Posted on 01/21/2006 6:21:27 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
Officials: Film’s absence due to timing, not subject matter
“Brokeback Mountain,” the movie about a gay cowboy love affair that recently won four Golden Globe awards and is expected to be in the Oscar hunt, will not play in any U.S. military theaters in Europe.
And not because it’s a gay cowboy love story.
The movie, which has received almost universally glowing reviews and was the nation’s top grossing film per theater last week, suffers from the same problem that kept many of last year’s Academy Award winners — “The Aviator” and “Sideways” among them — out of AAFES theaters: It was released late in the year by a small, independent movie studio.
When the Army and Air Force Exchange Service selects first-run movies, films from independent studios usually aren’t considered, said John Walters, AAFES motion picture program manager.
Arrangements for first-run movies, shown on military bases within two weeks of their stateside openings, require that distributors send AAFES 11 prints of the film. But movies such as “Brokeback Mountain” — which open on a relatively few screens, unlike blockbusters like “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” and hope to build momentum — do not have an adequate number of copies.
Distributors send prints to theaters in New York, Los Angeles and Seattle, where they think they can maximize profits — not to AAFES, where ticket prices are far less, Walters said, and the audience demographic more challenging.
“There’s a big investment on the distributors’ part. It’s a gamble,” he said. “In the last eight years, I don’t think there’s ever been an independent offered on a first-run.”
“Brokeback Mountain” is being shown on 683 screens in the U.S. By contrast, “Narnia,” a major studio release, is showing on 3,224 screens.
“All the major studio first-runs are pretty much available,” Walters said. “Walk the Line” was a first-run. “Casanova” was a first-run. “The Chronicles of Narnia” generated a lot of discussion and it was on the first-run program, he said.
In addition, AAFES chooses its first-run movies two months in advance, hoping for a movie with broad appeal, based on “studio buzz,” before it can be known how well the movie is received, either by audiences or reviewers.
The timing has to do with advertising. AAFES advertises first-run movies 30 days in advance, Walters said, unlike most theaters, which advertise their offerings only a week or so in advance. Why AAFES must advertise so early, Walters said, “is the million-dollar question.”
If a movie such as “Brokeback Mountain” or “Sideways” does pick up momentum and opens on more and more screens, more prints become available from the distributor, including those that have left stateside theaters for newer movies. Those movies may then appear at AAFES theaters — if they’re deemed to have wide AAFES customer appeal — some weeks or months later, in what AAFES calls regular release.
But if the movie becomes available within 30 days of its home video and DVD release, AAFES doesn’t book it. While “Brokeback Mountain” is due for an April DVD release, theoretically it could be selected for regular release. But, Walters said, “I’ve already committed to movies up through April for Europe.”
The Navy has no plans to show the film at its theaters either. According to its policy, it does not select for presentation any movie that is more than seven weeks old, according to Ron Rossman, director of the Navy Motion Picture Service.
“Brokeback Mountain” is currently in its sixth week of release.
What self respecting soldiers would brag about going to see a fag flick?
Yep. I figure there will be at least three disappoined overseas troops. Maybe four.
bump with no comment
I know. If I was still a young troop, I still couldn't see myself getting blitzed with my drinking pals and going to the theater just to make fun of the movie.
Willie Nelson KNEW something along time ago...
Here goes:
"It should be simply because it is a gay movie. Gay movies should be banned in all public theaters. Homosexuality is inherently obscene and should only show in "adult" theaters which cater to such tastes".
Re: Sheepherders are NOT cowboys
Dittos. I heard they were herding sheep. That would make them "Sheepboys," not cowboys!
LOL
Probably shattered the record for gay cowboy films.
What a difference from my days (1978-81) when we felt privileged if the movie opened in USAREUR within 6 MONTHS of US release dates. I distinctly recall the anticipation for the release of Star Wars.
As for the subject matter of the movie in question, what happened to don't ask, don't tell??? If that were applied to this movie, it would be a short subject rather than a feature release if it were edited to meet that policy.
I am sure that this movie would play well with Muslim men who like to bugger 12 year old house boys.
I doubt the troops arent disappointed because they can't watch "Backdoor Mountain" or "Barebackin' Mountain" or whatever you want to call it.
And I'm sure the troops are just heartbroken about it.
It would have been a real morale builder. Show the troops over there what they're fighting for. Major sarcasm.
And I just don't buy into the statement that the lack of military screenings of the movie is because of timing, not subject matter. With the military's official "don't ask-don't tell" policy - and still very unfriendly to homosexual (deviant and abnormal) conduct, I seriously doubt the military would promote such a film. Any service member who requested it would likely be considered to be breaking the don't-ask/don't-tell policy (I can't imagine a non-homo wanting to see it).
AAFES could have put the film on the schedule and had the theater booked for it and I don't think anyone would have noticed that they didn't actually have any prints available.
New military rule. Don't Watch Don't Tell
From News.com.au's report,
"Once again, the media elites are proving that their pet projects are more important than profit," Janice Crouse, of Concerned Women for America, said.
"None of the three movies - Capote, Transamerica or Brokeback Mountain - is a box office hit. Brokeback Mountain has barely topped $US25 million ($33 million) in ticket sales.
"If America isn't watching these films, why are they winning the awards?"
I still find it interesting how a movie such as this which after 43 days / 6.1 weeks has only managed worldwide numbers of $38,369,000 and it is considered a smashing success.
Let us look at movies which made more money or at least 30 million in their opening weekends.
Scary Movie 3 $48,113,770
Ice Age $46,312,454
Hitch $43,142,214
Anger Management $42,220,847
Sweet Home Alabama $35,648,740
Saw II $30,500,000
I don't remember these movie winning golden globes. Maybe they did but I don't care enough to check. America has not warmed to homosexuality when a gay movie can't even sell more tickets than John Kerry garnered votes.
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