'Gay cowboy movie' shatters stereotypes

CNN.com ^ | Paul Clinton

[Millee]

Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger weren't drawn to "Brokeback Mountain," the story of two cowboys involved in a homosexual relationship, by the movie's risky subject matter or the controversy it may raise.

In fact, said Gyllenhaal, those aspects of the script worked against his decision to do the film.

"I read the story and heard about it as 'the gay cowboy movie' and I immediately responded against that," he said at a press conference for the film at the Toronto Film Festival Saturday.

"[But] as soon as I heard [director] Ang [Lee] was attached, I knew it would be a different type of movie that would go beyond the confines of two guys and their sexuality towards the more difficult topic of love."

Ledger agreed.

"First and foremost, when I read the script it was one of the most beautiful stories I'd ever read," he said. "It's really refreshing to come across something like that."

[Millee]

What?? Tom Cruise wasn't available??? Did Hollyweird learn anything from Alexander???

[cripplecreek]

Shouldn't that be Bareback mountain?

[wvobiwan]

The films backers must have taken a vow of poverty. The actors must have decided to get other jobs.

[texianyankee]

".....The film, which begins in the early '60s, concerns two young men, Ennis Del Mar (Ledger) and Jack Twist (Gyllenhaal), who are hired to tend sheep for a summer in Wyoming and find themselves attracted to each other...."

Cowboys dont tend sheep.....

[atomicpossum]

Chaps, leather, Marlboro man, long hard rides, sweating, Brokeback Mountain, Heath Ledger...

Doesn't sound like too many stereotypes broken to me. If they run into an Indian and a construction worker, it sounds like the same old thing.

[jw777]

I thought it would be called "Bareback Mountain"

[cripplecreek]

Ride em cowboy.

[jw777]

I wonder if they'll have bull named "power Bottom"

[ClearCase_guy]

Well, I'm sure this will rake in piles of money.

I hear Hollywood's not having a great year. They don't seem to be able to figure out the problem ...

[Dinsdale]

< Cartman > They're all about two gay cowboys eating pudding! < /Cartman >

[WhiteGuy]

Wasn't this the same movie shown during the Southpark film festival?

[aaronbeth]

No...it's "Brokecrack Mountain."( My husband thought that up.)

[Millee]

The sheep play an intricate part in the love scenes. But I won't ruin it for you. :-)

[xcamel]

tight * in a cold wind, as they say.

Bet the film's "GROSS" is going to be fairly high

Village people to sue over film idea...

What about Nel and the Horse?

And you thought there was no reason to rope a steer...

etc etc etc

[jw777]

there'll be lot's of rope, leather and whipping. even some branding

[Ciexyz]

Interesting that a woman wrote the original novel.

[XeniaSt]

Wyoming Cowboys marry their sheep.

Sheep are easier than stump broke cows.

[texianyankee]

I've never heard of sheep branding.....but they do get sheared...

[FormerACLUmember]

Queer cowboy movies will only escalate the current death spiral of Hollywood. Who in their right mind will pay to see this fecal waste?

[texianyankee]

No thanx....I'll wait for the Matt Dillon & Miss Kitty outtakes to be released.

[KC_Conspirator]

Yes, more gay filth, thats what Hollywood needs after experiencing a record low year in box office numbers. Yes, more gay filth, is what we need. Forget that Alexander the Gay was a colossal flop and family freindly movies made hundreds of millions. We need more gay filth!

[Ciexyz]

Click on the cnn.link and check out the photo of the two handsome cowboys. I bet this film finds an audience.

[jocon307]

"If they run into an Indian and a construction worker, it sounds like the same old thing."

LOL! About time someone came up with that one!

[Sprite518]

The Leftist in this country are once again trying to rewrite history.

[Always Right]

Doesn't sound like too many stereotypes broken to me. If they run into an Indian and a construction worker, it sounds like the same old thing.

Hey, don't leave out the police officer.

[xcamel]

see #14

[SweetCaroline]

I bet this film finds an audience.

....the whole GAY COMMUNITY!

[Always Right]

Breaking all stereotypes:

[FormerACLUmember]

"Alexander the Gay" was the biggest bomb of last season. I made the mistake of recently renting the "Directors Cut."

WORST movie I have seen in many years. It was laughably bad... and it simply would not end... the bomb that wouldn't die!

[Ignatius J Reilly]

"Interesting that a woman wrote the original novel."

Yes indeed Annie Proulx who is most famous for Shipping News. This is actually a short story that was in a collection of award winners the year it came out and which I have. I thought it (the short story) was well written and very interesting in many ways. For instance these are young WY rural kids who grew up within communities that were definitely not gay-freindly (remember this is Cheney country) and the kind of emotions they go through and justification they make to themselves etc. In the story both go on after that one summer to marry women at the end one who lives in Texas then is killed while changing a spare tire but you are led to know that he had probably been found out as a closet case and given some old western justice ala Matt Shepherd. The sex scenes were not explicit and I thought it was a great read, but I'm not as squeamish about homos as some here.

[KC_Conspirator]

This film will have NO audience. None.

In fact, the Gyllnehalls are the most untalented showbiz family in Hollywood. Absolutely awufl.

[Clemenza]

I don't think we should be too surprised that 25-33% of the Gay population voted for Bush. They always went for the "rugged cowboy" look:

[atomicpossum]

Hey, don't leave out the police officer.

And the biker. Everybody always forgets the biker.

[KC_Conspirator]

When it came out, everyone said it was a stinker. The DVD has been floating around the office and the consensus is that it is an awful movie. I refuse to see it.

I am sorry that you lost those precious hours of your life while watching that bomb. You should write Oliver Stone (currently doing the 911 movie) and ask for that time back.

[Daralundy]

There is something called slash fiction posted on the Internet and newsgroups,written by women about male homosexuals, usually based on TV or movie shows. Maybe its like men like to see women together in porn.

[BigFinn]

Should re-name the movie "Rawhides".

[Millee]

I just luv that picture!

[Michael Barnes]

[Nooseman]

Gunsmoked!

[Yo-Yo]

Midnight Cowboy?

[N. Theknow]

It's gerbil stampede!

[SweetCaroline]

Asked a question about the U.S. gay marriage controversy, the two actors said they hope the film shows a gay relationship in a matter-of-fact, unsensational light and that it contributes to tolerance.

"If it does shed light on the idea that there's real love involved ... it's great," said Gyllenhaal. "When two people love each other, they love each other. And people should hold on to it as hard as they can, whether it's homosexual or heterosexual.

hey boys....when two people love each other they don't go to bath houses, park, bars, schools, etc to be sexually active with people they know nothing about!!!!

[roylene]

They do not tend anything. They are cowboys.

[roylene]

BareButt Mountain

[roylene]

I just read the CNN story. Is the movie rated X? According to CNN there is a sex scene between these actors (?). Something they even implied was disgusting.
I guess it will be popular in the Castro district in SF.

[Millee]

I have no idea what it will be rated. The Birdcage was gay enough for me. Don't think I'll be catching this movie. Grosssssss

[Tax-chick]

Cowboys don't do anything with sheep. Sheepherders, usually Mexican or Basque, herd sheep, and cowboys tended to shoot them on sight.

[Dinsdale]

Cowboys don't do anything with sheep.

That's their story and they are sticking to it.

Q: Why do cowboys wear button fly jeans? (also Scottsmen wear kilts and shepheards wear robes)

A: Because sheep can hear a zipper for miles.

[Tax-chick]

Are you sure this movie isn't about Bedouins?

[weegee]

Gay coyboys?

It's been done: