Cottington

I just finished reading the book by Annie Proulx (well, its a short story, really), and I am struck at how beautifully the story winds. I am sure even non-gay audiences will find something to like about the story, even if it is sort of Titanic-esque in spirit.

What about the film? Are audiences around the world ready for a big budget Hollywood flick that depicts a gay romance (the entire movie is solely about the gay romance)? I am not exactly sure. Of course, with Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger in the lead roles, it should pull in most audiences, but still..... what are your thoughts?

DRG

Honestly, I don't see this being successful, box office-wise. It may pull in some audience based on the reviews (assuming they are positive), but I don't see this reaching a huge mainstream audience unless it wins some major awards. Westerns are a tough sell to begin with. A lot of the people who are normally into westerns are the same people who will be turned off by the gay aspect.

Heath Ledger has a spotty record as a draw. A Knight's Tale did well, and Brothers Grimm had an okay opening... but Matt Damon had a lot to do with that. Beyond that, Lords of Dogtown, Four Feathers, and The Order all bombed.

Jake Gyllenhaal hasn't even been the lead in a major motion picture yet (unless you count Day After Tomorrow, but that's a stretch...) I still don't think his name has big recognition power yet.

digitalfreaknyc

I saw the trailer, I'm gay and I still had no interest in it. Maybe I'll hop into it but I don't think I'll be paying for it. Even the trailer made it look like a cheesy made-for-TV drama. I dunno. To me, I half expected it to go straight to Logo.

auto

Donnie Darko?
Bubble Boy?

Groucho

I sure hope they eat pudding.

Jason Bovberg

I really have nothing against the gay lifestyle, but the idea of gay cowboys just makes me laugh. I think I'd just laugh uncontrollably through the whole film.

DRG

That's why I said "major motion picture", as in a wide-release big studio movie. Donnie Darko was a low budget film that got a limited release. Not sure I'd consider Bubble Boy a major motion picture either, although it at least got a semi-wide release. Either way, neither film would put Gyllenhaal in "box office draw" territory IMO.

DRG

What about gay construction workers, Indians, and bikers? I suppose those seem farfetched to you as well!

sherm42

Am I the only one that when seeing the title reads it at first to say "Bareback Mountain"? I know that is not the title, but I think that every time I see it.

dom56

This is directed by Ang Lee. I don't plan on seeing this but I wish he do some more Asian film like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon which is still one of my favorite.

The Antipodean

Considering the OP hasn't even seen the movie yet, calling it a "modern classic" in the thread title seems a wee premature, doesn't it?

marty888

Guess you better not go to a gay rodeo, then .... you'd be the only guy giggling, and you know what THAT would make people think ...

http://www.angelfire.com/tx3/flycowboy/

DonnachaOne

A notice of how much "South Park" has permeated pop culture, methinks; first time I heard this was in development, I also wondered would they eat pudding.
I would assume from Cottington's post that he/she was referring to the book.

Frankly, the bit in the trailer putting me off is Heath Ledger. He sounds like he's clawing his way out of a pit filled with Johnny Cash impersonators.

PopcornTreeCt

Anyone else roll their eyes when they saw who the OP was?

FinkPish

Can I ask a question? Since when do movies, classic or otherwise, have to make money to prove themselves as quality films? Why is there an automatic assumption that a movie has to have made money in order to be good? This isn't aimed directly at you, but you immediately brought up box office figures as a way to pre-judge this movie. I'm not saying this movie will be a classic or make shit tons of money, in fact I highly doubt it will do the latter, but I'm just curious why people immediately turn to reciepts and grosses in order to judge a film's status.

Joe Molotov

Well, the OP did ask...

FinkPish

I thought the question being asked was leaning more towards the maturity and open-mindedness of audiences, rather than how much money it could potentially make. Maybe I read it wrong.

Jericho

Ang Lee generally does good work (please no Hulk references), so I'll probably check this out. Don't know anything about the story other that a few tidbits, but I can't imagine the movie doing well box office wise unless it gets some Oscar nods. I mean dramas have a pretty hard sell, westerns aren't easy sells, and gay western dramas sound like an impossible sell.

joeblow69

I just watched the trailer, and I thought it looked interesting enough to check out. Not sure if it will even play at any theaters around here, though. I keep seeing "bareback mountain" when I read the title too.. I'm sure some porn producer is already filming that flick with the hopes of cashing in.

Flynn

Thought the trailer looked MUCH better than what people are saying. My friends all laughed at it, but I thought it looked like a solid film. Ang Lee is a great director, and the fresh idea might be a good change.

Cottington

Yes, I was referring to the book when I posted that title. Though the latest reviews of the movie from the Venice film festival have been more than positive with audiences weeping buckets. I dont know about that, but the book (or should I say 'novella' - its only 20 pages long) is darned good. You can get it off my blog for free : http://rawlikesashimi.blogspot.com - do read it, its great!

As for the film, I do not think that it will do wonders at the box office. The last time a somewhat big Hollywood star played a sensitive gay role - Colin Farrell in 'A Home at the end of the World', no one bothered. Now that was a terribly boring film. This one on the other hand actually LOOKS and FEELS like an epic based on the trailer alone, and I think the only thing that can ruin it would be Heath Ledger whose fake put-on American accent is getting a little irritating. They've taken it to ridiculous proportions here. I mean, even people in the 20s in Wyoming would not sound like that, I am sure. Its very very distracting, to say the least. I think Jake Gyllenhaal, though not a STAR star, is more than capable of a great performance, and just his expressions with his eyes during the trailer tell a tale. Considering this film also has the luminous Anne Hathaway, I would say its a must-see for all audiences.

I think we can forget about Oscars for it though. Theres just no way.

LiquidSky

Why is that? You know, not *all* gay men are queens (although, that seems to be the stereotype television and most movies like to perpetuate).

Glad you have nothing against my "gay" lifestyle. This past weekend, I went to the bank, purchased some overpriced gas, picked up my dry cleaning, grocery shopping, went to a cookout and had a few beers.

Jason Bovberg

Sorry, still laughing.

joeblow69

Well, do us all a favor and laugh somewhere else, will ya?

Jason Bovberg

Yeah, no problem. Hahaha, I love you guys. You're so serious.