Topic: News Coverage March 27 - April 2

[tpe]

Van Sant talks 'Brokeback': the one that got away

Sunday, March 26, 2006
BRIAN LIBBY




Eight years ago, director Gus Van Sant was savoring the Oscar triumphs of his biggest mainstream success, "Good Will Hunting." The tale of a troubled, working-class math genius had nabbed a nomination for best picture, and it won statuettes for co-writers Matt Damon and Ben Affleck as well as supporting actor Robin Williams.

While working on his next film in 1998, a scene-by-scene remake of "Psycho," Van Sant received a copy of a screenplay from Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana. It was adapted from a short story by E. Annie Proulx called "Brokeback Mountain."

During the next few months, Van Sant flirted with making "Brokeback" his next movie. Instead, he wound up making "Finding Forrester," starring Sean Connery and written by Portlander Mike Rich. And then Van Sant changed courses with a trio of decidedly more experimental films: "Gerry," "Elephant" (which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes), and the Kurt Cobain-inspired "Last Days."

Recently, after director Ang Lee won the best director Oscar and McMurtry and Ossana won the screenplay award for "Brokeback Mountain," Van Sant talked by phone about his memories of the film, the road not taken, and the road ahead.

How did you first get involved with "Brokeback Mountain"?

It was right after "Good Will Hunting" [in 1998]. Larry McMurtry and Diana sent it to me kind of out of the blue. It ended up at Sony, and Scott Rudin got involved. Their idea was to do it for about $15 million, which is close to the budget that they ended up having. But I had meetings with four or five different actors, who all passed.

Can you say who those actors were?

[Chuckles] I don't know. It was the ones that you would think of, whoever those might be. They were all pretty much the biggest actors of our day. Because I thought of it as something where the higher the profile the actors, the more effect it might have as a story. I usually don't think that way, but I guess in this case I was.

You mean trying to influence Americans' perceptions about homosexuality?

I think we always talked like that when I was meeting with Larry and Diana. We were always considering that it might stir up trouble or controversy. Larry was actually kind of excited about that. But we also didn't really know. It was also a little bit of a different time then. A lot of different things have happened over those eight years.

I was assuming, like I've heard Ang Lee say, that it would have had a typical art house release schedule and maybe a decent reception. But I never thought of it as something that would break out. Which is what the point was of the strong lead actors, to maybe help it break out. But even then, there's lots of films that have really big leads in them that still don't break out.

So how did you ultimately end up not making "Brokeback"?

I think it was just a slowdown on my part, I guess because the casting didn't go smoothly. I was trying to figure out what to do next, whether or not I wanted to do something that was so scripted out. Scott Rudin was saying, "Let's put a casting director on it and let's go." It was on my shoulders, and I let the project basically, like, not continue. I think they feel like it was my fault in its losing steam.

Later on the option was up at Sony, and it was up for grabs again. I remember Michael Costigan, who is now listed as an executive producer on the film, calling and feeling like we could get the money. And that was my moment to kind of go, "Yeah, let's go." They continued with [producer] James Shamus and Ang Lee, who were probably more enthusiastic.

What do you think of how "Brokeback" turned out?

I think it's pretty cool the way it turned out. It couldn't have been better, actually. The release has been really good, the response has been really good. It has been controversial. It's made a lot of money. Everything's been perfect. I always had good will toward the project and never really felt like I didn't want it to happen.

I read a quote from you in the San Francisco Examiner calling it "the one that got away."

I think I said it's the one that got away just because it became a hit. I totally, like, let it get away.

If you'd stayed on as "Brokeback's" director, how might it have turned out differently?

I was thinking in terms of using unknowns. I thought that maybe I should go to gay rodeos or something like that to find real cowboys. If you weren't going to get the really big stars, to instead go the middle-of-the-road route with Hollywood actors who weren't big box office stars, I thought that was too predictable. But I was starting to think of a more austere idea, which wouldn't have really have been possible with the work Larry had put into the script. I actually haven't really told him about this.

But for me it was, "What's my next project going to be?" In the end it ended up being "Finding Forrester," which was pretty by-the-book, too.

