powerful and touching (no pun ...) Silas, very nice, thanks!

I have been hearing a lot about this film and the trailer looked very compelling. I happen to be straight, but not narrow (with quite a few friends who I know to be gay and probably more that I don't know...and one or two who are working it out for themselves.)

Love is love.

This movie has caused many straight people to accept and understand that love is love regardless of gender but i think another important thing it has done is give ppl courage to come out. I am bi and after reading this book I knew that I had to let my mom know. She isnt really a homophobic but she isnt exactly pro-gay. Anyway Im takeing her to see this movie and telling her Im bi after. I honestly think this movie will make her understand my point of view. So yea, i thank this movie for giving me the courage to do something i NEVER though i would do.

The movie should be titled "Brokebutt Mountain".

Suitable for this propaganda film. Ledger and Gyllenhaal are both idiots.

Thanks for showing your true colors, tommyd. Now we will all know your real motivation for posting here is to spread hate and fear, and that nothing you say need ever be considered worthy of serious discussion.

Thirteen days before Brokeback Mountain is officially released. Again, I am thrilled and filled with such high hopes that this film will open at least one door. Ang Lee received an incredible amount of praise at this weekend's Denver Film Festival.

You may think it's a propaganda film, tommyd, but I assure you it is anything but. It's a classic love story in the tradition of Gone With The Wind. It's a realistic depiction of life in the American West. Yes, tommy, there are queer cowboys and no Santa Claus. Ang Lee is a gutsy movie maker who has brought us some of the greatest films of our times.

Read about a Christian Perspective on Brokeback Mountain (scroll down to the 11/22 post), including a debate with Dave Cullen about the movie.

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.

hey racer- You DO realize this movie is based on a book right? And simply because two cowboys find a love for each other in this story, it doesn't mean anyone is bashing a culture. I've certainly grown up with my share of cowboys and you're right- not many are gay or accepting of homosexuality. But being gay and being rude to a culture aren't one and the same.

Barrelracer, this is going to require a detailed response.

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.

Well, you've never heard of the Gay Rodeo, eh? Funny Dave N. and I were just discussing the National Gay Rodeo event that took place in Dallas a couple of weeks ago. I've ridden a horse, many times. I've been to rodeos and I dated a redneck from West Virginia for over a year many moons ago. He was one of the finest men I've ever known and hold him dear as a friend to this very day. By the way, he does have a pickup and a gun rack, so he's very much a redneck.

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.

If the Confederacy had won I submit to you that the Baptists would not have taken possession of the Deep South. Cowboys do have a legendary image -- no doubt about it. But in the whole scheme of things, I think you'll learn that the dynamic of male bonding amongst cowboys is quite homoerotic in nature. I think that in the old days anything that took place of an intimate nature between two cowboys was their business. It wasn't about wanton sex. There was a real love but they had their boundaries. They were able to maintain families and relationships quite similar to the situation in Brokeback Mountain.

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.

Perhaps you have a warped image of what 'gay' is. How many cowboys are gay? I'll bet there are plenty who may have homosexual encounters but consider themselves heterosexual. We've placed labels that confine human behavior in too narrow a parameter. Sexuality is complicated. For that matter love is complicated. While I believe that there is some kind of physical disposition to being exclusively gay, I honestly believe that all of us are inherently bisexual in nature. Now don't go getting all flaky on me because I'd venture to say that the majority of 'heterosexual' men would never admit that at one time or another in their lives it might have crossed their minds if only for a brief moment.

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?

Sadly I think many men in the South and West will avoid this movie at all costs because of their own insecurities. That's unfortunate. This movie transcends sexuality. It's about two individuals, the intense love they shared and how they handled it in a world which frowned upon homosexuality. If you're that uncomfortable with seeing the movie, read the story. It's available on the Internet. While it is a short read (30 pages or so), it may open your eyes. The story has had a major effect on me and the relationships I maintain with many of my friends. There is plenty of information out there which proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the traditional American cowboy of the 1800's was far from exclusively heterosexual. It's just one of those dirty little secrets no one admits.

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.

I have to agree that this political correctness thing has gotten way out of hand. We're so busy trying to be un-offensive that it's become completely offensive. We don't have to have movies about gay cowboys. You're missing Ang Lee's entire point about why he made it. This is a love story about two people in the spirit of Gone With the Wind, Dr. Zhivago and others. If this were a movie about the sex life of Calamity Jane and Annie Oakley, I'll bet dollars to donuts you couldn't keep the rednecks and Bible thumpers away. Especially if the parts were played by Angelina Jolie and Charlize Theron. (Hmmm, have I just set up a fantasy for a bunch of guys on here?)

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.

What offend? If the entire concept of Brokeback Mountain upsets you that much, ignore the damn post. Geesh. As far as country music is concerned, you'd be surprised how many gays love country. I'm a huge fan. As I've stated on another post, I take clogging lessons once a week and, dude, you can't get more redneck or country than that! I also like baked beans, grits, fat back and that mud called coffee made over a campfire. I'd challenge you any day to a survival game in the woods. I know my stuff. And, as far as the sheep comment remember one thing. The angels on high appeared to shepherds the night Christ was born -- not cattle ranchers. So, sheep are just alright with me.

Wow, good response Silas, as always.

It amazes me that people can be so easily offended by, and opposed to love.

Sometimes I think people just get freaked out that others are comfortable enough with themselves that they can find love- even if it happens to be someone of the same sex.

Umm how do i know there are lots of "secret" gay cowboy? Cause I could hear the big belt buckle hit the ground as i was bent over thier pick up... Open your eyes, the mind may follow...

