06/28/2005
Heath on Brokeback: Best Script Ever Read
Heath Ledger spoke recently with Fade In magazine about his upcoming role in Brokeback Mountain and some of the complexities he saw in the character of Ennis:
"It was a story I thought would be good to tell. The script was probably the best one [I have] ever read and Ang Lee is a good director. The story is beautiful, though a lttle hard to explain without giving it away. I loved the struggle of the character I was playing; a guy who had so much hatred for himself. There was this love he felt that made him a hypocrite. He was this homophobic guy who found himself in love with another man. There were so many interesting complex characteristics that made this person so interesting."
He also spoke about how a mainstream audience might react to his performance:
"I try not to think globally about my performance. I'm not performing to suit any audience. I wouldn't want to categorize my performance either. I've always tried to forget what might happen if an audience saw this thing I'm doing, what would happen if someone feels your pain or sees you baring your soul. You put yourself in these complex and vulnerable positions, and the only way you can be brave enough to do so is to not predetermine your performance."
Related
Jake "Coy" on Brokeback Love Scenes [tr]
The Brokeback Tease Continues... [tr]
Cowboy Ballads [tr]
Brokeback Mountain Teaser Trailer [tr]
Heath and Jake Swap Spit [tr]
Cowboy Love [tr]
Posted 12:00 PM EST by Andy Towle in Film & TV | Permalink
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Oh Brokeback Mountain. I do so look forward.
Posted by: Rob | Jun 28, 2005 12:56:25 PM
Andy, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN has been officially confirmed as part of the lineup for this year's Toronto Film Festival in September:
http://www.tiffg.ca/content/mediacentre/viewrelease.asp?recordId=222
Posted by: Bithysith | Jun 28, 2005 6:41:50 PM
Gee, after all this build-up it had better be good.
Two-to-one the local cinemonopoly will either give it just one screen for one weekend, of not show it at-all due to the "controversial nature" of the plot-line. ....Mustn't get in the way of the teen-date slasher movies they run at great-profit every weekend.
Posted by: Ted B. | Jun 28, 2005 9:22:06 PM
I live in Dallas and the only theater scheduled for Brokeback is the Anjelika...the art theater. Which means that very few people will see it...probably just The Gays ;)
Posted by: Wayne | Jun 29, 2005 1:59:34 PM
I could be wrong but I think the issue here is that straight people won't really go see a movie about two gay cowboys no matter HOW good it is or who directs it. This love story is the main point of the film so there's not really that much else for them to watch.
I also can't wait to see this film, Jake Gyllenhaal is a legend actor and a major hottie. It's not only admirable but also very clever what himself and Heath are doing. Not only are they the first real 'mainstream' (Hollywood) actors to take on such clearly gay roles but the amount of publicity and controversy they're creating already is only going to enhance their careers.
Once again, the fabulous city of Toronto is at the forefront of publicising a film like this - go Canada!
Posted by: Cyparissus | Jun 30, 2005 6:58:25 PM
It seems to me that this movie is being pushed and hyped by people who have never really lived with or befriended any real live cowboys. Yeah what do u know, real live cowboys, not the ones you see on T.V. City slickers get off your butt and ride a horse sometime, go to an actual rodeo and ask some cowboys from the south especially what they think of homosexuality. They will probably tell you that if their beloved confederacy won their would still be hangings of those kind of people. Don't get me wrong I have a close friend who is gay. I have no problem with that. However, I am going to say that even the cowboys from the north or south have a legendary image. A cowboy is a independent man with a love of family and courage. He is not politically correct. I went to a rodeo once and they described the ideal cowboy and my God he wasn't gay either. The people from this culture also have a reputation for being republican voters. Even if it is in the genes they would probably not retain to a culture which discourages homosexuality or be open about it. Let me ask you how many cowboys do you know? And how many of them are gay? hmmm...Probably none. Also I want to know how many cowboy/rednecks are actually going to attend this film and back it...hmmm..probably next to none. If they are going to make a movie about two male lovers fine, but don't bash the cowboy culture. Don't try to make people look like something they are most definately not. Otherwise a bunch of people from the city who have no idea what being in the country is about will be like, "yeah I saw a movie once and the cowboys were gay so they are into that kinda thing right?" Then when they actually go up and say that to a real cowboy they will get their face smashed in. Isn't a shame that there were actually good movies with John Wayne and that had shootings and horseback riding in it? Now in 2000s we can't have a decent fight because it may offend a race, we can't have a black person play a servant we'd get sued and we can't have a cowboy that prays in church no no..Seperation of church and the movies remember? Oh yeah...No we have to have movies about gay cowboys. This politically correct crap makes me sick sometimes. It's ok to offend people who are against homosexuality but it's not ok to offend people who are a certain race or don't believe in God. hmmm...ok. So much for everyone being =. As for the soundtrack why don't people listen to country music and find out how much of it has to do with a cowboy and his g/f. Probably a lot of songs! Either that or it deals with drinking, family or God. Wow no gay songs? Don't think so! So take the hats off the pansies and remember cowboys work with cows not sheep.
Posted by: Barrel Racer | Dec 4, 2005 1:21:31 AM
You, Barrel Racer, would appear to me to be the most ignorant and unintelligent person on this planet.
Posted by: Adam | Jan 14, 2008 5:54:34 PM