Do you think "Brokeback" will have a lasting effect upon society?

I think it's pretty much a breakthrough, and an interesting one. I mean, I think it has its political problems in terms of being a kind of in-the-closet movie. But then, at the same time, it's to me pretty mainstream.

What did you think about the Oscar results?

I'm not really one of those guys that cares about it in a sort of sports arena way: what wins and what loses. It's kind of, like, clumsy.

After "Finding Forrester," your next three films have been smaller-budgeted and more stylistically esoteric. Was your indecision with "Brokeback" indicative of a larger uncertainty about which way you wanted to take your career?

Um . . . [pauses for several seconds] yeah, that's definitely true.

Do you think your future holds more studio films, more challenging independent work, or both?

I don't know. It could be either.

Brian Libby is a Portland culture writer. He can be reached by writing him in care of O!, The Oregonian, 1320 S.W. Broadway, Portland, OR 97201 or by emailing him at www.brianlibby.com.

[Mars]

Thanks, Tpe.
Very interesting

[tpe]

Thanks, Tpe.
Very interesting

Hello Mars.  BBM would have been different had Van Sant made it, no?   But I am glad he liked the Ang Lee realization and thought it was an interesting breakthrough.

[frances]

Hello Mars.  BBM would have been different had Van Sant made it, no?   But I am glad he liked the Ang Lee realization and thought it was an interesting breakthrough.

Thank you, TPE
I love Van Sant, I love his cinema so personal and original.
I knew about his "flirting" with BBM and this interview is something I was really waiting for.
Yeah, we would have been another BBM by him.
But, although all my respect for Van Sant's visionary talent, I really can't imagine a better version that the one we saw!

[tpe]

Thank you, TPE
I love Van Sant, I love his cinema so personal and original.
I knew about his "flirting" with BBM and this interview is something I was really waiting for.
Yeah, we would have been another BBM by him.
But, although all my respect for Van Sant's visionary talent, I really can't imagine a better version that the one we saw!

Yes, I think he sort of felt the same way.  I'm sure people would complain about details in the Ang Lee version, but I think it will be EXTREMELY difficult to top the current one.

Gyllenhaal said no to Van Sant when he was approached about a part initially (he was probably 18 or 19 then).  I don't think Ledger was even in the horizon of those being considered for a part at that time.  The 7 to 8 years delay worked out to our (the viewers') advantage in the long run.


 

[*Froggy*]

Thank you tpe.

[tpe]

Thank you tpe.

You're welcome, Froggy!

[frances]

[Gyllenhaal said no to Van Sant when he was approached about a part initially (he was probably 18 or 19 then).  I don't think Ledger was even in the horizon of those being considered for a part at that time.  The 7 to 8 years delay worked out to our (the viewers') advantage in the long run.

Cheer on the 8 years delay, then!

More seriously.
I found particularly interesting this line in Van Sant' interview.

I think it's pretty much a breakthrough, and an interesting one. I mean, I think it has its political problems in terms of being a kind of in-the-closet movie. But then, at the same time, it's to me pretty mainstream.

The greatness, the strenght of BBM is to be at the same time an independent and a blockbuster movie.
How many people saw, for istance,  "My Own Private Idaho" by Van Sant? Not so many .And how many only because Reeves and Phoenix starred in it?

[tpe]

The greatness, the strenght of BBM is to be at the same time an independent and a blockbuster movie.
How many people saw, for istance,  "My Own Private Idaho" by Van Sant? Not so many .And how many only because Reeves and Phoenix starred in it?

Ahhh frances, we were just discussing 'My Own Private Idaho' a couple of weeks ago in the Jake Superstar thread. 

This film is River Phoenix IN EXCELSIS.  As I said in the other thread, I have had people walk out on me when I ask them to view it.  I always wonder why! 

[frances]

What an amazing actor! How intense and moving he is in the camp fire scene when he proposes to Reeves.

And what a weird, visionary, fascinating movie is "My Own Private Idaho".

We are a little bit OFF TOPIC, my dear, aren't we?

