Brokeback Mountain, released on this day in 2006

Brokeback Mountain, released on this day in 2006. People were freaking out about the “gay cowboy movie” and the sex scene between Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhall



 (James’s mom and dad actually walked out during that bit). Mind you this was three years before Heath blew everyone away with his Joker performance in The Dark Knight. He hated hearing jokes about the movie, which he said diminished the story, saying “This is about love.”
I remember driving to work and hearing a local radio station DJ making fun of the movie. He obviously hadn’t seen it and that infuriated me, and I was happy to see that an Independent Records by us in Old Colorado City was promoting the film by giving away free t-shirts. No one wanted any. I got two. I knew that few people in our highly-polarized city were brave enough to wear these out on the street and wearing the shirts was like giving bigots the middle finger, and James and I were more than happy to.
It was very similar to the climate before The Blair Witch Project came out. A lot of discussion and controversy, hearsay and harsh judgement by many who hadn’t even seen the film. Nowadays it wouldn’t be such a big deal, but 17 years ago is a long time.
After watching the movie, I felt very sorry for those who refused to view it. It was a very direct and powerful drama with many great performances and a wonderful score. Instead many people laughed at it. I understood how they were using humor to deal with an uncomfortable situation, but I couldn’t believe that they didn’t get it, didn’t see the characters or get the message just because it dealt with the intimacy of two men. It’s a tragic story I’ve witnessed in other men long before the book or movie came out. And people forget or dismiss how brave Heath and Jake were to take on these roles, and I was very happy when the movie won three Oscars.
That last scene, with that last statement by Heath’s character Ennis, gets me every time. (I still wear my shirt.)

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