Hollywood Rocked: 'Gay Cowboy' Movie Becomes an Oscar Frontrunner

Drudge Report ^ | November 6, 2005

[RWR8189]

XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX SUN NOV 06, 2005 19:28:02 ET XXXXX

HOLLYWOOD ROCKED: 'GAY COWBOY' MOVIE BECOMES AN OSCAR FRONTRUNNER

Arriving with nudity and explicit gay sex scenes between two cowboys, UNIVERSAL/FOCUS FILMS's BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN has quietly become an award season frontrunner, interviews with Academy members reveal.

"It could very well be the last film standing at this year's Oscars," a top Hollywood producer not associated with the film explained from Hollywood.

"There was not a dry eye in the house at the screening at Telluride [Film Festival in Colorado]," says the producer, who asked not to be named out of respect for the cast and crew of the producer's own Oscar contender. "Watch it come out of the gate at the Golden Globes with super controversy."

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS critic Jack Mathews predicts the gay cowboy movie, which takes place in Wyoming, may be "too much for red-state audiences, but it gives the liberal-leaning Academy a great chance to stick its thumb in conservatives' eyes."

Director Ang Lee's movie staring Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger won the Golden Lion, the top prize at the Venice Film Festival earlier this fall.

But will a movie even Madonna calls "shocking" sit with the heartland?

Playwright and lifelong Wyomingite tells the STAR-TRIBUNE of Casper this week that she has never encountered a gay cowboy, and doesn't think it's right for Hollywood to portray Wyoming as a state with gay cowboys.

Her message to the writers of BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN: “Don't try and take what we had, which was wonderful -- the cowboys that settled the state and made it what it was -- don't ruin that image... There's nothing better than plain old cowboys and the plain old history without embellishing it to suit everyone."

Meanwhile, Michell Howard of the state's Travel and Tourism Division says her agency is already hearing a buzz that people in other countries are expressing interest in visiting Wyoming because of the film.

“It's gotten rave reviews from the international community,” she said. “I don't know if they're more tolerant or something, but they're viewing it as a great Western movie.”

Developing...

[BradyLS]

SHEEP? These Hollywood snots have walked right into the biggest joke of the year. SHEEP? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! (snort)

Well, with character names like "Jack" and "Ennis," whadaya 'spect?

[SDGOP]

Even Texas has Austin ;)

[Intolerant in NJ]

“Don't try and take what we had, which was wonderful -- the cowboys that settled the state and made it what it was -- don't ruin that image...someday someone will make a film about the resentment, contempt, and need to mock straight culture and values which animates so much of gay "art" - that's one I might go to see......

[traumer]

Not that there is anything wrong with that...

[GraniteStateConservative]

I agree on dumping Jeff, but I understand why they did it-- because they wanted to have everyone be hooked up by series end and Jeff wasn't going to hook up with Jane.

The Man With Two Legs was a comedic tour de force.

[macrahanish #1]

A miniature golf course near my home has a rabbit that looks
like Frank.
I find it unnerving to play there.

[TradicalRC]

Donnie: Why do you wear that stupid bunny suit?
Frank: Why are you wearing that stupid man suit?

[Tanniker Smith]

They dumped him? I had heard that he left -- he was sick of Jeff.

[GraniteStateConservative]

I guess you were right.

Coyle’s decision to leave the popular series was motivated by his future career. His fear, as with many fellow actors, was that of being typecast: “I was very keen that that character didn’t stick with me. It’s the kind of character that does. I’m an actor and I want to be an actor when I’m 60. It’s a lifelong process, why cut it off by boxing yourself into a little pigeon hole early on?”

In an interview with one of the co-writers (the husband in the husband and wife team), he made it seem like after the 3rd season, Jeff had some introspection and decided to totally divorce himself from the show-- thus, no "Jeff Leaves" episode. The writer said the show's folks were kind of annoyed about it. It had to have been a tough decision, and that's why he did Strange next-- a scary/drama show. But, I always have trouble seeing actors play different roles, especially in the BBC shows. Martin Freeman will always be "Tim"-- even when I see him in Ali G Indahouse and The Robinsons. Same with Sarah Alexander playing "Susan." She played in "The Worst Week of My Life" as an engaged woman and I thought it was too bad that her relationship with Steve didn't work out. :-)

[Let's Roll]

"...it gives the liberal-leaning Academy a great chance to stick its thumb in conservatives' eyes."