I must go and see the Jack superstar thread, then.

[tpe]

What an amazing actor! How intense and moving he is in the camp fire scene when he proposes to Reeves.

And what a weird, visionary, fascinating movie is "My Own Private Idaho".

We are a little bit OFF TOPIC, my dear, aren't we?

I must go and see the Jack superstar thread, then.

Yes, we are terribly off-topic with this! 

I appreciate your mentioning it nonetheless!!!!

Getting back to the topic, yes BBM is a breakthrough because it is both independent and mainstream.  This film and the reaction to it defines the fusion so well that it shall be a reference point for all future ones, IMO.

[Mars]

Yes,it is its real force Tpe

[ennisandjack]

Thank goodness that this film was delayed until Heath and Jake were attached. It must have been destiny  because as much as I like Van Sant I cannot imagine BBM being made by another director or any other combination of actors/director/cinematographer etc.

[matsuki33]

Thank goodness that this film was delayed until Heath and Jake were attached. It must have been destiny  because as much as I like Van Sant I cannot imagine BBM being made by another director or any other combination of actors/director/cinematographer etc.

the destiny works in misterious ways and i think that well this movie was influenced by that, the mind of the people a few years ago wouldn't had taken Brokeback in a good way!! but i think that this article is excellent

[ennisandjack]

the destiny works in misterious ways and i think that well this movie was influenced by that, the mind of the people a few years ago wouldn't had taken Brokeback in a good way!! but i think that this article is excellent

I do too. The timing was perfect. And the way everything worked perfectly together is really an interesting case of synchronicity at the very least.

[ennisandjack]

From Liz Smith Monday March 27:

''Speaking of DVD, fans are still mourning the shock of ''Brokeback Mountain'' losing the Best Picture Oscar to ''Crash.'' But on April 4, Ang Lee's tragic love story hits the video stores, and the long, intimate movie might come across even more effectively on the small home screen than it did in the multiplex. (Though Focus Films can't complaing about the profits - more than $160 million worldwide.) And remember, ''Brokeback'' fans, your film, for all the parody it engendered, offered up a great catch-phrase - ''I wish I knew how to quit you.'' (Maureen Dowd paraphrased it just the other day.) Can you remember what anybody said in ''Crash''?''

[tpe]

From Liz Smith Monday March 27:

''Speaking of DVD, fans are still mourning the shock of ''Brokeback Mountain'' losing the Best Picture Oscar to ''Crash.'' But on April 4, Ang Lee's tragic love story hits the video stores, and the long, intimate movie might come across even more effectively on the small home screen than it did in the multiplex. (Though Focus Films can't complaing about the profits - more than $160 million worldwide.) And remember, ''Brokeback'' fans, your film, for all the parody it engendered, offered up a great catch-phrase - ''I wish I knew how to quit you.'' (Maureen Dowd paraphrased it just the other day.) Can you remember what anybody said in ''Crash''?''

Very nice.  Thanks ennisandjack!

[ennisandjack]

Very nice.  Thanks ennisandjack!

You're welcome. I love any reports that acknowledge BBMs superiority to Crash 

[ennisandjack]

Brokeback Mountain is tops at gay media awards
Tue Mar 28, 2006 05:10 AM ET

http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=11667520&src=rss/Entertainment

By Chris Michaud
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oscar may have snubbed "Brokeback Mountain," but the so-called gay cowboy movie was tops with a gay watchdog group on Monday, adding the top prize to its burgeoning roster of honors at the GLAAD Media Awards.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation named the film, which lost an Oscar for best picture to "Crash," the year's best wide release motion picture at its 17th annual awards.

Director Ang Lee accepted the award, commenting: "Finally, an award that actually means something."

Noting that "Brokeback Mountain" had won a slew of awards, Lee said, "Some of these are very meaningful to me.

"OK, there was that one that got away, but that's OK," he quipped.

Lee, who received a standing ovation from the audience at a Manhattan hotel, said it would likely be "the very last award I will accept for 'Brokeback Mountain' ... And to end the journey here tonight is like coming home. The fact is 'Brokeback Mountain' has helped to change the world."

