That's what you think. I saw the movie with my girlfriend and left the theatre with this guy. I haven't looked back since. [\s]
Posted on 01/11/2006 10:43:28 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
Curtis Wittwer was somewhat reluctant to see a film about two cowboys in love.
The 64-year-old retired state worker, who saw "Brokeback Mountain" with his girlfriend Tuesday night, said he doesn't ordinarily seek out gay-themed movies.
Still, he counted five reasons for seeing the film: It's a western, it's directed by Ang Lee, the screenplay is co-written by Larry McMurtry and it's been getting rave reviews. Plus, he was egged on after reading a New York Times piece by Larry David in which the comedian satirically complains that watching the movie could turn him gay.
"It was just a beautiful movie. You could feel the pain at the end," said Wittwer.
There was only one man at the nearly sold-out 6:30 p.m. showing Tuesday at Westgate Art Cinema who admitted he was uncomfortable seeing the movie. The man was there with four female colleagues, most of whom giggled uncontrollably when he declined to be interviewed about his feelings.
Not one man at the 7 p.m. showing admitted to being uncomfortable with the subject matter.
In fact, the majority of the men seeing "Brokeback Mountain" said they were the ones who talked their wives or girlfriends into going to the movie.
Longtime state Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, saw the movie Tuesday with his wife Nancy. They had both wanted to see it, but it was Risser's spur-of-the-moment idea.
"We talked about the fact that some areas had refused to show the picture. We couldn't understand why," Risser said. "Those people who are uncomfortable with a movie like that, they shouldn't go. I don't go to war movies. I don't particularly enjoy those."
Eric Bruger, 22, a UW-Madison bacteriology student, admitted "Brokeback Mountain" wouldn't have been his first choice of movies to see during winter break. He went because his girlfriend is a fan of stars Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Bruger said he overcame any unease he might have had before entering the theater.
"It's not very commonly seen. Maybe it's seen as threatening a societal norm," he said before the movie. "Then I thought about it and realized, well, it's not really a very big deal."
Afterward, Bruger called it a "pretty good movie" and "tastefully done."
"There was a lot more to it than the impression I was given coming in to it," he said.
Marshall Collins, 20, who works at the theater and attends Madison Media Institute, said he only saw the film because of the hype.
Collins said he knows that his is the minority view, but he was disappointed by the film's ending, he said.
"It was too open. Like they were going to make a miniseries out of it. 'Tune in Sunday on CBS...' "
Also, he wasn't as emotional afterward as other movie-goers.
"Did you see 'Hotel Rwanda?' That's why people cry. Did you see 'Schindler's List'? That's why people cry.'" Collins said.
Rich Hogle, who was there with his wife and two sons, admitted before the movie that he had to be talked into going. He usually prefers action movies or dramas, he said.
Afterward, Hogle called it a "thought-provoking movie" that was slightly different than he expected. His son Chuck, meanwhile, was seeing the film for the second time, having already caught it in New York, on his way home from Ithaca College.
"It is really daring and unique," he said. "It managed to be sentimental and moving without being saccharine and sappy."
His brother Joe, a sophomore at Memorial High School, said he needed a little convincing to see the movie.
"I've never liked any movies of that genre before. But it was good," he said.
That a movie about gay cowboys would find a receptive audience in Madison is hardly surprising, noted a local conservative blogger who goes by the pen name Dennis York.
He likened it to "seeing 'Passion of the Christ' in Vatican City."
"If you are a guy and you see this movie - you are gay. "
I doubt that. I saw it, out of curiosity and out of the fact that I always see all the Oscar-nominated movies. I'm still not gay...just ask my wife.
Seeing this movie will not contaminate anyone. It won't change anyone from heterosexual to gay. It's just a movie.
I'm sure that someone in movie got bored.
I doubt that. I saw it, out of curiosity and out of the fact that I always see all the Oscar-nominated movies. I'm still not gay...just ask my wife.
Seeing this movie will not contaminate anyone. It won't change anyone from heterosexual to gay. It's just a movie.
Okay. So you're bi. You can tell us. We won't tell...
;-)
Released in US December 9, 2005 (limited)
Total US Gross $23,051,190
Production Budget $13,000,000
This makes me so mad. It is making more and more money off the controversy. I wish at the beginning that nobody would have talked about it. The mass media event would have sold some tickets, but not this many. People are going to it because their are people verbally voicing desseent. Everyone should have just ignored this movie. It would have gone away by now.
LOL!
That's what you think. I saw the movie with my girlfriend and left the theatre with this guy. I haven't looked back since. [\s]
Sixth reason he watched it: He likes to dress in his wife's underwear and pretend he is a NYC hooker.
I do too, especially after reading this quote by a "random guy":
Still, he counted five reasons for seeing the film: It's a western, it's directed by Ang Lee, the screenplay is co-written by Larry McMurtry and it's been getting rave reviews.
Err, if a picture of bacon shows up, that wasn't supposed to happen!
"Everyone should have just ignored this movie. It would have gone away by now.
"
Not really. Ang Lee is a pretty good filmaker, generally. Lots of people would go to any movie he made.
It didn't really need the publicity. It's a small movie, aimed at a particular demographic, which includes movie buffs, as well as gays.
I don't see movies based on publicity, for the most part. I go to ones I want to see, or ones which have been reviewed well as films.
Believe me, this movie is tame, compared to a lot of other films where homosexuality is part of the movie.
Funny I saw your thread, my wife and I were talking about this movie.
Because of my work, she thought her and her Mother would see this "Love Story" this weekend.
She didn't know the whole story behind this movie. I asked her if she wanted a repeat of "The Crying Game" with Mom.
She was totally shocked.
Well, guess I saved a few dollars!!!
"It was just a beautiful movie. You could feel the pain at the end," said Wittwer.
Well, rave reviews from Greenwich Village poofters! As for the second statement by Mr Wittwer, what more can be said?
Some will end up gay. It's just a movie, you say. It's naive to believe movies and other arts do NOT influence behaviors.
"Believe me, this movie is tame, compared to a lot of other films where homosexuality is part of the movie."
Really? How do you know that?!!! Err... oh, wait! :)
IT'S JUST A PAIN IN THE ASS!
"I guarantee that there are young adolescent boys out there confused about their sexuality. They will see this "controversial" movie and will be convinced that it's OK to test the waters.":
Oh, please. A movie where a couple of guys kiss each other. Adolescent boys with confusion about whether they like girls or other boys are not going to be swayed by something like this. Besides, it's rated "R." That means it's for adults.
Further, I have not been a teenager for over 40 years. I'd guess I'm safe.
He was just making an analogy. Madison is a mecca for gays.
Sorry, but this smacks of "fictional short story pretending to be an actual news story based on fact."
I get the sense that the "interviewees" are the writer's imaginary friends.
"Some will end up gay. It's just a movie, you say. It's naive to believe movies and other arts do NOT influence behaviors."
Agreed. At the very least, this film creates an environment where experimentation is introduced, encouraged, free to flourish.
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