Extra Extra: Crash Wins - Fags Lose

[Guest Tristan]

>But I don't believe BM lost in any way: best adapted

>screenplay is pretty big and best director is huge, especially

>for a low-budget independent movie in fairly small

>distribution.

 

I'm glad you mentioned the importance of Best Director. It gave Ang Lee a chance to say something in his "thank you" speech. He said that gays and lesbians should not be "denied their love." Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this was the first and only explicit comment in the whole show supporting gay relationships. That was worth a lot more than one Oscar.

[mansniffing]

By LYNN ELBER

AP Entertainment Writer

 

The ceremony's central lesson: Play a real person enmeshed in wrenching drama, win an Academy Award.

It worked last year for Jamie Foxx in "Ray" and this time around for Reese Witherspoon's portrayal of June Carter Cash in "Walk the Line" and Philip Seymour Hoffman as the glory-hungry writer in "Capote."

[Guest alanm]

BBM has done well at the box office. It has brought in $79 million as of this morning and is still playing in 1,272 theaters. Ang Lee's comments were terrific; he's handled himself extremely well throughout the award season. I hope as many people see BBM as possible. That's why the best picture award is so important. Some people would have seen BBM just because of the top award. I didn't particularly like "Crash," but now I will see it a second time to see what I may have missed. BBM is a truly moving, even thrilling, movie whether you are gay or straight. I hope it does not disappear from theaters in the next two weeks (certainly a possibility).

[bigguyinpasadena]

Empire I could not disagree with you more strongly.

Crash was an incredible film about everyday interactions amongst an entire population.How we live with each other,struggle with our differences,get slapped around by fate,and sometimes find grace amongst the rubble that is modern life.

I did not find BBM to be the earth shattering film some here think it to be.It was a beautifully directed film,and it was appropriately recognizes for such.But the story line of a man struggling with "secret"passions is hardly new.Think Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and many others.This was no Midnight Cowboy IMO-far from it.

I do feel there was a slight provintial predjudice in Crash's win last night,since most voting members are full or part time SoCal residents,but that takes nothing away from the film itself.It spoke to me,and I assume many others,in a way that BBM did not.

[SAdler]

I couldn't agree more. I thought the awards last night were definitely perfecty awareded on nearly all counts. The only thing I was a little surprised about was Rachel's for Best Actress. I expected it but I still feel William's performance was more intense. Then again, my overall opinion of Gardner as a whole might have tainted that opinion.

 

Brokeback was a great movie ... with far too much hype. Like jack said, it was like any other movie about someone with a secret life in some senses. As a gay community we rallied behind it with such press because it truly was the first of its time that I can think of, mainstream gay actors playing gay roles in a love story released in widespread theaters.

 

It was a great movie impeccably adapted from a short story directed amazingly and was awarded as such. Crash was a fresh amazing story that was well done, acted, and told with such power that it truly was one of its kind and was awarded accordingly.

 

People are bitching about "Hard to be a pimp" being a racial call but you're talking about the same academy that awarded Eminem for "Lose it." The point of that category isn't the best song it's what identifies with the plot and furthers the story being a key part of the movie. Frankly the others were great songs but didn't hold nearly as much meaning.

 

Finally, I will say that it is possible that Brokeback would have had a better chance if there weren't the subtle homophobes in the academy that wouldn't give the movie a chance for being what it is. Unlike national elections, these awards really come down to one or two votes some times.

 

Overall I think the awards were very fair. The gays didn't lose anything by any means. If they hadn't even been nominated that would be a shameful statement on behalf of the academy but that obviously wasn't the case. Just because the gay movie didn't win for best picture doesn't mean that the value isn't reflected in the industry as a result of their nomination.

[Guest Jesse Dane]

While I was obviously a huge supporter for Brokeback Mountain to win best picture, I was not surprised that Crash won and I actually support the decision.

 

Both movies I feel were incredibly powerful and had a vast impact on society. They just dealt with completely different subject matter. Yes, homophobia is a huge issue, but then, so is racism. The fact that we had BOTH of these movies this year I think is a great thing and I hope that hollywood can continue to make films that can move people the way they both did.