Other winners of GLAAD's annual awards, which recognize mainstream media for "fair, accurate and inclusive representations" of the gay community, included Newsweek for magazine coverage, the FX reality program "Straight/Gay 30 Days," and ESPN's SportsCenter for its news segment "Andrew Goldstein," which profiled a gay lacrosse goalie.

Presenters included Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas and comedienne and actress Sandra Bernhard. Writer-actor Bruce Vilanch, who has written the Oscar shows for several years, hosted the evening.

GLAAD was formed in New York in 1985 in response to sensationalized AIDS coverage by tabloid newspapers and local news stations.

[ennisandjack]

Anti-Gay Group Targets Wal-Mart Over 'Brokeback Mountain'
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

March 27, 2006 - 7:00 pm ET

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/03/032706mart.htm

(Washington) The American Family Association, already involved in a national boycott of Ford Motors for advertising in the LGBT media, is now turning its sights on Wal-Mart for selling "Brokeback Mountain".

While the AFA has not yet called for a boycott of the retailer it is urging its members to complain to Wal-Mart managers "over the chain's decision to promote and carry the pro-homosexual movie."

"It's quite obvious to anyone who shops at Wal-Mart that they're no longer the family-friendly company that they used to project in their image," Randy Sharp, AFA's director of special projects tells Agape Press.

"We've seen a downward spiral trend by the Wal-Mart Corporation in which they are more and more becoming like the world rather than the family-friendly company we grew up with."

The video and DVD will be released on April 4 and Wal-Mart stores already feature posters and billboards for "Brokeback Mountain."

The AFA has a long history of mounting boycotts against LGBT-friendly businesses and most cases the boycotts were preceded with a call for members to complain to company managers.

Earlier this month the AFA reinstated its boycott of Ford. (story)

The AFA said the company "reneged on an agreement to stop funding homosexual groups that promote same-sex marriage."

Joining the boycott are the Center for Reclaiming America, Liberty Counsel, CatholicVote.org, Faith2Action, and Citizens for Community Values among others.

The AFA boycotted Proctor and Gamble in 2004 after the Cincinnati-based P&G supported the repeal of an anti-gay law in that city. (story)

Last April April AFA declared victory over Proctor & Gamble after the company ended most of its advertising in the gay media. (story)  The group claimed that more than 300,000 people had signed pledges not to buy P&G products.

The effect on P&G is believed to be one of the major reasons Microsoft decided to withdraw its support of a gay rights bill in the state of Washington following a meeting with a conservative Christian leader. (story) Following outrage from the company's gay workers and LGBT rights groups in Washington the company reversed course again and announced it would support gay rights measures in the future and the legislation finally passed. (story)

Last May, the AFA took aim at Kraft Foods - stopping just short of calling for a full boycott - for sponsoring the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago. (story) Kraft has not budged in its support for the games.

Also last year, the AFA ended a nine year boycott of Disney called over Gay Days at the company's theme park in Orlando, Florida. Most people in the industry said the boycott had a negligible effect on Disney.
 

[ragtimecowboy]

There's nothing worse than a bunch of fear stricken people trying to regulate what the population of the this country sees in the privacy of their homes. Wal-Mart managers will only defer to AFA's if they themselves are prejudiced. Wal-Mart worships the almighty dollar and this movie will have pretty good sales all across country when it is released. As far as it being "pro-gay" I hardly think it is. The best thing that could happen to the the whole membership of the AFA would be to sit down and see this movie. It will never happen I know, but they need to.

[bram]

Good. I was afraid Wal-Mart wasn't going to sell it, and that's closest place to me that sells DVDs.

[sweet_man_1]

i hate walmart but am thinking about buying my copy there, just to make a statement about the religitards threats

has anyone else decided where the best place to buy the movie would be to make the biggest impact?

[tpe]

From The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/29/movies/29quaid.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1143637563-pcghydkthf+GzheD8FJS3g


--------------------------------------------------------------


Lawsuit Over 'Brokeback Mountain' Reveals Unease Over Pay for 'Arthouse' Films

By SHARON WAXMAN
Published: March 29, 2006


Kim D. Johnson/Associated Press
Randy Quaid, who played a small part in "Brokeback Mountain."


