Brokeback Backlash Backtrack

Jeff Hobbs
March 20 2006, 1:37AM

I agree Keith it was an exciting night all around. I've never watched an oscar show all the way through until this year. I didn't want to miss a moment. Riveting!

Vista
March 20 2006, 1:59AM

While I agree with Keith on the strong content of these two movies in comparison, I have to voice my stunned reaction when I read the paragraph comparing these two movies to MLK and the Mayor of Castro Street, Harvey Milk. I find no direct parallel between the two.
Yes, MLK was a leader and fighter of injustices directed toward blacks and yes, Harvey was an out gay public official fighting the same injustices, but we have to remember that Oscars are about actors, directors and other people involved in the filmmaking. The gold statue is, if history tells us anything, generally given to people who do an outstanding role in bringing those characters to life. It is about who far advanced they're in their craft. So, if we're going to look at the overall picture--with disregard of content, we'll come to the realization that the actors in "Brokeback Mountain" were far better than the actors in Crash, the director of "Brokeback" was more imaginative and innovative than that of Crash, the Screenplay in "Brokeback" was true to its original source, the cinematography was spectacular, the songs chosen for the movie were very much in sync with the rest of it. So, all these elements combined are more than enough to put "Brokeback" on a higher lead than "Crash".
Don't get me wrong, I think the story in "Crash" was good and needed to be told, as it invites people to think deeply about their reactions during situations of high pressure and stress. It made me think deeply about my own latent prejudices, but that's not enough for me to give it Best Picture.

jazzi
March 20 2006, 8:18AM

Like you said Keith, everyone's a critic!

Steve
March 20 2006, 8:47AM

Keith, you are very right about the films and the awards. There were so many great films this year. I think the results of the awards reflect the desires of the voters to recognize each film in a category that best fit.

That said, I grew up in the general culture area of Brokeback Mountain. Usually cowboy culture is depicted by someone who thinks anyone not near a coast is a corn pone hick, and falls into the mistaken stereotypes of midwestern farmers. Never has a film been able to portray the masculine side of life that I knew growing up.

Brokeback captured cowboy culture in a way that no other film I've ever seen has done. Both actors played male characters that were present all around us. My brothers and I could easily see ourselves with these men as our neighbors and friends. Both Heath and Jake are to be commended for portraying flawlessly characters that, unless you grew up with them, very few Americans understand. I think it was a crime they didn't get oscar recognition for that.

However, I didn't expect either of them to get best actor recognition. Too many Californians were voting, and they could relate much more closely with the characters being portrayed in other films. Because Heath and Jake failed to live up to the stereotypes, there may have been some who felt their performances were "not quite right."

My 2 cents.

Marc Lamont Hill
March 20 2006, 10:32AM

I agree with you that this was one of the most progressive Oscar ceremonies of all time. My only wish is that the Three 6 Mafia would not have performed. Although, I disagree with Singleton's ostensibly redemptive representation of the pimp (at the expense, I would argue, of the so-called 'hoes'), the performance contervailed much of the movie's complexities.

Tyler
March 20 2006, 11:28AM

Damn straight! Well said.

dw
March 20 2006, 12:17PM

Keith -

You had some good points. But to insinuate that you have "conservative enemies" is a bit much and shows your bias and hatred. Lighten up. Many gay, latino and black americans have conservative economic and political views. That doesn't make them the boogey man. We need representation on both sides of the aisles to achieve a balanced approach.

Derrick from Philly
March 20 2006, 1:51PM

A white conservative: A Racist

A black conservative: Mentally Ill

A black gay conservative: A Serial Killer

dw
March 20 2006, 3:00PM

Derrick -

Your true colors shines through.

Maybe a well deserved vacation or a therapist will rid you of some of that pent up anger and bitterness towards the whole world you obvliously have. It comes through most of your posts.

nahtan Serious
March 20 2006, 3:39PM

yeha I am happy that such a nice sety of movies were at the Oscars but I still maintain that BBM was a better film than crash and should have won the best picture award. I think that a point was made against 'the gay agenda ' when a film that had won every other best picture award is denied that award by the most importantr awards program.

BBM broke new ground while Crash presented issues that have been dealt wiith in other films. Plus in my opinion Crasj was far too simplistic...but perhaps that is the reason it won because people prefr to be hit with a hammer instaed of a gentle touch.

