I hate to say it, but I did predict here on DU Brokeback would not win.

[closeupready]

Despite all the good press. Crash was a sucky movie, IMHO. Not only that, but Gyllenhaal deserved the supporting actor Oscar; Clooney was good, but not as good as Gyllenhaal.

Very disappointing.

[AtomicKitten]

1. Me too, but only because Crash was a REALLY good picture.

This is all subjective, nothing to get emotional about.

[closeupready]

2. Yes, true.

However, while Brokeback wasn't the best film of all time, it was far, FAR better than Crash (and again, you can search the archives to find my thoughts about Crash). Heck, if Syriana had won, I would have felt better about Brokeback's loss.

[AtomicKitten]

6. it's all opinion

that was yours.
I gave you mine.
and the Academy voted theirs.

Nothing to get upset over.

[billkurtmeyer]

3. Crash was a sucky movie - maybe just maybe you should drop in

over at freeper world. Crash was one of the best movies I've ever seen. Honest, we are all prejudiced but most (excluding) freeper types when push comes to shove will do the right thing. "Here's $40 bucks go buy everybody chop-suey." Watch it again!

[closeupready]

7. Why, what are they saying over at Freeperland?

eom

[billkurtmeyer]

10. I won't know, but they were just saliviating waiting to play the whole . .

gay card thing!

[dsc]

4. Clooney's Oscar was to that he would get one

They felt he had to win something and it wasn't going to be director.

[davidinalameda]

5. Brokeback made history though

who would have thought a little indie film like that would have the impact that it did

I can't wait for the DVD to come out

[clitzpah queen]

8. I'm GLAD that CRASH won! Means more people will go out and see this good

film about racism in America.

[closeupready]

9. The problem, though, is do people learn from stereotypes?

That is, can we know new things from watching stereotypical characters interact with each other in ways with which we are familiar? By and large, I think the answer is no.

[dsc]

12. It is on DVD

so no one will be going anywhere to see it. I do hope people decide to see it that wouldn't have anyway but I frankly doubt it.

[tmooses]

11. I thought there were several movies I saw this year that were

heads and shoulders above anything I've seen for quite a while. Syriana, Brokeback, Crash and Constant Gardener all asked the audience to actually use some critical thinking. It was refreshing to get away from The Lord of the Rings, Matrix type movies. IMO, I thought Crash was a film that attacked the prevailing attitude in this country of looking at issues through the prism of preconceived ideas and models. It was not an easy movie to follow and challenged popular ideas. Personally, it reminded me of something that struck me while working for years in a job in a large city where I came across all walks of life on a daily basis-that there are several layers of society existing in a confined area but all the time living in separate realities. I also thought Brokeback was a groundbreaking movie that had an excellent story and could easily have seen it win best picture.

[xchrom]

13. my friend in london said it

wouldn't win very much at the oscars -- she and her husband are in the film and theatre business -- they both really loved transamerica and brokeback and thought phillip seymore hoffman was mesmerising.

we'll see what happens over the next couple of years -- sometimes actors or editors, whatever will win for a picture but the academy will give it to them for a picture that they were really weaker in.

[terrya]

14. What's particularly disappointing about it...

is that I thought a Best Picture win for "Brokeback Mountain" would help to usher in other gay/lesbian themed mainstream Hollywood films. I thought, with a Best Picture win, "Brokeback" would convince mainstream Hollywood that the time is right for other films that portrays gays and lesbians...their lives, their relationships, etc. And now, unfortunately....the momentum isn't there for that now.

Very disappointing, indeed.

[Not Me]

15. Ditto.

I still hope there will be others to follow.
I haven't seen Crash, so I can't compare...but it would seem as though the Academy liked the film (Screenplay/Best Director) but didn't care for any of the acting performances. And frankly, I thought Ledger was a little weak-perhaps uncomfortable-in the role.

I *really* felt Felicity Huffman got robbed. Her performance in Transamerica was brilliant.

[ronnykmarshall]

16. The Boycott starts now!

Say NO to Oscar. Oscar Meyer, Oscar De La Hoya ........ it starts today.

The Oscars will PAY for this!

[mitchtv]

27. Oscar De la Hoya

I won't be boycotting him , in this lifetime

[xchrom]

17. two thoughts about that.

the first is that the well of stories in the lgbtq community could be astoundingly refreshing for hollywood.

the second is that it may be more important that brokeback took in the kind of dollars it did than the award in this case.

but i don't think we will be seeing a gay{male, possibly we will a lesbian} action hero any time soon.

[terrya]

18. I hope you're right

Mainstream Hollywood isn't anywhere near ready to do a gay male/lesbian action hero movie anytime soon. That's a given, unfortunately.

My thoughts were that "Brokeback" could usher in films that are relevant to our community...one excellent example was a book I read and liked very much "The Front Runner". This is a book that is perfect for a mainstream Hollywood film...and there have been attempts to adapt it to film. If I'm not mistaken, at one time, Paul Newman owned the film rights to "Front Runner". But...nothing.

I hope you're right. I'll try to be optimistic. I'm still disappointed right now.