 

And Brokeback winning for Director and best adapted screenplay is more than just a simple nod. Those are two of the biggest awards and I think gave Brokeback the credit it deserved.

 

I feel it was a very nicely distributed year and not having one movie sweep everything was somewhat refreshing. Keep up the good work hollywood and keep producing movies of the calibur we saw this year!

[camshaft9]

IMHO - I was championing a "Crash" win. I thought it was the most important film of last year, and deserved to win. "BBM" is a quality film and was acknowledged as such. The producers of "Crash" sent out dvds because the film was no longer running in any theatres. They wanted their product to be seen. I too received a copy of the film and have not watched it. The emotional impact of the film is what I remember. And I don't think that films should be watched in the quiet of your home. The medium was meant to be shared in a darkened space with others. From a screening room of 20 to a theatre of 2,000, the shared experience is what creates the event. And I certainly wouldn't vote for a film just because someone gave me a free copy. Lastly, I don't feel that voting for "Crash" was a political statement against "BBM". If anything, the repression and victimization of gay men isn't the portrait that should be presented to the world. It only reinforces the stereotype that gay men lead sad and lonely lives. And remember, it's just an award. It's not the end of the world. For most people who woke up this morning, nothing had changed.

[Rod Hagen]

This is from today's LATimes 3/06/06 Calendar Section:

http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/cl-et-notebook6mar06,0,6536312.story?coll=cl-calendar

 

***

 

THE ENVELOPE--LA Times

 

'Brokeback' dreams crash and burn as the academy's voters play it safe

 

 

By Kenneth Turan, Times Staff Writer

 

 

SOMETIMES you win by losing, and nothing has proved what a powerful, taboo-breaking, necessary film "Brokeback Mountain" was more than its loss Sunday night to "Crash" in the Oscar best picture category.

 

Despite all the magazine covers it graced, despite all the red-state theaters it made good money in, despite (or maybe because of) all the jokes late-night talk show hosts made about it, you could not take the pulse of the industry without realizing that this film made a number of people distinctly uncomfortable.

 

 

More than any other of the nominated films, "Brokeback Mountain" was the one people told me they really didn't feel like seeing, didn't really get, didn't understand the fuss over. Did I really like it, they wanted to know. Yes, I really did.

 

In the privacy of the voting booth, as many political candidates who've led in polls only to lose elections have found out, people are free to act out the unspoken fears and unconscious prejudices that they would never breathe to another soul, or, likely, acknowledge to themselves. And at least this year, that acting out doomed "Brokeback Mountain."

 

For Hollywood, as a whole laundry list of people announced from the podium Sunday night and a lengthy montage of clips tried to emphasize, is a liberal place, a place that prides itself on its progressive agenda. If this were a year when voters had no other palatable options, they might have taken a deep breath and voted for "Brokeback." This year, however, "Crash" was poised to be the spoiler.

 

I do not for one minute question the sincerity and integrity of the people who made "Crash," and I do not question their commitment to wanting a more equal society. But I do question the film they've made. It may be true, as producer Cathy Schulman said in accepting the Oscar for best picture, that this was "one of the most breathtaking and stunning maverick years in American history," but "Crash" is not an example of that.

 

I don't care how much trouble "Crash" had getting financing or getting people on board; the reality of this film, the reason it won the best picture Oscar, is that it is, at its core, a standard Hollywood movie, as manipulative and unrealistic as the day is long. And something more.

 

For "Crash's" biggest asset is its ability to give people a carload of those standard Hollywood satisfactions, but make them think they are seeing something groundbreaking and daring. It is, in some ways, a feel-good film about racism, a film you could see and feel like a better person, a film that could make you believe that you had done your moral duty and examined your soul, when in fact you were just getting your buttons pushed and your preconceptions reconfirmed.

 

So for people who were discomfited by "Brokeback Mountain" but wanted to be able to look at themselves in the mirror and feel as if 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.

