Posted on 12/07/2005 1:52:30 PM PST by Millee
It has wowed film festivals, won rave reviews and sparked Oscar buzz, but when "Brokeback Mountain," a.k.a. the gay cowboy movie, begins playing to general audiences on Friday, it faces its toughest challenge yet -- wooing mainstream America.
Two of Hollywood's hottest leading men, Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger, risk alienating fans and sending their stars plummeting if, after watching the pair have sex on screen, audiences cannot see them any other way than gay.
Winning over middle America is important for the roughly $12.5 million movie because its backer, art house specialist Focus Features, wants a big box office and wider exposure for the film's themes of love, friendship and family ties.
Two other films built around gay subjects this season, "Transamerica" and "Breakfast on Pluto," have gained critical attention but they have less at stake in terms of costs and star power.
Gyllenhaal and Ledger say they are less concerned about their futures than the film's, which was directed by Ang Lee and based on Annie Proulx's story about two cowboys who meet in 1963 wrangling sheep in Wyoming and form a bond that transcends time and transforms their lives.
Ledger, 26, said he was both anxious and curious to see whether audiences will view the movie as a gay romance or, as its makers want, simply a romance.
"I have my hopes held high in terms of the level of maturity in today's society," he said. "I think people are a lot smarter than we are giving them credit for being."
Gyllenhaal, who turns 25 this month, added in a separate interview: "The issues are much bigger than sexuality."
Both said their decisions to take the roles were spurred by the desire to work with Lee, director of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,"
(Excerpt) Read more at today.reuters.com ...
When will the left finally stop trying to tear down America?
How did they miss the title "Rump Wranglers" for this one?
Then shouldn't they be more correctly called "sheepboys"?
"Brokeback Mountain" is plenty homosexual, when you think about it.
I won't be spending money on a "gay" cowboy.
You're right!
I DO DISCRIMINATE.
We'll see how this movie stands against Narnia as they are released on the same day.
Gay cowboys? No thanks.
Obviously the intended title of this was "Bareback Mountain" before Marketing got to it.
We used to call homofaggots "Ass Pirates". Now it's gonna be "Ass Cowboys" i take it? Rump rangers, maybe?
Oh please when can I go see a movie about two cowboys travelling the hershey highway. (/Sarcasm)
I have my hopes held high in terms of the level of maturity in today's society," he said. "I think people are a lot smarter than we are giving them credit for being."
Yep, we are smarter than you think.
"wrangling sheep in Wyoming"....Yeh, sure, wrangling...Ha Ha Ha.........
I'm content with my original... 'Pillow Biters'
Gay Cowboys Eating Pudding.
Is this an Independent Film?
To the Tune, Cowboy's Lament...
I see by your outfit that you are a cowboy,
I see by your outfit you're a cowboy, too.
We see by our outfits that we are both cowboys,
And if you get an outfit you can be a cowboy, too!
parsy, who ain't interested in this movie.
I thought it was based on the life of that guy from The Village People.
You'd like Freeper "SmithL" 's keywords....search "Morford". SmithL is a genius with hilarious names.
In other words, people who don't find sodomy uplifting are stupid.
Thanks, Heath.
Oh, and congratulations on almost finishing high school.
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