As a Black gay man i don't think I have to see things only in terms of the benfits for my group. If that were the case then none of the movies were worth it since there were no Black male gay stories represented.

BBM was simply better!

I also cannot and will not agree with the continued willingness of leaders to excuse negative represenations of black people especaially when these negative represenatations receive the most exposure. I don't know any PIMPS, there are none in my social group and I don't see why I should applaud that rap group.

I have been alive long enough to see 'the black male as pimp' ad nauseum not to mention the black female as hoe.

it is high time we demand better...

Jon R
March 20 2006, 3:47PM

The best song category is officially dead. Only three nominees, none of which are remotely catchy or memorable, with the winner being a rap song that works against the whole point of its film. "It's Hard Out There For a Pimp," is the last nail in the coffin.

Derrick from Philly
March 20 2006, 4:17PM

dw: It's only been since January 20, 2001 that I've been so bitter, in need of therapy and a long vacation. Come January 2009, I'll be lovable again... of course, I'll never be sexy again...aw, damn the whole damn world!

khalid
March 20 2006, 4:57PM

Crash was Do The Right Thing, set in LA, 15 years late. But some white Jews wrote and directed it.

When Spike (or any other brotha) talks about race, we're labeled "paranoid and antagonistic." But when white folks are ready to talk about it their "courageous and challenging."

Chris
March 20 2006, 8:08PM

I'll agree with everyone else saying "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp" is completely reproachable. Why are black people lauding this song? Especially that awful awful awful awful awful awful awful performance. If anything it just showed that them there niggers can't even act decent at a show as respectable as the Oscars. (Seeing as I know someone will take the previous sentence the wrong way, I'm being sarcastic.) As aforementioned, it completely works against everything that film stood for.

The Oscars did indeed go progressive this year. It obviously shows as an over 10 percent drop in viewer ratings occured. Why is it that whenever some progress is made about anything people close their eyes?

I didn't enjoy Crash. The race issue is pretty old, though yes, I know, racism is still a problem. Transamerica, though I didn't see it, seemed like it would probably be a better movie.

Though, whatever, all thems movies wack: Good Night, and Good Luck is where it's at.

Scott
March 20 2006, 10:05PM

Am I the only one who thinks sappy love stories are an overdone concept for "gay movies" (aren't there like 10 billion coming out flicks already)? Regardless of whether it was an awesome film or total crap, at least "Alexander" tried to do something different with a gay/bi character. It was more "revolutionary" in terms of uniquity, if nothing else. I have nothing against emotional love stories. BUT, is that all gay movies can do?

A gay action, scifi, sports or horror movie. A "guy's flick" where there was more to the movie's central plot than just the characters' sexuality. THAT would be something really different.

Cederico
March 20 2006, 10:18PM

Keith,

I think the reason gays are upset is very simple.....Brokeback was a better movie and its deserved to win. The fact is was a groundbreaking mainstream film only helped gays support it more but the movie stands as the best on its on merit.

cmoney
March 20 2006, 10:27PM

The Academy "choked" and picked asafe movie instead of the best picture. With all of the conservative hatemongering influencing the FCC, is it any wonder The Academy ran from a gay themed movie? Brokeback Mountain was truly the best picture, even without the gay theme (which can't be separated from the beauty of the movie anyway). It would be interesting to know what the margin of the vote separating Crash from Brokeback Mountain was. I suspect it was very close, but just enough cowardly and/or bigoted members turned the tide away from Brokeback. It's hard out here for a gay cowboy!

C.
March 21 2006, 3:18AM

I agree with you Keith. That these movies got made, much less lauded by the Oscars,Golden Globes,etc.in these extreme right wing polictically charged times is an accopmplishment in itself. The door has been opened, hopefully no going back now.

