Brokeback Mountain at 20: Does it hold up?
Brokeback Mountain was the movie that nobody thought could get made — not the writer, not the director, not even the head of the movie studio trying to make it. A sweeping epic about a forbidden gay romance in the wilderness of Wyoming, it was a magnet for controversy. At the time, some said Brokeback Mountain was destined to become a classic, and others said it would be forgotten by history. Now, 20 years have gone by, so who was right — how does BBM hold up? A classic, or a relic best left in the past?
Thanks to Trevor at Media Processing for editing help on this video! @mediaprocessingchannel
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@MichaelSolomon-e6f
May 29, 2026 at 1:44 pm
Amen…I watch Brokeback every Christmas.
@SuperSmile2004
May 29, 2026 at 1:44 pm
Personally I think that this masterpiece of a film has nothing to do with gay or straight or bisexual, whatever. It is about two human beings. It is about two souls and two hearts, absolutely irrespective of their gender or their sexual orientation indeed. This film is about deep love and deep loneliness – so deep that it hurts. Please do stop put any labels on this film and on its characters. Just watch it, feel it, think it and learn from it.
@meredythwithay5187
May 29, 2026 at 1:44 pm
Well, John Wayne couldn't roll over in his grave if he was still alive, now could he, Ernest Borgnine? Sit down, Mermaid Man.
@cask1
May 29, 2026 at 1:44 pm
Everyone of course talks about how good heath is but i love Jake too I never seen this I was too young when it came out but me my girlfriend watched years ago and I had to not cry in front of her
@redwemette5942
May 29, 2026 at 1:44 pm
LOL their wern't gay…they were bisexual. Gay men can't get it up with a female
@cloudburstlia456
May 29, 2026 at 1:44 pm
Crash winning is insane!! That was like the worst film that got nominated. I mean I can see Brokeback losing but to Crash??
@Rogelio_Inzunza
May 29, 2026 at 1:44 pm
If you were looking for a joke that appealed to a misogynist, a bigot, or a homophone, you could always count on Jay Leno!
@MarioLopez-ob5rv
May 29, 2026 at 1:44 pm
I admire the movie because of uniqueness of how they found each other. Wish it had a happy ending. Being lonely is not what our world wants but rather grow and heal and take care of ourselves and be happy.
@johnkur88
May 29, 2026 at 1:44 pm
This was my coming of age movie.
@Richard_Fouts
May 29, 2026 at 1:44 pm
To secure a deeply authentic performance, Ang Lee sent his four lead actors (Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, and Anne Hathaway) to an intense "Cowboy Camp" in Alberta, Canada. Living and working together on a campground, they bonded deeply, which translated to the raw on-screen chemistry that anchored the film.
@BloodylocksBathory
May 29, 2026 at 1:44 pm
Man… I still hate the character of Ennis. I understand his behavior, and the tragedy of him being his own worst enemy. But his internalized homophobia and desperation to come across as a real man still hurt other people. He got defensive and angry over his wife not wanting anymore children and yet never helped out with raising the kids, his wife knew for years she was being played for a fool (and he didn't even bother to keep up with the facade when he and Jack "went fishing"), and his fits of rage (the fireworks scene for example) just made him look all the more desperate to read as straight. I could see where it was all coming from, but it didn't forgive him of the people he hurt. Of course, that is one of the main points of the story, how the bigotry around Jack and Ennis hurt more than just them. I guess I just didn't need to be reminded of that in a movie when I was seeing it all the time where I was growing up.
@nannersguyaners2745
May 29, 2026 at 1:44 pm
It was so ineffably sad that I can barely watch it …
@DanaDaniell-s9c7n
May 29, 2026 at 1:44 pm
This movie changed my life forever. I am gay, but being from the conservative southeast I stayed hidden. I married a woman, I had two children and thought I would never have a relationship with another man. Then Brokeback came out and it inspired me to come out. After that my wife left me, but my children choose to stay with me. I did loose many family members when I came out, but I discovered who I really was, found my freedom and began my first gay relationship. I’ve never been the same since then. I’ve been free and out for 20 years and I know who I am. It also helped that I moved to California just before the movie came out. So my environment was accepting of my gayness. That made it easier to come out. I love that movie. Brokeback Mountain changed my life like no other movie ever did.
@KallieMae
May 29, 2026 at 1:44 pm
What I’ve learned from this video is that Heath was underestimated every single step of the way in his acting career, and blew everyone away every single time he was given a chance. So sad that we lost such an amazing talent so soon.
@valkyrie1066
May 29, 2026 at 1:44 pm
The kiss. YOU KNOW which one I mean. I told my daughter…I always wanted someone…to kiss me like THAT. Love me like that. I wasn't jealous; I felt for them. They belonged together. Like the parents….I would love to imagine what they could have had. I'm sure they were surprised, but…it happens. You meet…THAT PERSON….and all you know is you have to be with them. Gender nonwithstanding. I don't stifle my feelings, and this…is why. I don't require…people to hid any of their feelings from me. I would suggest they DON'T. I so miss watching movies with my neighborhood buddies on movie nights. You start to fill the hole it left. Intelligent commentary on movies I love. ODDBALL ones, foreign ones, Almodavar was popular. John Waters was BASIC. LOL Keep it coming Matt! (subscriber)
@johnharris721
May 29, 2026 at 1:44 pm
Doesn't hold up. The two men should never had married. They should have moved to a bigger city like San Francisco.
@marygruber8665
May 29, 2026 at 1:44 pm
Of course this brilliant movie holds up
@maggiethecat1538
May 29, 2026 at 1:44 pm
One of the saddest love stories I have ever seen.. RIP Heath.. 💙
@ampdarts850
May 29, 2026 at 1:44 pm
I just watched it for the first time last night. I was literally sobbing in my bathroom lol
@janestarr79
May 29, 2026 at 1:44 pm
Anne Hathaway quietly does some of the best acting her phone call with Heath ledger is so brutal
@charleswalker1185
May 29, 2026 at 1:44 pm
not nasty…tasty!!
@srawlg
May 29, 2026 at 1:44 pm
When I watched this movie I was 14 years old. I wept copiously. It wrecked me for a long time. And the ambience, the loniness, the frigid air and sight of the mountain hitted hard.
@mauisaus1
May 29, 2026 at 1:44 pm
Brokeback Mountain is an incredible movie…so Beautiful. And Crash is also a great movie. See it.
@haroldstella1398
May 29, 2026 at 1:44 pm
THIS MOVIE—FOR THE TIME PERIOD
IT WAS WRITTEN FOR-IS NOTHING
LESS THAN STILL PHENOMENAL!!
I STILL CRY-MAY 2026! 💜💜💔💔
BROKEBACK-HEATH-JAKE WERE
TOTALLY ROBBED OF THE OSCARS‼️
⭐️🌟⭐️🌟⭐️🌟⭐️🌟⭐️🌟⭐️🌟⭐️🌟