"Lee[1] was quoted as saying, "What do I know about gay ranch hands in Wyoming?" In spite of the director's removal from the subject at hand, Brokeback Mountain showcased Lee's skills in probing the depths of the human heart."

... and I remember, as someone who grew up in that time period, in the poor-white-trash southwest, being amazed at how perfectly he nailed the aesthetic and mood of the entire movie[2].

So it can be done ...

[1] Ang Lee is a Taiwanese-born American film director, screenwriter and producer.

[2] Brokeback Mountain