08/18/2005
Thoughts on the Brokeback Trailer
As I watched the Brokeback Mountain clip on ET I have to say I breathed a sigh of relief—because what I saw appears to honor the quiet pacing and subdued intensity of Annie Proulx's amazing short story. While it's hard to judge the arc and tone of a movie by its clips, I'll have to say this brief preview served to excite rather than disappoint. There was no wince factor.
The other thing I thought was interesting was the ET voiceover about Heath Ledger's relationship with Michelle Williams. If it wasn't planned to drop that information over the homoerotic trailer, it was a very smart mistake from a marketing standpoint. Why? Because it showed Heath Ledger's comfort level in playing gay and in doing so, served to massage the nerves of anyone who might be uncomfortable watching Ledger and Gyllenhaal acting romantically on screen.
From a publicity standpoint, it's the antithesis of the Tom Cruise/Katie Holmes situation. Here's Heath Ledger, a straight man comfortable enough in his own skin to play a romantic gay character on screen, getting wrapped up in a very genuine (and relatively private) offscreen relationship with a former Dawson's Creek actress. In Tom Cruise's case, you have an actor battling rumors of his sexuality offscreen, acting out a highly public (and oft questioned) "romantic relationship" with a former Dawson's Creek actress that is splashed all over the entertainment shows.
How does the public perceive them onscreen then? For Ledger, I think it's entirely possible that the public will buy him as gay. For Cruise, I think the rest of the roles he plays in his career may be dogged by this offscreen image that the public doesn't buy.
In case you missed it on last night's ET, the Malcontent has a clip of the Brokeback Mountain trailer segment. I give it a thumbs up.
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Love is a Force of Nature [tr]
Heath on Brokeback: Best Script Ever Read [tr]
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 9:36 AM EST by Andy in Film & TV | Permalink
Comments
I also loved how Mary Hart practically had a giggle fit as she recounted how Heath almost broke Jakey's nose during a kissing scene. You know, because gay shit is funny.
Posted by: Matt | Aug 18, 2005 10:44:15 AM
Oh come on Matt, don't be so overly sensitive. I thought it was amusing as well.
Posted by: Zeke | Aug 18, 2005 11:08:40 AM
I was worried that ET would try to emphasize the straightness of the actors and how they are "SO VERY BRAVE" for playing gay. As Mathew St. Patrick mentioned on the Six Feet Under special, I personally don't think there is anything brave about playing gay but definately something cowardly about NOT wanting to do it. However, I was too wrapped up in watching the few scenes to even care what they said. When I heard the line "I wish I knew how to quit you" I could feel the tears rising. From the little we got to see, it seems it will be a good screen adaptation.
Posted by: Kia | Aug 18, 2005 11:28:03 AM
I agree Kia, the 'I wish I knew how to quit you' line almost had me reaching for a hanky too. That's the first time for me that's happened with a trailer.
Posted by: Eric | Aug 18, 2005 12:03:17 PM
"Fishing buddy", ehh? I fore-see LOT'S of pointed questions for the fishing-and-hunting-set from suddenly alarmed wives and girlfriends if this movie makes it "big".
Reminds me of the time Fitch is visited by his firefighter dad and brother about it being "OK" with Dad that Fitch's gay...only to have it suddenly dawn on Dad that he's pegged the incorrect-son as "gay".
"Off the two of you go to your special fishing spot... Err, pass the salt."
Posted by: Ted B. | Aug 18, 2005 2:38:53 PM
"I wish I knew how to quit you."
A great line, and I loved how ET portrayed it.
And I had NO idea Heath was dating Michelle, and a baby is on the way? Da-amn. I wonder whom James or Pacey will be dating in the coming months.
Posted by: Rob | Aug 18, 2005 3:39:54 PM
Totally agree, Andy, with your comments about the remarkable trailer. It was even worth sitting through the increasingly disgusting "Excrement Tonight" (though I had to shower after being exposed to so many minutes of Mary Hart and Mark Steines)to see those few stunning moments and hear that wrist slashing line. Books are wonderful, but there's something about a line acted out that can grab your heart and not let go.
Kinda like "You had me at 'hello'," which brings me to Tommy Boy about whom I must totally disagree with your comment about what the public is or is not buying. While his jawdropping behavior on Offal, I mean Oprah, must have given everyone pause (and sent dogs howling under the bed), I don't believe there's any evidence that the longlasting gay rumors about him have any degree of life beyond Gayland.
Posted by: Leland | Aug 18, 2005 8:19:25 PM
Looks terrific. The 'quit' line really got to me. Agree that it looks like a good adaptation. Great casting.
Posted by: sherm | Aug 19, 2005 8:38:53 AM
I've been reading about this film for ages, anxiously awaiting its release & wary of how it would be adapted from the short story & handled in promotion. I watched the trailer last night for the first time & my hopes are sky high. Like no other romantic story I've seen depicted on film in ages, this one cut me in two. I agree about the "quit you" line. More important than the desperate words was the devastating delivery of them; it had me gasping. To have such a love burn you to the ground & have no choice but to lie down, alone, in your own ashes . . . we should all weep. I hope the film makes a gazillion dollars & everyone involved gets nominated for everything.
Posted by: Kate | Dec 4, 2005 3:17:13 PM
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