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With each other, Ennis' and Jack's emotional wounds begin to heal. There is, however, a price to pay for their relationship. That same openness that sets both men free in so many ways also leaves them exposed and vulnerable. It haunts them both for the rest of their lives.

What we see in Brokeback Mountain are the raw, real strands of emotional, physical and spiritual connection. Ledger and Gyllenhaal draw vivid portraits of their characters and infuse them with a respect and nobility that's rarely seen in the work of their contemporaries. Their performances are intrinsically bound together, and the actors play off each other beautifully, often making powerful statements with very few words.

The stellar supporting cast is equally in tune with the film's private emotions and hidden frustrations. As the young wives of Ennis and Jack, actresses Michelle Williams (Dawson's Creek) and Anne Hathaway (The Princess Diaries) tap into previously unseen depths of emotion that result in searing, unforgettable portrayals. Williams' Alma languishes in a prison of repressed fear and anger, and she deftly uses facial expressions and movement to show her frustrations. It's an electric performance.

Hathaway, always an appealing screen presence, does something perhaps even more remarkable with Lureen, the champion barrel racer who falls for Jack. As time passes, we see her transform--ever so slowly--from a sassy, sexy good-time girl into a bitter, frustrated wife and mother. Her mannerisms and her tone of voice gauge the change. Lureen's hair and make-up also grow more severe with each passing year--a visual reflection of the character's emotional hardening. Hathaway's subtle, difficult interpretation is outstanding.

Linda Cardellini (Velma in the big-screen Scooby Doo flicks) and Anna Faris (Scary Movie, Lost in Translation) make strong impressions as women caught in the path of Ennis' and Jack's attempts to forget their relationship. Randy Quaid is also affecting as a crude local rancher, and Kate Mara strikes a bittersweet emotional note as Ennis' precocious daughter. Her exchanges with Ledger make for some of the film's most heartrending moments.

Lee's gentle, graceful hand expertly guides Brokeback Mountain to a gripping emotional resonance that pulses alongside your own heart. The film unfurls like a lyrical poem, hitting gorgeous highs and sinking to unfathomable emotional lows in a seemingly effortless manner. Every moment, from first kisses to last goodbyes, has the gorgeous glimmer of truth.

Gay cowboys or not, that searing honesty is more than most mainstream movies--or many gay flicks, for that matter--can ever hope to attain. The film's commercial success and Oscar chances will be decided by others, but Brokeback Mountain's lasting legacy will likely be its own unique story--the sweet, sad and tragic love that holds all its characters so closely together.

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