HEATH Ledger turns in the best performance of his career in this poignant tale of forbidden and secretive love between two cowboys over a span of 20 years.

It wouldn't surprise me if the Aussie heartthrob, most famous for more lightweight roles in 10 Things I Hate About You and A Knight's Tale, earned himself an Oscar come March.

As Ennis Del Mar, a young ranch hand of few words, Ledger's performance is even more remarkable because his entire script could have been penned on the back of a postage stamp.

In the summer of '63 he meets rodeo cowboy Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) when they both take work sheep herding on the harsh, high grasslands of Brokeback Mountain.

Working hard by day and drinking whisky by a nighttime campfire, the pair become closer than they could have ever imagined and form a lifelong, if unorthodox, bond.

Over the next 20 or so years, the pair lead separate lives - experiencing marriage, children and divorce - while managing to snatch a few stolen moments together once or twice a year.

OK, so the love story between two gay cowboys might not be everyone's cup of tea but Ang Lee directs with such subtlety and sensitivity that the sexual orientation of the characters only becomes relevant because of the prejudice being together would actually bring.

My only gripe was that despite superb performances from the entire cast I was left feeling disappointingly cold when Lee packs his final punch. Overall though, this is an excellent film which could fare very well during the forthcoming awards season.

EB