Yeah E, I think I agree with that, but also, it goes back to what Silas said about people being inherently bi......I agree with that. Actually I have this theory about the fluidity of sexuality, that there are very few truely gay or truely straight people. Like if u consider a scale from 1 to 10, 1 being the most gay you could be, 10 being the most staright, MOST people fall somewhere in the middle, the average "str8" person being an 8 or 9. I think there are few true 1's or 10's. Its a matter of being open with yourself about your own sexuality. This is a puritanically based society, so we're taught to feel ashamed about our own sexuality. If you look at the past 50 years, even straight sexuality was hidden, remember the tv shows and movies from the 40's and 50's that had married couples in separate beds? So when a mainstream movie addresses homosexual issues, it awakens the closet-homo in some people and obviously makes them uncomfortable.

I'm not saying that 40 years from now our society will be open enough to accept homosexuality as openly as it does divorce, pre-marital sex and other "sins"....maybe, but there are too many ignorant, narrow-minded people who breed and pass their hate onto their children. Hopefully though, with movies like Brokeback Mountain, some barriers can be broken, and maybe, just maybe, we can open some minds.

How is Brokeback Mountain so unusual? What about Midnight Cowboy? What about the Cowboy character in Boys in the Band? What about the cowboy in Village People? There's even a Gay Cowboy Webring! I'm beginning to wonder if there is such a thing as a straight cowboy! ;) YEEEE HAWWWW!!!

Call me the Brokeback broken record, but by God I am determined to enlighten at least of dozen of you into seeing this film. There's an interesting piece in today's Chicago Tribune that gets to the heart of what barrelracer tried to say. What I find even more ironic is that Heath Ledger says that this is the most macho role he has ever played. There's such a profundity to that simple observation. The fact that Matt Drudge is busy trying to tout this movie as some gay sicko spectacle gives me the energy to press on. After all, anyone who knows little Mr. Drudge knows his homoerotic proclivities. Lord knows I think that Jeff Gannon and Matt are a match made in Heaven.

Well given the characters Heath Ledger has played, it wouldn't take much to be his most macho....but yeah. Knowing the story from the novel and having read the screenplay I think it is a lot more macho than many are expecting.

But yeah, there are tons of gay rodeos (King of the Hill episode ringing a bell anyone?). And they are a blast. And they aren't just tiara and feather boa wearing cowboys but tough dudes who I wouldn't wanna cross.

I also recommend to anybody the Annie Proulx novella/short story upon which the movie is based. It can be found in her "Close Range: Wyoming Stories" collection.

GoHah writes a great review of Bad Dirt: Wyoming Stories 2 right here at BC. It's a good read.

Well given the characters Heath Ledger has played, it wouldn't take much to be his most macho....

Ouch. Honest, but ouch. Anyway, has anyone ever pondered that the character of Miss Kitty on Gunsmoke was based on a drag queen?

The NY Daily News has a great story about Ledger and Brokeback. The more I read and hear the more I am convinced that Ledger is on the road to an Oscar.

OK, straight dudes, your guide is up for seeing Brokeback Mountain at MSNBC. Dave White gives compelling reasons why you should take your lady to see Brokeback Mountain. The most compelling reason is that it is your turn, straight guys, to see one of our movies and I quote: "Really, it is, and you know it. Imagine how many thousands of hetero love stories gay people sit through in their lives. So you kind of owe us. Now get out there and watch those cowboys make out."

Before saying anything, I have to say that I've only seen the trailer for this movie, as it is not playing in theaters here yet. Also, keep in mind that this movie was not made with activism in mind. It is telling a story about two people; no story about two people is ever about the right thing to do, or about 'shoulds and should not's.

Yes, this movie goes a little to the extreme - there aren't many gay cowboys, and there is a gay rodeo, but hardly any of the men in it are 31 and look like the guys in Brokeback Mountain. Most are about 100 pounds heavier and a good 20 years older. From what I gather, my only problem with the film thus far is that the gay theme is seen as bad, that straight relationships are of highest importance, and so I wonder what is really groundbreaking here since one thing that is said is "I wish I could quit you", as if same-sex love is an addiction or some kind of shameful secret. Again, I realize this is a movie based on a story from over 40 years ago, but it does irk me to see gay men depicted as either wealthy executives, Marlboro Men, or Little Richard (either one extreme or the other). That would be fine if there weren't so many closeted and isolated gay men across America who were desperately seeking some kind of figure to relate to.

I see a lot of people who are thinking this movie is going to resemble "Uncle Tom's Cabin" for gay people. This is never going to happen. America has a guilt over race that they will never have over sexual orientation. Race is easy to identify and "feel sorry" about - a white person can go to a movie about black people and walk away feeling more enlightened - but still feel superior and unrelated to the subject. Being gay transcends color and religion. Anyone can be gay, so anyone could be 'suspect'. That is why you are hard pressed to see many young straight men supportive of gay people. He doesn't want to be labeled. Unfortunately, men have decades to go before the definition of 'what is a man' comes into question. Women have been very successful in the past 35 years at not only questioning their gender roles, but changing them singlehandedly. It is unlikely that men will do the same (why would most of them even want to?).

So go see the movie. I plan to. But don't expect this to become something that it's not meant to be. It's a story, not activism, and it's not likely to change anyone's viewpoints.

I saw the movie. It was a masterpiece. Watch it. Then judge it. The movie is about feelings.
I have met many gay police officers so there must be gay or bisexual cowboys. There is nothing unmanly about love between two men no matter how it manifests itself. Get with it!

They were filled with hate and fear.

...That's...what homophobia IS.