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.
Hmmmmmmm, feel the need to make a public pronouncement of it?
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.
Rev Movie Wks Avg/ Pct Total
$Mln) Screens Out Screen Chg ($Mln) 1.
King Kong $31.4 3,576 2 $ 8,781 -58% $118.7 2.
Narnia 30.1 3,853 3 7,813 -36% 163.5 3.
Fun W/Dick & Jane 23.5 3,056 1 7,690 -- 31.1 4.
Cheaper By Dozen 14.8 3,175 1 4,654 -- 20.1 5.
Family Stone 10.9 2,469 2 4,394 -46% 30.1 6.
Memoirs of a Geisha 10.2 1,547 3 6,593 422% 13.3 7.
The Ringer 8.4 1,829 1 4,593 -- 8.4 8.
Rumor Has It 7.5 2,815 1 2,654 -- 7.5 9.
Wolf Creek 5.9 1,749 1 3,396 -- 5.9 10.
Harry Potter 5.7 2,521 6 2,269 -34% 262.4
T*
I do NOT see Brokebutt Mountain on this list...do you? Data from a GOOGLE search on "Film Receipts"... |
I heard her on an interview saying that she was Republican. That lady from Everybody loves Raymond was on it too saying she was Republican also.
It's a guy like you who encourages poor civil discourse. "Fag"
What is wrong with you?
Why can't you have more civil dialog?
I don't like when liberals call Rush Limbaugh extreme right-wing like it is a disease. I don't like when TV commercials portray white guys as some stupid idiots and every other race as smart. I don't like when it's funny to pick guys grown and everybody laughts at it. it's really silly. at same time, you calling Gays, "Fags" is really sad. Comments like that enables others to be less civil.
I saw this movie and I didn't like it.
The movie was too long and didn't really have a captivating story. I don't know how movie like this wins any awards. South Park, the movie was better than Brokeback. Office Space was far better than this movie. There are hundreds, if not thousands movie far better than this.
The movie does bring some valuable message at the end. People should seize the moment and go for the things that are value to individuals.
Yeah, I found out he was gay/bi on findadeath.com while looking up info on Gilda Radner. I was shocked and appalled and a little more than FREAKED OUT!!!
Hollywood general accounting practices. Do you really think it only "cost" $13 mil to produce Bareback Mountain? --With those actors?
Heh.
I was once stopped by "shepherds" in OR moving the flock somewhere using a state highway. They looked like cowboys riding their horses. We had to stop while the flock flowed around the car and then the road was slippery for a few miles ;-).
I agree, jack - well said. I'm disappointed that there's a market for this type of film.
That said, marketing is about creating a market where there was none. Creating a need where there was none pre-existing.
Those are the words I was searching for...
This new film, "Homo on the Range" or whatever (Bareback Mounting? Backside Mounting?) comes close to a horror flick in my book.
I would need to take a shower after watching it.
No, I guess the reviewer thinks that if he lies enough, the lie will become the truth.
My son was saying that his boss calls the movie, Bareback Mountain. I can't see straight guys supporting this movie at all.
I agree with you. Thanks for being reasonable. Don't let anyone goad you ninto losing your frame.
You sure about that?
She was here in Cleveland last year w/ a bunch of other B list actors (e.g. Kevin Bacon) on one of those tours to "get out the vote".
I'm not claiming getting out the vote is inherently liberal, but the general views and PR surrounding that whole effort were really a Bush hate fest.
>>>"Or it might have to do with Hollywood hunks Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal and their huge female fan bases."
Correct me if I'm wrong, ladies, but wouldn't seeing your two "hunks" involved in a gay way be the opposite of sexy?>>>
See Post #14
They may have done the movie for peanuts with the promise that they would get bigger roles down the road if they did the picture.
What is the valuable message?
Yup, quite a success...
Since the author is an admitted queer, he won't understand this, but, women, when they find out the "hunk" is gay, it is a major turn off, and will cause them to stay away from any new movies that said "hunk" makes.
Here is the reason this happens. Women are wanting to see these hunks because they have fantasies of this dashing handsome hunk being totally infatuated with only them, and coming to sweep them into their ams and carry them away from the rat race. But, the moment they realize this "hunk" will instead walk right by them and pursue the woman's mate.
A man could recognize this in the same way they go up to a hot woman in a bar, only to be shot down when the woman says she's gay. (On a side note, I never understood why Hellywood tries to show that every man's fantasy is to see two women making out.)
Besides all that, as has been stated, these are two guys that shovel sheep dip for a living, not cowhands. Of course sheep herders are great people. I seriously think it isn't that these two are attracted to each other. It is just this year's herd of sheep is a lot uglier than last year's.
There is NO WAY any normal woman thinks 2 men engaging in ANY homosexual act is remotely "sexy"
Oh well. If these groups applaud it it must be very good! /sarc
BTW I agree - It IS difficult to select a point of attack on this target rich article.
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