Kimberly French/Focus Features
Ang Lee, left, with Heath Ledger, center, and Jake Gyllenhaal on the set of "Brokeback Mountain."


LOS ANGELES, March 28 — Can Hollywood make quality movies for both love and money?

Not according to a lawsuit filed last week by the actor Randy Quaid over payments for "Brokeback Mountain," in which he played a small supporting role.

The dispute, one of dozens that annually erupt over pay and practices in the film industry, has been dismissed by some film veterans as a case of sour grapes over a deal that could have been better negotiated for Mr. Quaid.

But others say it points to an uncomfortable contradiction in the specialty divisions owned by the major studios, including Focus Features, Fox Searchlight, Warner Independent, Miramax and others. That is, movies are budgeted as though they were in the independent world, often squeezing every nickel out of actors, directors and production staff, who cut their fees to near nothing for the privilege of making a picture they are passionate about.

When it comes to releasing the film, however, the "arthouse" divisions can take advantage of the deep pockets of their studio parents, frequently spending tens of millions of dollars to promote a movie to glory or box office success in the award season.

"There is a trap in there somewhere, with the specialty divisions working in bigger and bigger contexts, trying to get bigger numbers," said Ira Deutchman, president of Emerging Pictures, and a longtime player in the independent world.

In his lawsuit, Mr. Quaid claims he was tricked into accepting a tiny (unspecified) fee for the part of Joe Aguirre, the rancher who hires the shepherds played by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, because the director, Ang Lee, told him the movie was being made on a shoestring budget by Focus, the arthouse division of Universal Studios. And while the production budget was very low, $14 million according to documents filed in Canada where the movie was shot, the lawsuit claims that Focus knew all along that it would throw millions — $30 million, according to the complaint — into marketing the film.

The complaint says that the defendants, in this case Focus and its recent co-presidents David Linde and James Schamus, "have enriched themselves to the tune of approximately $160 million in worldwide gross box office receipts on the back of actors who were convinced to cut their fees purportedly to ensure that the film reached the screen." Far from being a labor of love, it says, the picture was a "movie laundering" scheme that "in reality, had studio backing and would be exploited using traditional studio marketing and distribution techniques."

A Focus representative declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing a policy against discussing pending litigation.

To be sure, Mr. Quaid's role in the Oscar-winning film was tiny, and few would attribute the success of "Brokeback" to the handful of minutes he spends on screen.

But the disparity between actors' fees and the film's promotional budget points toward what may be an endemic problem for the specialty divisions: even actors whose contracts provide for profit participation in successful films may find there is no profit left in which to participate, while the studios still collect rich distribution fees.

"It's a complicated question, and it is both the genius and the nefarious nature of these mini-majors," said Linda Lichter, a lawyer who sells films in the independent world. "The purpose of those mini-majors is to try to make movies that the major studios can't afford to make, for less money. But they don't make those movies unless they get big players who are willing to cut their price." On the other hand, "Randy Quaid had a tiny part," she said, adding, "There's an aspect here of biting the hand that feeds him."

Another veteran entertainment lawyer, Susan Bodine, said it was typical for actors who took low fees for arthouse movies to be given points in the net profits of a film. But, she pointed out, "as a general matter, net profit participants on studio-released films, even low-budget films, can be nothing, even when the film does really well." She said it was too early to know if that would be the case with "Brokeback Mountain." But in the Oscar season, "the better the film does, the more they spend on it, the less likely there'll ever be any net profit." (Ms. Bodine represents Mr. Schamus, in private matters, but did not have any dealings on "Brokeback Mountain.")

That would seem to be the case with some of the films that made it to the best picture category this year at the Oscars. "Good Night, and Good Luck," from Warner Independent, cost a mere $8 million to produce, with the actors earning the lowest permissible union fee, known as scale, an executive involved in the film said. Warner Brothers spent about $25 million to promote the film for the Oscars and in its general release, so while the movie took in $51 million around the world, there will be no profit to share in, the executive said. (Distributors share box office revenue with theater owners.)