Oh, well then it's achieved its purpose, hasn't it?

[Lady Heron]

I remember watching a preview of this crap a few weeks ago at a theater. My wife was embarrassed because I verbalized my displeasure in a rather loud manner. It was more than I could bare. And I'm a polite mid-westerner transplanted to Florida.

LOL! My husband took me to the movies this weekend and before the movie they ran a 5 minute add for some PBS documentary on global warming of all things, that spent some time talking down about all those people who still do not believe we have a problem.

It seemed to go on and on and I got madder and madder before voicing my very strong opinion on being subjected to idiotic propaganda when I have come to only be entertained. I guess I was loud enough for the local college professors and their girl friends sitting in front of me to hear what I said. They looked at each other in shocked silence....all the while my husband is silently laughing.

The movie was "Zorro" for goodness sakes, not a save the whales movie. I am not the loud outspoken type in person, and most people automatically write me off as stupid because of long blond hair and looking a lot younger than I am, so I am not sure what shocked them more...the fact that someone spoke out or the fact that I could actually think for my self. LOL!

[Awgie]

"My husband took me to the movies this weekend and before the movie they ran a 5 minute add for some PBS documentary on global warming of all things, that spent some time talking down about all those people who still do not believe we have a problem."

That's what hollywood does best...insulting and talking down to "the unenlightened." I personally have a hard time going to a movie theater any more. It used to be fun but now it's just a bad experience.

[juggernaut]

You said it! They just can't stop giving the right, gift after gift, after....

[Tanniker Smith]

Oddly enough, I recognized "Steve" immediately in Pirates of the Caribbean, but he was good enough in the part that I actually had to check when I got home that I wasn't mistaken. Excellent job in that film.

[Max7]

You're far from the only one who is disappointed about Jake Gyllenhaal, and he was very believable in October Sky. He must have thought it would increase his salability in the movie industry. But now, everytime I see him, I probably won't be remembering "October Sky". I'll be thinking about the gay cowboy he played in this movie I will never waste a dime on seeing. Obviously, nothing is sacred anymore. I wonder when we'll be seeing a movie about some grade school 9-year-old boy who suddenly realizes he REALLY LIKES the other little boys. Folks, we're on our way. There's no stopping it. What a total bummer. Don't laugh. Hollywood may already have a screenplay out there being shopped around to the "right people."

[thompsonsjkc]

Well, they gave Hilary Swank a best actress Oscar for Boys Don't Cry. She in no way, shape, or form deserved that award. That movie sucked.

[fightu4it]

In this cultural dark age we inhabit one would think that Hollywood would be ecstatic when they come across material for the makings of a blockbuster movie.

In that regard I offer my pick of books that I think would make a great movie: The Dark Side Of Camelot, by Seymour Hersh ISBN 0-316-35955-6 copyright 1997

They might even be able to get Teddy to play himself. We could watch him delivering bags of money to West Virginia sheriffs, romping in the White House pool, sans swimming attire, with his brothers Jack and Robert and a couple of young female staffers the Secret Service called "Frick & Frack".

We could see Papa Joe meeting with Chicago's Mafia boss in a judges chambers in that city.(and to think Teddy raises hell about republicans stealing elections, sheeeeesh)

I could go on, but the book is required reading for all republicans and would make on hell of a movie if held true to what is in the book.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Steve has done okay post-Coupling. I checked IMDB.com and he's also in the new Debra Messing movie, "The Wedding Date." Sally is in an upcoming Demi Moore thriller.

[tuesday afternoon]

..all, after making this movie.

Oh, ho! Mabne they're just a teensy bit worried about their careers after this.

[Cathryn Crawford]

Playwright and lifelong Wyomingite tells the STAR-TRIBUNE of Casper this week that she has never encountered a gay cowboy, and doesn't think it's right for Hollywood to portray Wyoming as a state with gay cowboys.

What a silly thing to say.