Monday, January 09, 2006
Utah theater cancels "Brokeback Mountain"
I might respect this decision more if Larry Miller ALSO did not show the following films (among others):
1) Lethal Weapon 1, 2, 3 and 4
2) Any Arnold Schwarzenneger movie (except for his dumb comedies like "Twins" or "Kindergarten Cop")
3) American Pie 1, 2 or 3
4) Gladiator
5) Blade 1, 2 or 3
and the list goes on...
I'm not in a position to comment on whether he did or did not, in fact, show these movies too (and others like them), but I'm willing to bet a fair amount that he did show at least some, if not all, of them. The question now is: why is showing a movie full of either gratuitous violence or sex (the pre-marital, heterosexual kind) ok, but showing a love story between two gay people is not?
I hope Larry Miller is consistent with his principles and decides to only show movies by Pixar, or perhaps the next Wallace and Gromit adventure. He would have my full respect then. Otherwise, I say he and his company are hypocrites of the worst kind.
* * * * *
Taken from the Associated Press
Utah Theater Cancels 'Brokeback Mountain'
Jan 08 2:20 AM US/Eastern
SALT LAKE CITY
A movie theater owned by Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller abruptly changed its screening plans and decided not to show the film "Brokeback Mountain." The film, an R-rated Western gay romance story, was supposed to open Friday at the Megaplex at Jordan Commons in Sandy, a suburb of Salt Lake City. Instead it was pulled from the schedule.
A message posted at the ticket window read: "There has been a change in booking and we will not be showing 'Brokeback Mountain.' We apologize for any inconvenience."
Cal Gunderson, manager of the Jordan Commons Megaplex, declined to comment.
The film, starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, is about two cowboys who discover feelings for one another. The two eventually marry women but rekindle their relationship over the years.
The movie's distributor, Focus Features, said that hours before opening, the theater management "reneged on their licensing agreement," and refused to open the film.
Gayle Ruzicka, president of the conservative Utah Eagle Forum, said not showing the film set an example for the people of Utah.
"I just think (pulling the show) tells the young people especially that maybe there is something wrong with this show," she said.
Mike Thompson, executive director of the gay rights advocacy group Equality Utah, called it disappointing.
"It's just a shame that such a beautiful and award-winning film with so much buzz about it is not being made available to a broad Utah audience because of personal bias," he said.
1) Lethal Weapon 1, 2, 3 and 4
2) Any Arnold Schwarzenneger movie (except for his dumb comedies like "Twins" or "Kindergarten Cop")
3) American Pie 1, 2 or 3
4) Gladiator
5) Blade 1, 2 or 3
and the list goes on...
I'm not in a position to comment on whether he did or did not, in fact, show these movies too (and others like them), but I'm willing to bet a fair amount that he did show at least some, if not all, of them. The question now is: why is showing a movie full of either gratuitous violence or sex (the pre-marital, heterosexual kind) ok, but showing a love story between two gay people is not?
I hope Larry Miller is consistent with his principles and decides to only show movies by Pixar, or perhaps the next Wallace and Gromit adventure. He would have my full respect then. Otherwise, I say he and his company are hypocrites of the worst kind.
* * * * *
Taken from the Associated Press
Utah Theater Cancels 'Brokeback Mountain'
Jan 08 2:20 AM US/Eastern
SALT LAKE CITY
A movie theater owned by Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller abruptly changed its screening plans and decided not to show the film "Brokeback Mountain." The film, an R-rated Western gay romance story, was supposed to open Friday at the Megaplex at Jordan Commons in Sandy, a suburb of Salt Lake City. Instead it was pulled from the schedule.
A message posted at the ticket window read: "There has been a change in booking and we will not be showing 'Brokeback Mountain.' We apologize for any inconvenience."
Cal Gunderson, manager of the Jordan Commons Megaplex, declined to comment.
The film, starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, is about two cowboys who discover feelings for one another. The two eventually marry women but rekindle their relationship over the years.
The movie's distributor, Focus Features, said that hours before opening, the theater management "reneged on their licensing agreement," and refused to open the film.
Gayle Ruzicka, president of the conservative Utah Eagle Forum, said not showing the film set an example for the people of Utah.
"I just think (pulling the show) tells the young people especially that maybe there is something wrong with this show," she said.
Mike Thompson, executive director of the gay rights advocacy group Equality Utah, called it disappointing.
"It's just a shame that such a beautiful and award-winning film with so much buzz about it is not being made available to a broad Utah audience because of personal bias," he said.
