Just got back from seeing Brokeback Mountain and thought I would share some of my first impressions. I use the word impressions because this is not going to be a movie review, nor do I intend to analyze the film. To begin with, for me, this was not a film primarily about homosexuality and anyone who reduces this film to a story about homosexuality is missing out, imho. The film operates on multiple levels and captures the complexity of the human experience. It's a story about love, human longing, tragedy, bigotry, rejection, confusion, shattered hopes and dreams, lonliness, and much more. I found myself identifying with the two main characters of the story not because I am homosexual but I too have shared many of the same human experiences albeit different circumstances....and...although my sexual orientation and experiences are different I too have struggled with questions regarding how to interpret my own sexual experiences, desires, and preferences. Sex is difficult, because despite all the manuals, books, and potential sexual outlets we have in the modern world it is still something so few people feel comfortable talking about face to face. Sexual freedom and confidence is what we may project and champion as a nation but repression, shame, guilt, and uncertainty about the nature of the sexual experience still rules the day in the lives of many people...While the film started a bit slow for my own particular preference I found myself increasingly engrossed in the lives of the characters as the story unfolded, especially the character played by Heath Ledger. For some particular reason I found myself drawn to his character. Not sure why, perhaps it had something to do with the range of the emotions he experienced and projected. At times I sensed he was haunted at the depths of his soul but at other times he projected a serentity and quiet confidence that transcended his life and circumstances. Hard to explain. He was a paradox to me.....Great performance and predict he will win best actor. He put his heart and soul into this film... I left the theatre not thinking about homosexuality but rather I felt like I had temporarily entered a world with real people who struggle and experience life as I do in many ways. And, although our sexual orientation and experiences may be different, at the end of the day, we more alike than we are different because fundamentally we all share similar hopes and dreams, desires, feelings of rejection, moments of joy and other experiences which define us as members of the same human race....and.... this film is a testament to this reality.....