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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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 Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 1:19 pm Post subject: |
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Roger Ebert has a good article on Brokeback Mtn. & Crash vis-a-vis Academy Awards politics:
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The fury of the 'Crash'-lash
BY ROGER EBERT / March 6, 2006
LOS ANGELES -- One of the mysteries of the 2006 Oscar season is the virulence with which lovers of "Brokeback Mountain" savaged "Crash." When the film about racism actually won the Oscar for best picture Sunday, there was no grace in their response. As someone who felt "Brokeback" was a great film but "Crash" a greater one, I would have been pleased if either had won.
But here is Ken Turan in the Los Angeles Times, writing on the morning after: "So for people who were discomfited by 'Brokeback Mountain' but wanted to be able to look themselves in the mirror and feel like they were good, productive liberals, 'Crash' provided the perfect safe harbor. They could vote for it in good conscience, vote for it and feel they had made a progressive move, vote for it and not feel that there was any stain on their liberal credentials for shunning what 'Brokeback' had to offer. And that's exactly what they did."
And Nikki Finke, in the LA Weekly: "Way back on Jan. 17, I decided to nominate the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Best Bunch of Hypocrites. That's because I felt this year's dirty little Oscar secret was the anecdotal evidence pouring in to me about hetero members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences being unwilling to screen 'Brokeback Mountain.' For a community that takes pride in progressive values, it seemed shameful to me that Hollywood's homophobia could be on a par with Pat Robertson's."
Yes, and more than one critic described "Crash" as "the worst film of the year," which is as extreme as saying John Kerry was a coward in Vietnam. It means you'll say anything to help your campaign.
What is intriguing about these writers is that they never mention the other three best picture nominees: "Capote," "Good Night, and Good Luck" and "Munich." Their silence on these films reveals their agenda: They wanted "Brokeback Mountain" to win, saw "Crash" as the spoiler, and attacked "Crash." If "Munich" had been the spoiler, they might not have focused on "Crash." When they said those who voted for "Crash" were homophobes who were using a liberal movie to mask their hatred of homosexuals, they might have said the same thing about "Munich."
This seems simply wrong. Consider Finke's "anecdotal evidence" that puts Hollywood's homophobia on a par with Pat Robertson's. Pat Robertson? This is certainly the most extreme statement she could make on the subject, but can it be true? How many anecdotes add up to evidence? Did anyone actually tell her they didn't want to see the movie because it was about two gay men?
My impression, also based on anecdotal evidence, is that the usual number of academy voters saw the usual number of academy nominees, and voted for the ones they admired the most. In a year without "Brokeback Mountain," Finke, Turan and many others might have admired "Crash." Or maybe not. But it's a matter of opinion, not sexual politics.
It is not a "safe harbor," but a film that takes the discussion of racism in America in a direction it has not gone before in the movies, directing attention at those who congratulate themselves on not being racist, including liberals and/or minority group members. It is a movie of raw confrontation about the complexity of our motives, about how racism works not only top down but sideways, and how in different situations, we are all capable of behaving shamefully.
"Good Night, and Good Luck," "Capote" and "Munich" were also risky pictures -- none more so, from a personal point of view, than "Munich," which afforded Steven Spielberg the unique experience of being denounced as anti-Semitic. "Good Night, and Good Luck" was surely a "safe harbor" for liberals, with its attack at a safe distance on McCarthyism -- although it carried an inescapable reference to McCarthyism as practiced by the Bush administration, which equates its critics with supporters of terrorism.
"Capote" was a brilliant character study of a writer who was gay, and who used his sexuality, as we all use our sexuality, as a part of his personal armory in daily battle.
It is noticeable how many writers on "Hollywood's homophobia" were able to sidestep "Capote," which was a hard subject to miss, being right there on the same list of best picture nominees. Were supporters of "Brokeback" homophobic in championing the cowboys over what Oscarcast host Jon Stewart called the "effete New York intellectual"?
Of course not. "Brokeback Mountain" was simply a better movie than "Capote." And "Crash" was better than "Brokeback Mountain," although they were both among the best films of the year. That is a matter of opinion. But I was not "discomfited" by "Brokeback Mountain." Read my original review. I chose "Crash" as the best film of the year not because it promoted one agenda and not another, but because it was a better film.
The nature of the attacks on "Crash" by the supporters of "Brokeback Mountain" seem to proceed from the other position: "Brokeback" is better not only because of its artistry but because of its subject matter, and those who disagree hate homosexuals. Its supporters could vote for it in good conscience, vote for it and feel they had made a progressive move, vote for it and not feel that there was any stain on their liberal credentials for shunning what "Crash" had to offer. |
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scarneck
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Seoul
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Octavius Hite
Joined: 28 Jan 2004
Location: Househunting, looking for a new bunker from which to convert the world to homosexuality.
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| Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 3:59 pm Post subject: |
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As for nobody watching as of last week the numbers were:
Brokeback Mountain - Domestic: 78.9m International: 51.0m
Crash - Domestic 55.4m International 0.0m
http://www.boxofficeguru.com/oscar2006.htm
So it would seem that Americans are more interested in seeing two men have sex than dealing with race relations. Hmmmm, food for thought? |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 4:09 pm Post subject: |
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Thoughts?
Crash should have had a cowboy.
Brokeback Mtn should have had a black guy.
take your pick. |
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Octavius Hite
Joined: 28 Jan 2004
Location: Househunting, looking for a new bunker from which to convert the world to homosexuality.
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| Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Lol, just trying to point out that despite what Spliff said earlier, Brokeback has been a huge commercial success much more so than any of the other oscar movies save for Walk the Line. |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:21 pm Post subject: |
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No doubt.
