Jake Gyllenhaal had one of his breakthrough performances in the romantic drama Brokeback Mountain. The film saw him play a closeted homosexual cowboy in the ‘60s in Texas, who tries to navigate a relationship with a fellow cowboy played by Heath Ledger. The film was a landmark in LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream cinema and Gyllenhaal received an Academy Award nomination.
One of the most asked-about scenes in the film for Gyllenhaal has been the s*x scenes that occur between him and Ledger’s characters. Released in 2005, the scenes were much spoken about in the media. When asked how he felt during the scenes, Jake Gyllenhaal mentioned that he enjoyed them.
Jake Gyllenhaal Joined The Film After Many Actors Backed Out
The film Brokeback Mountain was based on a short story by Annie Proulx and was in development for years before Ang Lee stepped in to make the film. Writer Diana Ossana was the first to discover the story and then convinced Proulx to let her adapt it into a film. Many directors were in the running with Good Will Hunting director Gus Van Sant attached to direct at one point.
When Van Sant was supposed to direct, he offered the role to Matt Damon. The Interstellar star reportedly rejected the film as he was concerned about playing a homosexual cowboy after playing a gay character in The Talented Mr. Ripley and a cowboy in All the Pretty Horses. After numerous delays, Van Sant left the project.
Director Ang Lee was almost on the verge of retirement after suffering during the making of Hulk when he read the script for Brokeback Mountain and was moved. He hired actor Heath Ledger, who was also impressed with the script. Lee reportedly offered the film to Mark Wahlberg, who thought it was too weird at the time. Jake Gyllenhaal was ultimately cast as Jack Twist in the film.
The film was universally acclaimed when it was released and was a commercial success. It was one of the landmark films centered on the topic of homosexuality that was presented in mainstream cinema. The film won Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score at the Oscars and was also nominated for Best Picture.
Jake Gyllenhaal Speaks About The S*x Scenes In Brokeback Mountain
The highlight of the romantic drama was the intimate scenes between Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger’s homosexual characters Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar. Set in the ‘60s and in Texas, the relationship between two men in the American Midwest was already scandalous. Adding intimate scenes to the mix made it all the more appealing and controversial.
Gyllenhaal, who is no stranger to s*x scenes on screen now, mentioned having to do intimate scenes on screen and how to have chemistry. While talking about intimate scenes with co-stars, Gyllenhaal mentioned to Entertainment Weekly that he has a process to going about it,
“There’s, like, this little door that you open up and you’re like, ‘You down?’ ‘Yeah, I’m down—let’s do it.’ And the door closes when the scene ends. Yeah, it’s s*xy when we’re doing it. And then it stops.”
Gyllenhaal received Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for his convincing performance in the legendary film.