Gersham Hayden Weekes
March 21 2006, 7:13AM

This concerns the winner of this year's Academy Award for Original Song. Many have been taken aback at the lurid subject matter of the song "It's hard out here for a pimp". What no-one has bothered to point out is the fact that the category was ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURES (ORIGINAL SONG), not BEST SONG LEAST LIKELY TO HAVE MARTIN LUTHER KING SPINNING IN HIS GRAVE. Whether you agree with the Academy's ultimate selection or not, the category was based on a combination of original lyrics, original music and, perhaps most importantly, thematic usage and relevance to the film for which it was composed. Although I have not seen TRANSAMERICA or HUSTLE AND FLOW (the third nominee being CRASH), as I understand it, not only was Three 6 Mafia's rap appropriate for the film's themes, but it was also performed by the film's protagonist at a crucial point in the story; in other words it wasn't a predictable END CREDIT cop out or used as a companion piece to a conventional montage sequence.
In short, using clearly established guidelines, the Academy chose the song that best represented the intent of the filmaker(s) and the themes explored. That being said, it should be noted that that the Academy has often used its BEST SONG category, more than any other, to demonstrate its rumoured progressive leanings (SHAFT, the first Academy Award for an Afican-American composer: Isaac Hayes; Donna Summer's DISCO win in'79 for LAST DANCE from Thank God It's Friday and more recently Eminem (the first rapper to win an Oscar) and Jorge Drexier who in 2005 became the first recipient to compose a song with an all-Spanish lyric.
As open-minded as the Academy appears to be in this category over the years, it also lays down the law when it comes to usage of material. Any song up for consideration this year had to be "clearly audible, intelligible" and a "substantive rendition...of both lyric and melody" had to be "used in the body of the film or as the first music cue in the end credits". Thus it becomes clear why BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN's "A Love that will never grow old" was ruled ineligible, although it was deemed a favourite early on and actually won the Golden Globe award in a similar category.

Jon R.
March 21 2006, 8:41AM

Yeah....but you didn't see Hustle and Flow. Terrance Howard did, because he was in the movie, and even he didn't like the way Three Six Mafia carried the song. Yes, the best song category has to be an original composition, but it is also (or at least it should be), the way an artist carries a song. Does it really represent the intentions of the film, or does it contradict the message? In the case of "It's Hard Out There For a Pimp," the stereotypes that were broken down by the movie resurfaced with depressing results.

Kamika Dunlap
March 21 2006, 12:56PM

Is there a reason why you have omitted discussing some of the most current films that highlight gay marriage, family, religion and civil rights particularly in the black community this year? Do you have cable? Showtime premiered some groundbreaking films, which definitely challenge prevailing norms in society. I think your op/ed piece could have generated a broader and more accurate discussion if it was more well-informed.

Debra A. Wilson
March 21 2006, 1:42PM

It's interesting how you can spend time discussing the the political content of major hollywood films, but can't seem to make enough time to even mention the Showtime Black Filmmakers Showcase(which awards grant money to up and coming filmmakers)and how this year they aired three african american lesbian and gay themed films; Brooklyn's Bridge to Jordan, Sarang's Song (Grant Winner '05) and Jumpin'the Broom (Grant Winner '04). These films in my opinon are even more relevant because they were aired on a mainstream cable channel, directed by african american women, and that love and family is possible in our community.

Javier Vazquez
March 21 2006, 1:43PM

Brokeback was robbed. No other movie that has amassed such an impressive juggernaut of awards and critics' choices plus led at the box office amongst its fellow nominees has not won Best Picture. Crash was an ok movie, but nothing new nor groundbreaking. Crash was a loud, too obvious movie that employed crucial stereotypes to drill its point home instead of the intelligent subtle tools of some of the other nominess. Still, Brokeback will be the movie that will remembered years from now, not Crash.

Derrick
March 21 2006, 2:50PM

The “Brokeback Mountain” phenomenon simply proves how accepting we are of sexuality as binarism. This is not a “gay cowboy love story.” Did both of their wives simply disappear from the screen when no one was looking? How is it so easy for straight/gay people to disregard the heterosexuality that permeates this film? Further, “Brokeback Mountain” is one of the most cruelly laughed about films ever in the public arena. None of us are asking the critical question of WHY it is still socially acceptable to verbalize hateful attitudes about same-sex depiction in film. If Brokeback would have won, in the words of Sonia Sanchez, “how would that free us?”

Javier Vazquez
March 21 2006, 6:50PM

Good points Derrick. Gay and bisexual people and their allies should have denounced all the Brokeback jokes right away instead of going on with the undermining of a movie with a serious, somber message that should provoke widespread social discussion. Gays were laughing just as much as non-gays, placing silly spoofs on their blogs and websites too. Groups like GLAAD should have come out swiftly and said this is unacceptably making fun of a movie that addresses the deadly consequences of bigotry. Gays barely made any arguments in the public forum about how this movie brilliantly yet subtlely demonstrates the lies and violence tied to homophobia. We had the opportunity to engage in the nation in dialogue, yet we went along with the silly and homophobic jokes.
Also, Derrick is right about how we also are blind to bisexuality. Why do we insist on calling Jack and Ennis gay when at least Ennis seemed to be very bisexual, and Jack was at least functionally bisexual. Why are Americans so resistant to acknowledging bisexual identity?

