rate It
Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents don't feel there are good role models |
| 100% | of parents don't think the messages are positive |
| 100% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
| 100% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
Have you seen it?
For Your Family
Get age-based recommendations for your kids:
Customize based on your child's age
