Posted on 12/28/2005 8:48:09 AM PST by presidio9
In case you've been hunkered down on Mount Kenya, "Brokeback Mountain" recently opened. No hurricanes destroyed Orlando. No meteorites were reported in Los Angeles.
In fact, the film quietly attracted record-breaking crowds in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. And so it seems that Ang Lee's film about two cowboys in love is — at minimum — surviving. The reason for this is hard to figure out.
Could it be that all three opening cities have hefty gay populations? Another option is that right-wing groups, such as Focus on the Family, are all but keeping silent, in hopes that the film just goes away. Or it might have to do with Hollywood hunks Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal and their huge female fan bases.
Whatever the reason, Exhibitor Relations Co. reports that over the first weekend, Dec. 10-11, the film brought in the highest per-screen average for any film release in 2005.
And if that's not enough, "Brokeback Mountain" has already landed awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Associations and the New York Film Critics Circle.
Even some real-life cowboys applaud the flick. "I think it's something that's now just being more understood," seven-time world-champion cowboy Ty Murray, who is straight, recently told ABC's Good Morning America. "Hopefully, this movie helps people further understand it."
But as a gay man from a small town like the one in "Brokeback Mountain," I find that the beauty of this film lies in its navigating away from stereotypes to convey the power and randomness of love. A welcomed change, I'm sure, for many— especially gay Americans.
Two years ago, I published a column, "Queer TV: Advancing Tolerance or Fostering Stereotypes?" In it, I questioned whether such shows as "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" and "Queer as Folk" were anything more than ratings ploys. And I wondered what viewers, once they found themselves uninterested, might come away with.
Would these programs help in showing the normality of being gay? Or would many viewers come away thinking that we were indeed "different"?
Hollywood has featured gay characters since the 1930s, usually as the effeminate best friend of the leading man. Their orientation was understood, though not discussed. This continued through the '50s, when gay characters were portrayed as emotionally troubled and often suicidal.
By the '70s, both cinema and television started to discuss real-life gay issues.
And during the '80s and '90s, gay characters and gay-themed programming moved to the forefront. Still, the way in which they were depicted — in most cases — cultivated dated stereotypes.
Now, through movies such as "Brokeback Mountain," Hollywood is shedding light on the fact that not all gay men are fashion gurus, hairdressers, interior designers, and superior in the arts, but that some might — God forbid — be cowboys, herding sheep in Wyoming. And, more important, capable of love-based relationships.
Not all of us gay folk are comfortable with the flamboyance of gay-pride parades. And many would rather sip a Killian's in an Irish pub than dance to techno in a noisy gay bar. "Gay" has nothing to do with lifestyle. And rather than coming out of the closet to make a declaration of individuality or identity, most of us "come out" so that we can share the gift of love openly with another individual.
So when the numbers are tallied and the awards dispersed, my hope is that "Brokeback Mountain" is seen not only as a monumental moment in cinema history but also as a daring and original attempt to prove that love is not bound by interpretation or stereotype.
>>>By that logic though, why would there be "Queer eye for the straight guy"?
I think the intended market is not necessarily gays, its the "voyeurs" of the world - prinicpally female.>>>
BIG difference watching a gay guy do wonders for a living room or wardrobe. Heck, we'll take notes!
It's another thing entirely to watch or listen to gay sex. UGH. So don't think women are ok with this because they don't mind being friends or watching gay guys do their thing with interior decorating or hairstyles.
Lighten up. I know some fags, and they are kewl with the term. There is even a faggot in San Franscisco that uses the term in his newspaper column.
Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal... which one plays the part of Al Gore?
ALL normal women would also
The problem with Fudgepack Mountain is simply the PC crowd and the 3% sodomite crowd want to make their sick lifestyle mainstream. If they keep pushing it long enough, it no longer becomes the sickness that it really is.
And many would rather sip a Killian's in an Irish pub than dance to techno in a noisy gay bar. Again, OK.
"Gay" has nothing to do with lifestyle....errrr, you're losing me, here.
And rather than coming out of the closet to make a declaration of individuality or identity, most of us "come out" so that we can share the gift of love openly with another individual. ....or, to make a polical statement, or for any one of a multitude of reasons. Or, many just stay closeted. But, whatever.
So when the numbers are tallied and the awards dispersed, my hope is that "Brokeback Mountain" is seen not only as a monumental moment in cinema history....OK, that's it. Its a bad indie film. No more, no less. And it's only being received well in the gay community, by film geeks, and those that are trying to show how 'diverse' they are. 95% of Americans would need to be dragged into it kicking and screaming.
Idiots.
Maybe she was trying to appease Patricia Heaton. I don't know. All I know is that she is hot! Maybe I should have just said that to begin with. I absolutely think she is hot!
Idiot, that is. I dislike writers that try to assign waaaaay to much importance to the trivial.
Having to pretend to be homosexual, America-Hating, Blue-Dog Democrats, secretly desiring to proclaim their Pledge of Allegiance as well as praying to God for forgiveness and for their blessings. Out of sight from others, the CCB talk openly of the Constitution and even bring their firearms to show one another.
Closet Conservative Breeders in Homoland - Bias and prejudices can not hold these patriots back.
I read that Jake Gyllenhaal has an on-again, off-again relationship with Kirsten Dunst. Maybe she will re-evaluate the relationship.
What is the valuable message?
Your money would be better spent elsewhere.
Patricia Heaton is one of the few (perhaps the only?) well-known pro-life advocate actresses. You comment is the first time I've ever heard anything political about Swank.
WOW - pretty bad "$6mm at a cost of $13mm."
Yeah just what straight kids wanna see ... LOL!!!
What?
I don't know movie previews to be shown in the morning.
This compare to the programming on Foxnews, cable, which had a commercial for Country Music - artists like Aaron Tippen - this guy is far from gay.
Having said that, I'm not harsh with the gay crowd. I am actually accomodating to an extent - this most likely since I grew up in Austin, Tx.
I just don't want them to be beaten in the streets like they are in Eastern Europe. There if they protest they are beaten. Machismo is everywhere.
But what gets me is that conservatives refuse to see that we are in a culture war so they play nice.
Another infuriating News special happened a few years ago. It must have involved Katie Coric .... She had a panel of young girls discussing sex and teenage years. They all had the same opinion so it wasn't much of a discussion.
They all stated that being virgins isn't really important to them. The adults in the panel and audience remained silent and agreed with a nod.
It was really an embarrassing moment for me. I was ashamed to be human.
But there is hope on the horizon for these dirty disgusting teenage boys and girls... MTV is promoting that the young should get HIV tested. What would we do without MTV?
: )
You could be right about that but it's hard to imagine that there are that many sick people among us.
Very interesting (even if her great piety does not seem to have deterred her from accepting a role that was a sympathetic portrayal of a Lesbian). My point, however, was that Hollywood will take care of those whose careers (and "images") might be damaged by sympathetic portrayals of gay characters. Now that you mention it, maybe MS Swank accepted the "Boy's Don't Cry" role to avoid Hollywood Left persecution for being Republican and "religious".
If it makes you feel better, I'll put it on my profile page, right next to my marital status, and prominently on top as well.
I don't have a feeling at all about it, it just seemed a little strange that you made the statement
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