 

"Brokeback," it is worth noting, was in some ways the tamest of the discomforting films available to Oscar voters in various categories. Steven Spielberg's "Munich"; the Palestinian territories' "Paradise Now," one of the best foreign language nominees; and the documentary nominee "Darwin's Nightmare" offered scenarios that truly shook up people's normal ways of seeing the world. None of them won a thing.

 

Hollywood, of course, is under no obligation to be a progressive force in the world. It is in the business of entertainment, in the business of making the most dollars it can. Yes, on Oscar night it likes to pat itself on the back for the good it does in the world, but as Sunday night's ceremony proved, it is easier to congratulate yourself for a job well done in the past than to actually do that job in the present.

 

***

 

http://www.RodHagen.com

310.360.9890

Fun, Fit, Friendly Fucker in West Hollywood.

-Rod Hagen

[Guest Tristan]

Well stated, Rod. Right on the money.

 

I believe it was Jon Stewart who cynically commented about Crash that now, of course, everybody will be more tolerant.

 

There have been other films that dealt with intolerance, such as racism. Has much changed as a result of these films? I don't think so. On the other hand, I do believe that BBM was the first of its kind and will have a greater impact than Crash, not only on young gays, but also on people who are on the fence in their stereotyped images of gay people. I doubt it will change the minds of rednecks and right-wing extremists. But you wouldn't expect the film to do that.

 

One other thought. Some say, who ever remembers the Best Picture from last year? Well many people may not remember. But don't forget all those books on movies and movie history. They list the Best Picture for each year. They don't list the second best, or the one that almost made it. To me, that makes a difference. It's recorded forever in the history of film. I would have liked to see BBM have that honor.

[+ Axiom2001]

I knew this thread would get innumerable hits! Last night immediately after The Oscars, I came here and read Empire's thread. I would have been the first one to respond last night but decided against it and for obvious reasons!

 

Empire, I happen NOT to agree with your assessment of the voting members of this academy and would suggest that you continue to post here and cite your opinions but not do a "tit-for-tat rebuttal of what others have cited who have disagreed with your take.

 

Many of the guys who responded to your thread cited some valid and salient reasons beyond the sexuality of an individual. Read and think and disagree tacitly, dear!

[+ Axiom2001]

>It did not win best picture, but it did get best director

>(Ang Lee) and best screenplay adaptation from another source.

>Plus, Philip Seymour Hoffman did win for Capote. I do not see

>where fags lost at all. I have not seen any of the pics

>nominated but Crash and Brokeback Mountain are the two that I

>do wish to see. And Crash dealt with prejudice and racism and

>how it exists in all of us, regardless or our race, color,

>creed or sexual orientation. Everyone I know that saw Crash

>was very disturbed by it all for the same reason-they saw some

>of themselves in it and what they saw they did not like. So

>if there is a movie that can help us view our own prejudice

>and racism and possibly change how we think, then I do not see

>how "fags" lose at all.

>

>It did not seem that any one film dominated the Oscars this

>year like Million Dollar Baby did last year, which I think is

>a good thing. I thought that John Stewart was an incredible

>host-knew when to push the envelop and when not too.

 

 

Man, you hit the nail on its head! PRECISELY!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks!!!

:-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

[+ deej]

> I think there is also some truth to the fact that CRASH was

>the ONLY film that sent me a DVD in advance of the Screen

>Actors Guild awards.

 

It was a brilliant marketing move. "Crash" hadn't figured into ANY previous awards all year long. It wasn't even mentioned.

 

Then they sent screeners to all SAG members (many of whom are also members of the Academy). I was actually a little surprised when it was nominated. I'd never heard of it! LOL (Not a major movie-goer, obviously.)

 

If the industry was Paying Attention, I suspect you SAG members will be receiving a WHOLE LOTTA screeners before next year's awards season. ;-)

[bigguyinpasadena]

Sorry,but I just don't see what new territory BBM explored.While it was a good film IMO it was not a "new"film.Just because it had a couple of nonstereotypical gay men-if they could be considered that-there have been others to explore that already.

