My problem with Brokeback Mountain is the schematic way in which it treats its characters. The opening sequence is really beautiful; after the first summer, the narrative jumps ahead as frequently as it does in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (although in that film, they were going back in time). What we get is a repetitive, heavy-handed film in which neither character really interested me. Director Lee lacks subtlety for the most part--tellingly, it takes less time to read the novella than it does to watch the film.

If it had been about a heterosexual couple, I'd've felt the same; but then, if it had been, it wouldn't have been made. Nor would it have even got an Oscar nod. Crash wouldn't have won either, had it not tackled racism and delivered a message that we should all know anyway: racism is bad.