I'm just laughing at all the finger pointing going on in Hollywood this year-
"You're homophobic!"
"I am not, you racist!" |
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EFLtrainer
Joined: 04 May 2005
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| Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 9:04 am Post subject: |
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| Octavius Hite wrote: |
| I have seen "Brokeback" and have some thoughts on it, I won't give away any details. It is quite good. The cinematography is amazing, it feels like you are in Alberta/Wyoming/Montana. The theatre literally becomes Big Sky Country. The acting is ok, I don't believe that they deserved the acting nods. I do think it should have won best cinematography. The story can be viewed in 2 ways. For those of us who are gay or part of the gay community in some way, the story reaffirms that we are capable of love in the same way that heterosexuals experience love. For heterosexuals the story seems to point out that there are many lifestyles and this one is hardly the bastion of evil that *beep* would have you blieve. I think in the end everyone should see it to try and understand another section of our population like we would see "Boyz in the Hood", I may not be black but I get the signifigance of that film. Also, despite "Crash"'s win, Brokeback will remain the iconic event and like previous films of this iconic nature "Deep Throat", "Midnight Cowboy", "The Wild Bunch", etc it deserves to been seen. |
There have been much better gay/lesbian-themed movies. MUCH better. This one gets the attention because it is supposedly revelatory and insightful about a sure bastion of maculinity and machismo.
It is a poorly made movie, frankly. The characters are thin, the jumps are jarring or almost indiscernable, motivations are poorly explored... Both primary male roles were at times either over- or under-played. Hell, the elder daughter and the mother of the one male character were the best parts of the movie.
It makes the gay community seem infantile in how they handle life, whereas the gay/lesbian friends and acquaintances I've had have been better adjusted, on average, than the heteros I've known.
Blah... Watch it on video if you must... |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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I have nothing against gay cowboys but I don't want to see it. Gay or straight cowboy movies just don't interest me.
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I'm glad I'm not the only one who takes into consideration the career choice of main characters when thinking about a movie to see.
Personally, I don't like door to door salesmen, so I have avoided Death of a Salesman like the plague. Being an American I have a real aversion to royalty, so I've never seen MacBeth, Hamlet or King Lear. I walked out of To Kill a Mockingbird when I discovered Atticus Finch was a lawyer.
So while I don't personally object to cowboys, I do understand where mindmetoo is coming from. Had a girl friend once who refused to see The Godfather because she was on a diet. Didn't want to be reminded of pizza and spaghetti.
Kinda curious. For those out there who also consider main characters' job choices when selecting a movie to see, what movies do you refuse to see? |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 5:30 pm Post subject: |
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I'm probably as much of homophobe down inside as any guy raised in the English speaking world, despite my attempts to convince myself otherwise and my strong political belief in equal rights for gays. I went to this film with some inner reservations, wondering for how much of it I'd have to keep my eyes closed.
It was a great film. Everything about it was great. This year, we have seen Hollywood produce two block busters (Munich being the other) that are so non-Hollywood (focusing on characters rather than plot and not having a predictable, happy ending) and what a breath of fresh air it was.
The Korean audience's reaction was interesting - I made a point of trying to look around. At the first make-out scene there was a lot of nervous laughter and people covering their eyes (but peeping out through their fingers nevertheless). By the end everyone was absorbed, and the k-girl I was with was choking back tears. The film is not trying to preach and that's what makes it so effective.
It's so refreshing to watch Hollywood films that weren't written by marketing committees. |
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jinju
Joined: 22 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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Whats with the title?
Brokeback? Sounds like bareback mountain doesnt it?
And whats with the names of the main characters? Jack? (p)Ennis?
Too much gayness for me:) |
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Swiss James
Joined: 26 Nov 2003
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
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I have nothing against gay cowboys but I don't want to see it. Gay or straight cowboy movies just don't interest me.
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I'm glad I'm not the only one who takes into consideration the career choice of main characters when thinking about a movie to see.
Personally, I don't like door to door salesmen, so I have avoided Death of a Salesman like the plague. Being an American I have a real aversion to royalty, so I've never seen MacBeth, Hamlet or King Lear. I walked out of To Kill a Mockingbird when I discovered Atticus Finch was a lawyer.
So while I don't personally object to cowboys, I do understand where mindmetoo is coming from. Had a girl friend once who refused to see The Godfather because she was on a diet. Didn't want to be reminded of pizza and spaghetti.
Kinda curious. For those out there who also consider main characters' job choices when selecting a movie to see, what movies do you refuse to see? |
That's funny!
When I read the bit about not wanting to watch a gay or straight cowboy film I thought the same thing though.
I did originally plan to go and see Bareback Mountin' (hoho), until I realised that two kinds of the films I least like are a) westerns and b) romances
oh and c) anything over 2 hours long without the word "Goodfellas" in the title |
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Octavius Hite
Joined: 28 Jan 2004
Location: Househunting, looking for a new bunker from which to convert the world to homosexuality.
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| Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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| EFLTrainer, you are right in that there are literally dozens if not hundreds of gay films out there that are better, more original, interesting, powerful, creative etc etc etc. But those films never see the light of day in mainstream theatres or homes. Filmmakers like Bruce La Bruce, John Greyson, John Waters, Bruce McDonald (and those are the ones that come off the top of my head) have been making amazing gay-themed cinema and art for decades. Brokeback Mountain merely represents the first mainstream, Hollywood success about a gay romance. But i'm with you, go out and download or rent some great gay films like "Zero Patience", "Angels in America", "Lilies", the list is much longer than most people expect. |
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fusionbarnone
Joined: 31 May 2004
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| Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 4:45 am Post subject: |
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| Will never watch it. My wife hates cowboys anyway(from living in Oklahoma all her life).[/list] |
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