Shalit regrets 'Brokeback' remarks

Southern Voice ^ | Jan. 12 at 12:29 PM | Kevin Naff

[Ma3lst0rm]

Shalit responded on Jan. 10 in a statement sent to GLAAD in which he wrote, "I certainly had no intention of casting aspersions on anyone in the gay community or on the community itself. I regret any emotional hurt that may have resulted from my review of 'Brokeback Mountain.'"

"In describing the behavior of 'Jack,'" he continued, "I used words ('sexual predator') that I now discover have angered, agitated, and hurt many people. I did not intend to use a word that many in the gay community consider incendiary."

In his review, Shalit called the film "wildly over praised" and described Gyllenhaal's character as a "sexual predator" who "tracks Ennis down and coaxes him into sporadic trysts."

[Felis_irritable]

"I did not intend to use a word that many in the gay community consider incendiary."

Oh cripes, is the guy portraying a sexual predator or not? Maybe many in the homosexual community consider the expression incendiary because it hits too close to the, uhhh, bone?

[Ma3lst0rm]

He didn't get down on his knees and beg forgiveness which I suppose says something. I think the mistake he made was assuming he was free to speak his mind since he has an openly gay son. Homosexuality is something that one can not be honest about because being honest is a threat to all forms of liberal hedonism. Truth is a great disinfectant and sexuality as a disease is what is being celebrated as modern sexual liberation so they are rightly fearful. They do not realize that the more they push the more they lose ground. People are fighting back with their votes and someday homosexuality will be cast back into the darkness of sexual abuse where it was born screaming, filthy, and covered in stench and blood.

[operation clinton cleanup]

In his review, Shalit called the film "wildly over praised" and described Gyllenhaal's character as a "sexual predator" who "tracks Ennis down and coaxes him into sporadic trysts."

I'm stunned... I would have thought Shalit would have praised this film. But I have not seen/read a Shalit review in 10 years. Good for him for being honest (at least initially!)

[stevem]

I thought Brokeback Mountain was one of the best movies I ever saw. Er, er, wait a second. I didn't see it and don't plan to. I did once watch a show about humpbacks on one of the science TV channels.

[TheGeezer]

I think that might be more aptly phrased I think he is more afraid of getting his ass kissed by Rex Reed!

[quinhon6869]

I agree with you concerning this film's dependence on homosexuality as the underpinning for its popularity among left-wing critics. Like social cliques in school, praising this film gains the critic acceptance among peers and confirms their bona-fides of tolerance, acceptance and progressivism so important to the liberal mindset.
Shalit is correct to declare the film is wildly over-rated; I suppose he initially felt he had an established reputation for tolerance that had precluded him from the lock-step praise this film has received.

[meyer]

Thankfully, John Boy & Billy did a fair job when they had the Carl Childers character of "Slingblade" review the movie. It was quite funny.

[Calpernia]

Ok, then I will take the words as my own since Shalit won't stand by them.

Brokeback is wildly over praised. Gyllenhaal's character is one of a sexual predator who tracks pEnnis down and coaxes him into sporadic trysts.

That is now my review.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Yeah, he's got a column in the New York Observer called "On The Town With Rex Reed".

There's also this from wikipedia

In February 2000, Reed was arrested for shoplifting after leaving a Tower Records in Manhattan with CDs by Mel Torme, Peggy Lee, and Carmen McRae in his jacket pockets. Reed, who had just purchased two other CDs, says he forgot about the other 3 CDs and his offer to pay for them was refused. The charges were later dropped.

[MindBender26]

Actually, by issuing this "correction" he simply reinforced the original opinion to the 80% of us that are not in love with anything and everything "gay."

[snarks_when_bored]

I think he is more afraid of getting his ass kicked by Rex Reed!

Glad you're a good typist...it's easy to type 'l' when you mean to type 'k'...

[Palladin]

A very vicious and influential 2% of the population.

I will never forget what they did to Anita Bryant.

[beckett]

Brokeback Mountain

• Rank for Jan 6-8 weekend -- 14
• Weekend gross -- $5,726,662
• Cumulative gross -- $22,436,190
• Weeks in release -- 5

A bomb. Nobody cares. Neither hissy fits from the Hollywood in-crowd, nor "prestigious" awards (Golden Globes, Oscar) bestowed by same, will result in any more than a few million people ever seeing the film. It's actual cultural impact, the supposed reason serious filmmakers make films for mass audiences, will be nil.

[RichInOC]

Brokeback Mountain...where men are men and sheep can relax for a change.

[treffner]

there is more than enough evidence to back up the "sexual predator" statement

"Homosexuals commit more than 33% of all reported child molestations in the United States." Psychological Reports, 1986, 58, pp. 327-37.

Which means, assuming Homosexuals make up 2% of the population, means that 1 in 20 Homosexuals is a child molester, while 1 in 490 heterosexuals is a child molester.

[TC Rider]

Bootiecall Mountain

[hosepipe]

[ I don't know what it is about the homo lobby that makes normally brave men fear them. For the love of Mike, they only represent 1 or 2 percent of the population! ]

And have a but load of demos and rinos to back them up..

[Travis McGee]

Who is this "Mike?"

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Monterrosa-24]

"...I will never forget what they did to Anita Bryant."

I can't believe how few of us are willing to resist any of the trends-of-acceptance of open homosexuality.

After the fags attacked Anita it seemed that the rest of the world jumped on her too.

When some of us conservative students tried to stop a homosexual organization from getting a charter at the University of Alabama (which would entitle them to free office space in the University Student Union) we did manage to get lots of signatures and support but later another homo group did get chartered and you should see the square footage of office space!!! And this in Tuscaloosa, Alabama!. There should have been a riot. The College Republicans don't get free offices. The YAF doesn't get free offices. Students for life don't get free offices.

[KellyAdmirer]

Shalit's "apology" is very carefully phrased. Notice that he doesn't retract anything, say he was wrong in his conclusions or anything like that. He just says he's sorry if he offended folks. I think he did a good job with this. I'm thinking he had his lawyer help him write that letter.