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.
Maybe I'm approaching geezer-hood or something, but why are young actors all so "pretty-handsome" and wimpy-looking these days?! Not that that's indicative of anything, but I wouldn't call those two "hunks" by any stretch...*sigh*
As of Monday 12/26/05 it is in 14th place and took in $7,888,312 for the 18 days it has been out. the-numbers.com
This is hardly a box office success. It’s a box office flop.
The author of this article is "out to lunch" in the glowing report of the record-breaking crowds. Where are these crowds now?
25 or 26 at last count, we should have shut up after 6.
I thought HULK was so BORING. Kirsten did a good job in Spiderman, but I wonder what she sees in Jake. Since he made this gay movie, I wonder about him.
Jake Gyllenhall reminds me of a young Paul Newman, who also had pretty, pouty lips, soulful eyes and long, lovely eyelashes. (I remember Newman from the 60's in films like "Cool Hand Luke".)
Yeah, that's them. The only thing I changed was to add Cartman, change the wording on the title to "Bareback Mounting" and add the tag line. Other than that, it's the original poster.
You know this movie clears something up for me. I was in Colorado earlier this year and when I, or any of the guys with me, would come close to a herd of sheep the sheep would all take off running and baaaing their heads off. Now I know why!
One way, do not enter.
Well, I'm not going to run Ty down. That's not the trail I drove down, and that's all I have to say about that. Wowser.
Thanks for the tip.
Oh my gosh! That sharing girlfriend/boyfriend thing just gets me! In my world, if a friend was with a guy, you avoided him. Period. No matter how cute, no matter how much you liked him. It was just GROSS to be with someone your friend was with. Not anymore. It's like a big swinger party in high school and college. Dear God. I have three daughters. I'm scared.
There are homos in Atlanta and a few in the Athens/Augusta area, neither of which are really Georgia.
I have three daughters too, thank goodness two of them made it through and are now married with children. The youngest at 20 has a few issues I am sure I don't want to know about, but I MUST have faith that things will be ok...lol
I have a problem with this movie's advertising and reviews. It isn't up front with the audience.
It is not mentioned that these two 'cowboys' are actually sheep-herders. To people in the know, there is a great difference especially in the 'mythos' the film makers are trying to 'cash in' on with gay contraversy. **I feel the Mel Brooks might have been more appropriate to do a film about two gay sheepherders in the mountains!
Also the two men are already married with children to women before getting involved. So there is an real element of family breaking-up here.
All these facts as compared to the simplistic way this film is being marketed to the audience is somewhat false & hypocritical. Hypocrisy sucks!
I don't patronize such phony message films.
http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=brokebackmountain.htm
Production budget 14 mil. Its made over 40 mil as of today. That's 25 mil profit. Add in video sales and its doing pretty good.
Some facts about the movie:
They ARE cowboys. They work on ranches, rodeo and herd sheep JUST for the summer to make some extra money.
They were NOT married w/children when they first met and became involved.
The film does NOT have a phoney message. It has a very real message.
It in NO WAY (not even a litte TINY bit) glorifies the gay lifestyle.
It simply depicts the agony and heartbreak of the lifestyle.
Don't spout off and judge if you haven't seen it.
See it and THEN come back and let us know if you still feel the same way. If you do, fine.
But get your facts! MANY of you are giving false information about the movie.
I am white, female, straight, middle-aged,married, conservative mother of 5 who thought Breakback Mountain was exceptional....BOTH times I saw it!
There is only ONE God...and YOU'RE not Him!
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