That this is a masterpiece of a film is not in doubt.

If nothing else, the fact that an unflinching portrail of homosexual love has made headlines for being a moving story, rather than a gay cowboy movie, is historic.

The cinematography is amazing. You can practically smell the Wyoming (actually Canadian) scenery. The 1960s to the 1980s are real and convincing, and tacky and awful.

However, it does go on a bit.

Actually, I felt the same with another of Ang Lee’s films, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Beautiful film, wonderfully shot and acted, but ultimately unengaging.

Brokeback Mountain is like a biography. I couldn’t sense the story arc, so it just seemed to go on, and on, until it finished. (Actually, there is a signpost that it’s about to end, but I don’t want to spoil the story for you. It is a very worthy movie. But, for me, I felt relief when it became clear that the film wasn’t about to cover another 20 years of the characters’ lives.)

So go see it… but don’t be in a rush.

Of course, it’s impossible not to mention the scenes of gay cowboy love. Call me shallow, but the knowlege that Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger were eventually going to get it on hung pregnantly over the first act of the movie. You know they’re going to do it. How will it be shown? They’re two straight actors… will they be able to avoid bursting into giggles? …So it was kind of a relief when they finally got it over with.

Despite what the media has said, there isn’t actually much gay sex in the movie—and, of course, that really isn’t what the story is about. If you’re avoiding it on grounds of prudishness, don’t. If you’re avoiding it on grounds of not wanting to watch two men make out, there’s some straight sex in there for you too.

It was very moving, and I would have cried at the end (if I had tear ducts, which apparently I don’t). I’m glad it was made. It is a mature, mainstream film about gay men, which has been lauded on the strength of the filmmaking and the acting, not on the, potentially controversial, story. Its success is a step forward for equality. But god it’s long.

It also left me with one lingering question, (sure to forever alienate my gay friends): what damage must the combination of rodeo bull riding and taking it up the botty do to a man? No wonder these cowboys spend so much time grimacing at the sunset and walking funny.