Forbidden love, cowboys, a picturesque landscape and good ol' brawl. What more could you ask for from a story set on the road less traveled, at least by Hollywood.

I first heard about Brokeback Mountain, when I had stumbled across the website after doing some research about Donnie Darko hottie, Jake Gyllenhaal. My first impression was that I had to see it as soon as it came out.

After all the media controversy surrounding the love scenes between Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger, I was beginning to think that maybe this film wasn't going to be that good after all. But I decided to go over to the Cumberland cinema and see what all the hoopla was about.

My impression now is that this isn't just a movie about guy on guy action - get over it! This movie deals with friendships based on love and relationships based on necessity. I overheard some people saying how it jumped across time too fast, but I thought that the story's progression worked wonderfully with its slow pace. It was slow - not the kind of slow that lets out a few yawns - but the slow that allows you to savor the moment set within an absolutely stunning backdrop of the Wyoming mountainside.

It is a film that, although mainstream, may not attract mainstream audiences owing to its touchy subject matter. For the open-minded, this film will deliver a side of male emotion that I find scarce in filmic language. Touching, Titillating, and Tasteful. All in all, it pulled on my heartstrings and no one but Ang Lee could have delivered Brokeback Mountain.

Brokeback Mountain is currently playing at the Cumberland 4 Cinemas.