Posted on 12/16/2005 4:23:29 PM PST by NYer
Washington DC, Dec. 16, 2005 (CNA) - "Brokeback Mountain," originally rated L (limited adult audience) by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has been reclassified as an O (morally offensive) after several pro-family organizations expressed concern for what they saw as an implicit endorsement of the USCCB film critic to the controversial gay western.
Brokeback Mountain is the story of two sheep-herding cowboys in Wyoming who begin a homosexual relationship on the range in the 1960s, and continue their affair even after they marry women.
The $13-million film garnered seven Golden Globe nominations from foreign film critics.
Director Ang Lee’s homosexual Western premiered last weekend in limited release. Showing in five theaters in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, the film grossed $544,549, averaging $108, 910 per theater. A wider release is slated on December 16, with a nationwide release in January.
In the original comment posted on the USCCB's website, the reviewer wrote that the Catholic Church "makes a distinction between homosexual orientation and activity," and that "Ennis and Jack's continuing physical relationship is morally problematic."
"While the actions taken by Ennis and Jack cannot be endorsed, the universal themes of love and loss ring true," said the original USCCB's review, which also called the movie "a serious contemplation of loneliness and connection."
"Looked at from the point of view of the need for love which everyone feels but few people can articulate, the plight of these guys is easy to understand while their way of dealing with it is likely to surprise and shock an audience," the original USCCB review said.
“Brokeback is the ‘Perfect Storm’ of Hollywood’s war on morality,” said Robert Knight, director of Concerned Women for America’s (CWA’s) Culture & Family Institute (CFI). “It combines high production values with a lowdown attack on morality. It’s a mockery of the Western genre embodied by every movie cowboy from John Wayne to Gene Autry to Kevin Costner. I can’t think of a more effective way to annoy and alienate most movie-going Americans than to show two cowboys lusting after each other and even smooching.
After several pro-life and pro-family websites strongly criticized the original review, the USCCB decided on Friday to change its classification, while still providing a very positive description of the film.
"Brokeback Mountain, originally rated L (limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling) has been reclassified as an O (morally offensive). This has been done because the serious weight of the L rating -- which restricts films in that category to those who can assess from a Catholic perspective the moral issues raised by a movie -- is, unfortunately, misunderstood by many. Because, in this instance, there are some who are using the "L" rating to make it appear the Church -- or the USCCB -- position on homosexuality is ambiguous, the classification has been with revised specifically to address its moral content," says the new USCBB posting.
The new full review of the USCBB can be seen at:
http://www.usccb.org/movies/b/brokebackmountain.shtml
ROFL!! This needs to be directed to the idiot that issued the first review of this film.
Thanks! You made my evening.
Okay, I like yours better.
I've thought the same about why they chose this subject as their "coming out" movie. It's a grab at masculinity. And yes, an insult, as well.
But my sentiments still stand on (part of) the reason they get by with it is because they're wearing the right fashion accessories. There is the larger issue, as you mentioned.
We pay extra on cable so the kids can watch the old Westerns, my son loves Hoppy and the Lone Ranger. Sad that in order for my kids to see a movie we usually have to go back 40-50 years for something suitable. I think we can safely safe not even the adults in the household will be watching Brokeback Mountain.
Buttcrack Mountin'?
Hollywood is TRULY DESPERATE for movie material.
"Oooh, NAUGHTY!"
Yahoo rates it as A-.
Gosh, "say" not "save". Sorry.
Bingo! We're all sick and tired of being taken for "non thinking" chumps.
Seriously, something must be done to abort the USCCB. What a waste of time, money and resources.
Buttslack Mountain?
If you want on/off the ping list let me and little jeremiah know.
Which is odd, because movie reviewers are usually bloodhounds for this sort of thing (Spartacus, every Kevin Smith movie ever made, Top Gun...). But apparently they can't see gay when it... umm, let's not go there.
Cowboys do not herd sheep. Ever. Kids do, for 4H.
Butt-Pirate Mountain?
And they're scratching their collective heads wondering why box office receipts have tanked?
"As far as I know there is no such thing'
Oh yes there were and are "sheep-hearding cowboys". And they sure weren't and aren't called "shephards" either.
My Dad and his Dad "ran sheep" most of their lives on their ranch in the San Angelo, TX area. That was big sheep ranching country and wool warehouses were numerous.
I should write a book........
You mean "Bareback Mountin'"??
Walkin' Round in Women's Underwear -
(to be sung to "Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland")
Lacy things - the wife is missin,
Didn't ask - her permission,
I'm wearin' her clothes,
Her silk pantyhose,
Walkin' round in women's underwear.
In the store - there's a teddy,
Little straps - like spaghetti,
It holds me so tight,
Like handcuffs at night,
Walkin' round in women's underwear.
In the office there's a guy named Marvin,
He pretends that I am Murphy Brown.
He'll say, "Are you ready?"
I'll say, "Whoa, Man!" "Let's wait until our wives are out of town!"
Later on, if you wanna,
We can dress - like Madonna,
Put on some eyeshade, And join the parade,
Walkin' round in women's underwear
I heard it was a case of Chester the Molester was just trying to push someone's stool in...
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