Jason
March 22 2006, 2:39PM

Jack and Ennis were gay. I think its because sexuality is not defined by who you have sex. Sexuality is deteremined by who you are naturally sexually attracted to. There are many gay men who are in heterosexual marriages in this day and age. Do guys watch Oprah? You can have sex with someone and not be attracted to them at all physically or emotionally. Sexuality is determined by who is your heart, not who is in your bed.

alicia
March 22 2006, 4:16PM

great review keith

white hollywood did indeed have an outstanding and cerebral year

here's hoping black hollywood moves beyond all of the silly pimp bs and catches up...

peac
ab

Eric Lawrence
March 24 2006, 12:58AM

True, "Crash" was not the best "Best Picture" but it was better than "Brokeback Mountain"! "Brokeback" was a BEAUTIFULLY filmed piece of trifle. It deserved "Best Adapted Screenplay" merely for pulling off the feat of dragging out a trite short story and making it a 134 minute motion picture that was about 34 minutes too long.

It was so dull I couldn't wait until the sex scene. The sex was jarring and totally void of romance or sensuality, for that matter. After that, I eventually lost interest, as I found no reason to root for them as a couple. One thing of which I am certain that Brokeback Mountain was much ado about nothing! Here are more reasons why:

1) There wasn't a whole lot going on other than the guys aging, fishing, having sex and lying.
2) They were in lust not love . . . nothing more than sex partners. Other than the annual sex date they had no contact with each other. It was the gay equivalent of 1978's Same Time, Next Year staring Alan Alda and Ellen Burstyn -- except with less emotional connection. You want tender love between men see 2002's Jagger and Yossi. It wasn't great but it was sweet. I have to see 1982's Making Love. I heard that was groundbreaking! It escapes me why people find this story significant.
3) The relationship wasn't realistic -- based the consensus from myself and the gay people I know. It was more than obvious that the story was written by a straight woman and adapted by a straight man and another straight woman. It was a gay story that straight people could handle.
4) Ennis was so "normal" most of the time. The only time he was tormented was when he was with Jack and they were about to part.
5) The movie came across as being told from an omnipresent point of view and then switches when it is convenient to move the SLOW story along. Did some of the stuff happen or was it a dream?
6) At a pivotal scene in the movie, when Ennis should have shown great emotion, he showed very little. Ennis cried before, so why not then or at least afterwards?
7) After the pivotal scene, instead of ending the movie there, they dragged it out. There was no resolution or character display of coming to terms with life. It was just a ploy to keep me from getting up to go to the restroom.

Sorry, there you go. No prize for them

nahtan Serious
March 24 2006, 7:56AM

eric...so u hated the movie, good for you. It is always good to hear minority opinions. To each its own. IMHO BBM was the best movie. I have seen Making Love starring a handsome Harry Hamlin, a beautiful Michael Ontkean and an earnest Kate Jackson. That movie was much more simplistic than a BBM but groudnbreaking nonetheless.

Crash was not the best movie this year!

sterling housston
March 28 2006, 1:23PM

CRASH, which confronted prejudice and sterotyping, just happens to be a better written, better excicuted that any other nonmiated work. Without hype or the titilation factor of cute straight men doing the nasty, It mamaged to build an audience and earn much praise for it's courage and skill. It had something the other films didn't. Heart and hope.

sterling houston

David in Iowa
March 28 2006, 10:25PM

The Brokeback loss was a shock and a huge detour in Oscar history. No film that won the LA and NY critics award lost best pic ever, no film winning all the guild awards (dir/writer/producer) lost best picture. no film winning the Golden globe, DGA and having the most nominations ever lost. Plus it had the biggest box-office and again most noms, etc....AMPAS ignored over 75 years of its own voting history to snub Brokeback. But now 3 plus weeks laters, we did win, the loser(s) were Mr Curtis and AMPAS. Here we are still talking about the Oscars and on the 4th BBM comes out on DVD. We weren't the best picture, but I'll take the prize as the most important film and hold my head high