There are symbols everywhere in this film. My current favs are the 3 pictures of the mountain which are shown in scenes, paced through the film, each bigger then the last: brokeback looming larger and larger for both men.
And the Cowboy hats. Black/White. battered. The bands, E.'s completely twisted, JT's more and more twisted as time goes on and it all starts to kill him. How the hats themselves are used as symbols, how the hats themselves are used to hide.
But I think my all-time favorite is after FNIT, Ennis readying his mount with that pommel looming large. The rifle, how he holds it and then holsters it, effectively surrendering..... Being from New York, I remember thinking--and still do, every time I see him do it--- that it was just SOOOO SWEEET of Ennis not to blow Jack's head off after humping him in the tent. I mean it was just...sweet. It really moved me.