I was one of those people who was blasé about Brokeback Mountain, and now I'm not.
Have I been whipped into cinematic interest by mere movie lust? No... once again, I am spurred into action from losing my temper!
On my own, I could have waited for this movie to come out on DVD. I would have flopped down with pleasure on my own crumb-strewn sofa, vibrator at my side. Really, what good are theaters anymore?
I remember going to a movie house in Amsterdam once, where they had a gorgeous art deco lounge in the lobby, and a full bar, that served you espresso and fine chocolate and hashish cigarettes. We sat there for hours discussing some movie I don't even remember. The ambiance was irresistible.
A typical American movie house today is a place you can't wait to exit. Nowadays, I only go to the theater to make a political point, which is exactly my scheme for BBM.
What has my panties in a twist? For one, in Newsweek's story on the film, a unnamed Hollywood "producer" says that Jake Gyllenhaal is committing career suicide by playing a man in love with a man— that his core teenage girl audience will desert him.
This jackass has obviously never come face-to-face with a pajama party in his entire life. Teenage girls love handsome young gay lovers— even more than handsome young gay lovers do. James Dean... Sal Mineo... Sigh. The Heath and Jake sandwich fantasy is already a TigerBeat swoonfest for the ages.
I hope this movie exposes, once and for all, that there are just as many woman hot for men in a tight embrace, as there are men mooning over lesbian fantasies.
Many critics I've read suggest that straight women will be sympathetic to BBM because they're a bunch of old softies, with tender hearts. They don't seem to understand that while tender is fine, for female fans, this movie is arousing. It's not charity, it's lust and romance with a bullet.
Why is it such a common fantasy, to lose yourself in depictions of the opposite sex having at it?
The first clue is: "Where do you put yourself in the dream?" When I ask straight men about their lesbian fantasies, I always say, "Are you watching, do you interrupt, or are you one of the women?" It changes the fantasy completely, depending on where you place yourself in relation to it.
Some men identify with one, or both, of the female lovers, imagining what they might be feeling. —Soft on soft. —Women being sexually aggressive and taking the lead.
For women setting their eyes on male lovers, it's the opposite fantasy: hard on hard. It's like two big cats together— all that strength, nerve, and competition, pressed into bed. We get to live vicariously through something that doesn't come so straight-forward for us. We get to see strong men come undone. It's intoxicating.
I'm talking in great butch-femme swashes of color, but that's how most erotic icons work— florid.
I think that "Mr. Old Hollywood Producer" doesn't want to consider female lust, and that is the reason he's such a dinosaur.
Let's turn to my next catalyst: All those fundie "family" organizations who've taken a stand against "immoral" movies. Temptation to Puke, and all that.
Salon reports that for BBM, the prudes have decided to give it the silent treatment— with the less said, the better. The spokes-MAN for Concerned Women For America (gak) said: "This is something that could be, and should be, ignored."
You might think the puritans have decided for once to take the high road and a turned cheek. You would be wrong.
The reason they're hiding from this film is because they are afraid of being tarred by even the slightest association. — A film where men kiss and fuck, for god's sake! It makes their tummies upset. They cannot figure out how to utter the words "gay cowboy" without turning five shades of red. These groups are most comfortable bashing in everyone's head from a rhetorical distance. Intimacy makes them squirm.
The nature of their homophobic psychosis is Br'er Rabbit's nightmare: the more they hit the tar faggot, the more it sticks on them— all the frantic clawing at themselves is to no avail. If one is seen discussing Brokeback today, their brother will accuse them of going bareback tomorrow. They cannot stop biting their own tail.
The way the fundies will spin it, they'll try to act "casual" while they're trembling inside. They'll scoff that only yuppie chicks with lace hankies are going to see this thing, the weak sisters. They'll "girly-fy" it, that is, make it irrelevant. The Boys have More Important Things to Do, like.. um... see the big lion in Narnia.
You know, that big pussycat's really supposed to be Jesus! With a big, furry mane and silky tail and warm wise eyes... hey c'mon now, don't go saying he's GAY!
Go to Dave Cullen's BBM site, if you want to become completely immersed.
Here's the original short story, if you'd like to read it...
Audible has a version to listen to, beautifully read...