[xchrom]

19. i'ld love to see jamie o'neal's

at swim, two boys.

a book around the time of the 1916 irish rebellion -- really wonderful book.

there are amazing stories to tell -- and they'd be so different and fresh -- i don't know what will happen.

they had front runner very close to going years ago -- and then dropped it.

so, we'll see.

[terrya]

20. "At Swim, Two Boys" would make a marvelous film.

Would have been perfect for Merchant/Ivory. *sigh*

Yeah...we'll see.

[xchrom]

21. yup -- actually it would have been GREAT

for merchant/ivory.

good eye.

that book could knock the movie universe on it's ass.

[Democrats_win]

22. BBM and ASTB, have a similar ending. Otherwise ASTB is much better.

Honestly, wouldn´t you just rather read than go to the movies?

[xchrom]

23. i love to read and i love the movies.

but i would love to not have to see straights enact versions of their lives over and over again.

i think lgbtq folk stories could revitalize everybody a little bit.

[Maven]

30. As much as I am disappointed in the awards

not to mention MANY of the posters here at DU, I think this could still happen. Brokeback was still a huge success, BP Oscar or no, and featured two rising-star actors who played gay characters like they were (GASP) real people who actually had a SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP. Any movie that tries to pass off the mincing stereotype or the asexual Will Truman character as the epitome of gaydom will just seem dated, if not stilted and ridiculous. Supposedly, Brad Pitt is playing a gay athlete in an upcoming film. Onward...

Edit: Apparently, "The Front Runner" is the story Pitt is interested in. You have to acknowledge that a) the success of Brokeback is at least 50% responsible for him considering such a role, and b) the people who make that movie will do so in Brokeback's shadow, and will try to bring the same dignity and realism to the character.

[QC]

31. Good post! n/t

[cboy4]

24. Homophobic DU

I don't know how many of you have seen all of the vicious threads and posts attacking gay people who argue that homophobia is alive and well in Hollywood,

I have never been so angry and disappointed in this place.

No sympathy, no understanding.....just attacks about playing the homophobia card.

That's great that Brokeback won some awards and it's a step in the right direction.

But until people can start rattling off the names of out gay actors/actresses in their 20's, 30's and 40's I will not be satisfied.

Too many straight DU'ers just can't get it through their heads that actors are afraid to come out because they won't be cast in a film.

They need to wake up.

[closeupready]

25. Can you post links? I would definitely like to see

those attacks. Thanks. :hi:

[cboy4]

26. Here ya go:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=210x12405

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2495073

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2495573

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2495855


These are just a few of the "hot" ones.

[ronnykmarshall]

29. It's been pretty ugly.

But of course I should just "chill".

[ruggerson]

32. don't chill

that's the last thing you should do. :)

[Behind the Aegis]

28. It has been distressing, to say the least.

But, I am not very surprised. We saw something very similar after the re-selection. I see some of the comments made by others as patronizing and spiteful. If anything, it has opened the eyes of some that bigotry is no stranger to the "left."

[jonnyblitz]

33. I have seen it here since the day I started posting in FEB 2003

the distressing part is when you bring this up and you get bombarded with angry vitriol telling you that it isn't true and to PROVE IT, like i bookmark every thread i have ever seen with homophobic content so i can provide them as proof later on. :eyes: If it wasn't happening I wouldn't say it was. they imply that we LIE.

[cboy4]

35. Please! You don't have to provide proof for these M.Fing idiots who argue

homophobia doesn't exist at DU. :wtf:

Usually, I'm more understanding toward people who ask questions about my sexuality and other gay issues.

However, 80% of the people who challenge me that "homophobia doesn't exist at DU, prove it," are so fucking obnoxious and insulting....they don't deserve my time and effort posting proof. I doubt it would convince them anyway.

As for the "LIE" you mentioned....the only lie is these people's contention that they're not bigots. :hi:

[jonnyblitz]

36. what gets me the most is how vitriolic they get

whenever one of us brings the whole issue up. the point for me in this whole BBM mess was NOT whether it deserved to win or not but whether homophobia could have played a role in it NOT winning and OF COURSE it's possible for chrissake!! but DAMN, the snarky, nasty shit some of these people are saying such as,"does the movie have to have gay guys in it for it to be good?" and other crap like that...:hi:

[QC]

37. Why are they so eager to deny the existence of homophobia?

The sheer vehemence of the denials is what puzzles me. Why is there such a heavy emotional investment in the issue for them?

[jonnyblitz]

38. well, from a political standpoint, I believe they wish our issues

would just go away because they think we lose DEMS votes and they basically want us to shut the fuck up because we are driving mushy centrists who might otherwise vote DEM away. this is just my opinion. :shrug:

[QC]

39. Yeah, that's a longrunning theme here.

One guy starts a thread about it every week or so and has been for years. I won't name names, but his handle begins and ends with K.

But I think there's more to it than a political calculus. The emotional intensity of the thing has really shocked me. Why are so many self-declared "progressives" trying to shout down anyone who thinks that homophobia is still a powerful force in the world? You would think that we had declared Bush to be the Son of God or something, judging from the reaction.

[theHandpuppet]

34. As an aside....

For those interested in seeing BM in context of the "gay cowboy" movie and its Hollywood history, I highly recommend a viewing of "Warlock" (1959) with Henry Fonda and Anthony Quinn. If you can rent it, do. That film is worth a discussion of its own.