Similarly, "Crash," which cost $6.5 million to produce, and was released by Lionsgate, has taken in $90.8 million around the world. So far, the movie's main participants, who deferred their fees to get the movie made, have seen only minimal payments, said an executive involved in its release. The lack of payment to one producer has kicked up a lawsuit against Bob Yari, who put together the film's financing.

Some in Hollywood defended Focus against Mr. Quaid's claims, though they declined to speak on the record so as not to affect their own business relationships. An executive from another arthouse studio, for instance, said that these companies could not function without actors working for low fees, since the vast majority of their films were not successful commercially or otherwise. The executive said that the most prominent actors were granted bonus fees for successful films, or a cut of the adjusted gross box-office receipts.

Several pointed out that Focus could not have known that its gay-themed love story would become the success that it eventually did, and did not set out to deceive Mr. Quaid. A lawyer for Mr. Quaid, who is seeking $10 million in damages, would not comment on his deal, although the complaint notes that the actors were paid a total of $521,000 for their work on the film.

But Mr. Deutchman, the Emerging Pictures president, said the lawsuit illuminated a problem that could lead to actors and other talent becoming more reluctant to sign on to arthouse movies made at the studios. "If, in fact, the smaller movies don't pay off for talent even when they hit, the studio arthouse divisions will stop being able to make the movies," he said. "They'll fall into the same trap as the parent companies: if no one believes there's a back end, then actors will want higher and higher salaries to be in those movies."

[chameau]

Thanks for posting Tpe!

[tpe]

You're welcome, Pierre!

[tpe]

From http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=708

-----------------------------------------

'Brokeback' DVD enflames culture wars

by Matthew S. Bajko
m.bajko@ebar.com


Brokeback Mountain comes out on DVD Tuesday.


The DVD version of Brokeback Mountain has yet to hit store shelves but it is already caught up in the culture war over homosexuality. Homophobes have been posting antigay reviews of the Academy Award-winning film on movie rental Web sites, and in an ironic twist, one antigay group is attacking Wal-Mart, the store liberals love to bash, for carrying the movie.

The American Family Association, the same antigay group boycotting Ford for advertising in gay media outlets, is urging its members to call their local Wal-Mart store to complain about the national chain's stocking of the DVD, set to be released April 4. According to a report on the conservative Christian media site www.agapepress.org, Randy Sharp, director of special projects for the Mississippi-based AFA, said the movie is not "family-friendly" and does not belong on the shelves of a store that has marketed itself to middle America.

"It's quite obvious to anyone who shops at Wal-Mart that they're no longer the family-friendly company that they used to project in their image," Sharp is quoted as saying. "We've seen a downward spiral trend by the Wal-Mart Corporation in which they are more and more becoming like the world rather than the family-friendly company we grew up with."

Sharp, according to the report, is encouraging concerned Christians to "let their local Wal-Mart managers know how they feel and that they are not pleased over the chain's decision to promote and carry the pro-homosexual movie."

Wal-Mart has no plans to remove the DVD from its stores. In a statement released Tuesday, March 28, the company simply said, "Wal-Mart provides movie selections in our stores and online, recognizing that a broad segment of our customer base wants to buy the latest titles."

At Los Gatos-based Netflix, the online movie rental company, company officials have to contend with the LGBT community, which is demanding Netflix follow its own policies when it comes to movie reviews posted to its Web site. A reader of the blog The Big Gay Picture tipped off the site earlier this month about antigay postings on Netflix.com from Brokeback reviewers.

Netflix claims all reviews to its site are screened before posting and any that contain "harsh, profane or discriminatory language" or "personal attacks on the movie's creative personnel" will not be posted. However, some reviews that made it onto the site appear to violate the company's policies.

The bloggers listed three in particular. One read, "Gay Hollywood would have us believe that most of us are gay and this movie just goes along with that idea. This movie was sickening. The people raving about it hear are probably pole-smokers too. ... not that there's anything wrong with that."