And none of the films were"safe"IMO,all had something important to say,and they are all good examples of films produced outside the formula that Hollywood uses.

In fact,and I am going out on a limb here,BBM had a trite formula that has been used again and again.That being a"good"woman who is put aside because of her husbands sexual awakening.And thus-the "gay"man is made to be a villian.I for one am tired of this cliche.It has been used far to long as a plot vehicle.And IMO it shows us as gay men in a very bad light.

[+ Axiom2001]

I think Rod typed an author's take on the win and presented it here; those are not his words. Thanks Rod for allowing us to read yet another's point of view!!

[jackhammer91406]

>There is no question that CRASH offered members a way "out".

> I think there is also some truth to the fact that CRASH was

>the ONLY film that sent me a DVD in advance of the Screen

>Actors Guild awards.

>

>In trying to determine which is best picture, there is more

>than just theme and marketing to consider.

>

>I was disappointed when Brokeback Mountain didn't get best

>Cinematography.

>

>In order to appreciate Brokeback Mountain, you have to be able

>to see how many cylinders this movie is cranking on.

>

>To convey the separation and isolation, the filmmakers

>utilized not only a finely honed (read sparse dialogue)

>screenplay, carefully crafted performances filled will

>emptiness (is that an oxymoron?), AND cinematography that

>underlined these threads of isolation and separation. The

>fact that the pace "seemed long" reinforces the isolation and

>loneliness. Time passes so S L O W L Y when we are alone.

>I felt that when BBM didn't get the Cinematography award, it

>was going to get Best Picture because the bulk of the academy

>had missed what Ang Lee and his crew had so subtly put

>together.

 

 

I meant to say that once BBM didn't get Best Cinematography, it was NOT going to get best picture either.

[Guest alanm]

>

>Empire, I happen NOT to agree with your assessment of the

>voting members of this academy and would suggest that you

>continue to post here and cite your opinions but not do a

>"tit-for-tat rebuttal of what others have cited who have

>disagreed with your take.

>

>Many of the guys who responded to your thread cited some valid

>and salient reasons beyond the sexuality of an individual.

>Read and think and disagree tacitly, dear!

>

 

This is the 2nd time that long time message center guys have posted responses that treat Empire like a child.

 

"Read and think and disagree tacitly, dear!"

 

His views are a little extreme, but many people on other gay message centers have the same opinion about Crash/BBM.

[Rod Hagen]

>In fact,and I am going out on a limb here,BBM had a trite

>formula that has been used again and again.That being

>a"good"woman who is put aside because of her husbands sexual

>awakening.

 

Again and again? Really. Please name three or four American movies with such a plot. Making Love, and...?

 

>And thus-the "gay"man is made to be a villian.

 

You would have thought so. But surprisingly few articles and critics criticized the film for the infidelity it contained. There was, in fact, an absolutely shocking lot of understanding out there for two men without many options, and one sad man without much self-worth.

 

So, at the very least, the very response to the film broke new, unexpected ground.

 

 

http://www.RodHagen.com

310.360.9890

Fun, Fit, Friendly Fucker in West Hollywood.

-Rod Hagen

[bigguyinpasadena]

Far From Heaven,Making Love,Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,Victim,Sudenly Last Summer,,,,,

Those are the biggies I can recall.Lots and lots of smaller films.

[Rod Hagen]

>Far From Heaven,Making Love,Cat on a Hot Tin

>Roof,Victim,Sudenly Last Summer,,,,,

>Those are the biggies I can recall.Lots and lots of smaller

>films.

 

Wow. That's more than I would have recalled. Well done. Maybe we are villains. After all we do have big moustaches.

[SmallTownJohn]

It was predicted

 

Howdy,

 

If anyone follows the daytime schedule on Sirius OutQ, the possibility of Brokeback Mountain losing best picture came up strong in discussions in mid-Jan. Nikki Finke from LA Weekly predicted it due to the number of voters who "refused to have that thing(Brokeback screening DVD) in their face!" and never saw the film to judge.