The poster listed himself as TJ from Warrenville, Illinois. He began the review by stating, "These days you turn on the TV and it seems like every station has a couple gay guys lisping and flitting around. One time I actually turned the channel and found six stations in a row featuring gay guys ... hair dressers, decorators, etc."

Another stated, "Sheephearders to Rump Rangers? Are you kidding me? who likes this garbage?"

While a third said, "The Bible Clearly states that HOMOSEXUALITY is WORNG!!! [sic] That is why they are repressed. Because it is a SIN and they will all go to hell if they do not repent of their sins! God would not give this movie any awards!"

Blogger Michael Jensen wrote that he opted not to post even more offensive reviews found on the site.

"Netflix has a great selection of GLBT movies and I've no reason to believe they are homophobic, but clearly someone is not doing their job or Netflix's guidelines are as hollow as the chocolate Easter Bunny I got every year when I was a kid," wrote Jensen, who urged his readers to contact Netflix officials to complain.

Netflix spokesman Steve Swasey said he had not seen any of the reviews in question and that he was not aware of any complaints about them. He said the company does not censor the views of its 4.2 million members.

"We don't censor except for profanity and obscenities," said Swasey. "As long as it is in the confines of good taste and realistic language then we give that forum."

He said if the company does receive a complaint [anyone can e-mail a concern about a review to mailto:problemreview@netflix.com] it will take a second look at the review to ensure it meets Netflix's guidelines.

"We would have an additional review of that content. If it doesn't pass our scrutiny, it shouldn't be up there to begin with," he said. "It is hard to monitor content that is subjective. We certainly never want to have something on our site that is offensive to someone. It is possible to happen with movie reviews. That is the risk you take for providing an open forum."

A review of the Web site by the Bay Area Reporter found half a dozen movie critiques with harsh language.

One reviewer, using the name Michael Pattin wrote, "I don't promote homsexuality [sic] and refuse to see this movie regardless. Some will say its good, well they can go to hell."

Poster Patti Shepherd, whose review is littered with misspellings, wrote, "This movie was very disapointing and sick. Thats being nice. They should not advertize a movie like this as a great western there is nothing manly or western about this. Not to mention no plot, what were they thinking?? They could have saved alot of people alot of money and just made a gay sex flic and advertized it that way."

On Blockbuster's online site two questionable reviews could be found for Brokeback Mountain. One, from a Joe D. simply said, "Oh boy gay cowboys. Who the heck cares. Vomit. Thats what this movie is Vomit." While poster Daniel P. chimed in that despite the film's "great scenery" and "wonderful acting" the movie is "... an obvious attempt by the extreme left to push the gay agenda." He added that "... Gays have a psychological problem, and some day the world will understand that. I just hope it's not too late."

Blockbuster spokesman Randy Hargrove said in a phone interview that he was unaware of any complaints about negative reviews on the company's site. He also said he had not heard of any stores receiving complaints about the company carrying the film.

The company plans to stock the DVD, and contrary to any rumors, it will not be edited from what was shown in theatres. Hargrove said Blockbuster does not carry NC-17 films, and movies with such a rating have been edited so they can be rented at its stores. Brokeback has an R-rating.

"We don't edit the movies. We will be carrying the R-rated version," said Hargrove.

[ethan]

I would say to American Family Association - Get Lost. Family-friendly? Should not be marketed to middle America? Gosh - these people scare me.

The movie is rated R and I think to be family-friendly, one should really spend the efforts for better parenting - not boycotting. Sorry I just need to vent.

tpe, thanks for posting this article.

[tpe]

I would say to American Family Association - Get Lost. Family-friendly? Should not be marketed to middle America? Gosh - these people scare me.

The movie is rated R and I think to be family-friendly, one should really spend the efforts for better parenting - not boycotting. Sorry I just need to vent.

tpe, thanks for posting this article.

Ethan, I was thinking of posting the poem 'Waiting for the Barbarians', as a commentary to this article.  Perhaps it is best to be polite and desist from doing this.  But this is exactly my feeling!

[chameau]

tpe, thanks for posting this article.

Ditto!