 

Her column:

 

http://deadlinehollywooddaily.com/

 

 

Have a great evening,

 

John

http://www.stj1.com

[+ ArVaGuy]

Its NOT Homophobia its Ruraphobia!!!

 

I did not expect BBM to win best picture, however, I did not pick Crash as the winner either. But here is an interesting take on BBM's loss by no less a figure than screenwriter Larry McMurtry.

 

 

http://contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/brokebacks%20mcmurtry%20accuses%20academy%20of%20rural%20discrimination_06_03_2006

 

BROKEBACK'S McMURTRY ACCUSES ACADEMY OF RURAL DISCRIMINATION

 

BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN co-writer LARRY MCMURTRY believes urban drama CRASH beat his film to the Best Picture Award, because Academy members discriminate against rural stories. The writer, who has been involved with four Oscar nominated films including THE LAST PICTURE SHOW and TERMS OF ENDEARMENT, claims Crash won because it was set in Los Angeles - where most Academy voters live. He explains, "The three rural films (I was involved with) lost. The one urban film, Terms of Endearment, won. "Members of the Academy are mostly urban people. Crash was a hometown movie."

06/03/2006 21:41

[+ Axiom2001]

RE: Its NOT Homophobia its Ruraphobia!!!

 

...interesting take. ...gives one additional thought to analyze.

 

I've seen all of the writer's nominated films. "Terms of Endearment" ---an extremely poignant and personal film is one that will always stay with me. Now I guess "Brokeback Mountain" will also. Axiom :-)

[Guest empire]

Herei s another review that felt Crash was only a way out for the academy members. This is about gay progress.

 

Reuters - Mar 06, 12:26

The Oscars opened the closet door to gay-themed films but shut it almost as quickly.

 

"Brokeback Mountain," the much-ballyhooed favorite about two gay cowboys, won best director for Ang Lee on Sunday but stunningly lost the best picture prize to race drama "Crash." Additionally Philip Seymour Hoffman won best actor for playing gay novelist Truman Capote in "Capote."

 

The victory for "Crash" suggested Oscar voters were more comfortable with a tale that exploited the seamy underbelly of racial conflict in contemporary Los Angeles than with a heartbreaking tale of love between two married men.

 

"Perhaps the truth really is, Americans don't want cowboys to be gay," said Larry McMurtry, 69, who shared an Oscar for best adapted screenplay with Diana Ossana for "Brokeback."

 

No overtly gay love story has ever won a best picture award and, as of Monday morning, none has. The big question going into the Oscars was whether Hollywood, often in the forefront of social issues, would break another taboo.

 

"Film buffs and the politically minded will be arguing this morning about whether the Best Picture Oscar to 'Crash' was really for the film's merit or just a cop-out by the Motion Picture Academy so it wouldn't have to give the prize to 'Brokeback Mountain,"' said Washington Post critic Tom Shales.

 

Los Angeles Times critic Kenneth Turan saw "Brokeback's" failure as a sign that Hollywood was not yet ready to grant the topic of homosexual love mainstream respectability.

 

"Despite all the magazine covers it graced, despite all the red-state theaters it made good money in, despite (or maybe because of) all the jokes late-night talk show hosts made about it, you could not take the pulse of the industry without realizing that 'Brokeback Mountain' made a number of people distinctly uncomfortable," he said, adding:

 

"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."

[Guest rohale]

Empire, since you started this thread, therefore this question is really meant for you more than anyone else. From your own personal perspective, what makes "Brokeback Mountain" the better film in comparison to " Crash ". In a way I'm suprised no one has asked you thus far. With this in mind, I hope you dont mind my curiousity on the subject.

 

If you dont want to respond, that's fine cause there is really no compulsion what so ever.

 

Ro

[Guest empire]

Nice of someone to ask

 

I feel the formula used in Crash had been done far better by Quintin Tarantino or Paul Thomas Anderson. The lead and supporting actors in Brokeback Mountain appeared to be more natural in their respective roles than those of Crash.

 

I also believe, as did the academy, that Brokeback Mountain was the superior story.