Mar 14, 2006, 04:03 PM | by Gary Susman
Categories: Oscars 2006
Annie Proulx sure is bitter over the film version of her short story ''Brokeback Mountain'' losing the Best Picture Academy Award to Crash, or as she calls it, ''Trash.'' Even Brokeback partisans who are still smarting from Crash's victory last week will wince at her astonishingly petty rant.
SS Sat, Oct 11, 2008 at 03:26 PM EST
The Guardian is one of the UK's highly respected newspapers - not a tabloid.
gay professor Sun, Jul 27, 2008 at 07:18 PM EST
OK, I'm adding a comment over two years after the last comment, but I finally caught this movie on TV. I didn't see the movie before, since I found the trailer a bit hilarious and difficult to believe. I mean, I'm gay, I grew up on a farm, I know western people, I have worked in agriculture for years, and I just found the premise highly unlikely. And then, as I was flipping through the channels, I happened upon Brokeback. It was beautiful, I was intrigued, I loved watching Jake and Heath kiss ... and I found the ending really sad. But after a day or two went by and my hormones calmed down, I realized how much I really didn't like the characters other than as eye candy. How could cowboys be so cowardly and cruel and still project this proud masculinity? How could these homosexuals have no empathy for their women? These guys resemble no farmers or homosexuals I know; they seem truly fictional. Also, the movie is manipulative in the way it cast such handsome men for the parts.
Jebus Sat, May 20, 2006 at 12:39 AM EST
The reason BM got anywhere awards wise is becuase the judges, like most men in power are a pansy, mob motivated bunch of people pleasing fags. The movie celebrated selfish homosexuals who risked their families for pleasure.Is this what the world has come to appreciate? Metrosexuals instead of men with balls, and homosexuals who decorate and accessorize. I hope the world gets catastrophic soon and we see what matters. Anyone who enjoys and supports this mind numbing lack of talent and other such trendy lets make everyone happy and tolerate everything bull???? , should be sent to communist China and put into a forced labour camp.
Fred Sat, Apr 22, 2006 at 03:45 AM EST
The one HUGE flaw in Crash that everyone seems to overlook is that the cop character played by Matt Dillon would never have risked his life as he did trying to save the woman from the burning car. Any cop that could so blatantly sexually abuse a woman (and yes, they're out there) could never have displayed that kind of self-sacrifice. It may look good on paper, but that dog just don't hunt.
Annie Wed, Apr 5, 2006 at 10:52 PM EST
To compare broke back mountain to Citizen Kain is like comparing a diamond to a diamond with poop on it. This movie did not win because it sucks, the idea of it sucks and the only people who liked it were sickies. Broke back mountain is a "film" that will always be remembered as "that gay cowboy movie", where as Citizen Kain will be remembered as "a work of art". Nuff said.
Jeff Thu, Mar 23, 2006 at 07:12 AM EST
okay, i'm not really going to comment on annie proulx's article because honestly i'm torn...yes, it is scathing and a tad harsh, but it didn't nearly outrage me as much as the comment by Jordan Gray...Credit only for the IDEA? are you crazy? or have you just not read the story? because the film is one of the more faithfully adapted stories i've seen in a very long time...it is as beautiful and poetic as anything i've read by any other author, as is her other work...she expresses in a sentence what other authors do in an entire paragraph with more elegance than i could have imagined before discovering her...length of the story has nothing to do with it: the words and expression and poetry of it...ang lee was the perfect director for this and conveyed her every word with visual mastery...i'm in awe that you could even suggest such a thing.
Mags Wed, Mar 15, 2006 at 10:47 PM EST
i have to say to mis annie here that it doesn't matter which film was technically "better" (if thats even possible, how do you judge art, it's subjective?)it was the vote of the academy. just because you didn't win a little gold man, you run to a british tabloid and cry like a toddler who didn't get their way. its so very childish, immature and unprofessional.
John Wed, Mar 15, 2006 at 05:30 PM EST
The bottom line is that 50, 60 years from now, people will still watch BBM like we still watch "Citizen Kane", "The Grapes of Wrath", "Sunset Boulevard", "A Place in the Sun" and "Double Indemnity", none of which won the Best Picture Oscar...
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But I don't think they will. The fact is, people at the time didn't refer to "Citizen Kane" as, "that sled movie," or to "The Grapes of Wrath" as, "that dust-bowl mouse-killing movie." But throughout vitrually all popular culture, "Brokeback Mountain" has been derrided as, "That gay cowboy movie," either because the speakers are uncomfortable with the subject matter and/or because they have an anti-gay political agenda. My argument isn't that Brokeback should have won best picture, but rather that by not winning, Brokeback has failed to escape its fate as a "gay" movie. It now can, and will, be relegated back to the (pardon the expression) closet of other art-house, gay genre films. Now that Brokeback has lost, Middle America can breathe a sigh of relief that it doesn't have to acknowledge the power of this simple love story, and can once again go comfortably back to ignoring and trivializing the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgenered communities.
Miles Wed, Mar 15, 2006 at 05:28 PM EST
Yes, annie should be upset, the best movie of the year A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE was not even nominated. As far as brokeback was concerned, I fell asleep, my butt fell asleep, my legs fell asleep, who knew homosexuality was such a bore.
beachpup Wed, Mar 15, 2006 at 05:26 PM EST
Oscars aside, it will matter what movie will be remembered. Crash had already been forgotten by the time the nominations were announced. Brokeback made much more of an impression and will have lasting effects, either through future cinema or people's views on gays and homosexual relationships. Crash was overdone, one episode of bigotry after another, and it just wasn't a believable coherent story. Brokeback was subtle in its narrative, beautifully told. I guess it depends who you are; I really felt for the story of Ennis' isolation from others and society because I went through the same thing. Brokeback will be remembered, Crash will not.
Cheryl Wed, Mar 15, 2006 at 04:16 PM EST
Good Lord. I mean, Titanic won Best Picture, and it stank. I wouldn't worry about a loss. But then, I thought Capote and Good Night, and Good Luck were better movies than Brokeback or Crash.
Jordan Gray Wed, Mar 15, 2006 at 03:42 PM EST
I have to say that I'm tired of the argument that a performance is less-worthy because the actor is portraying a real person and has more research material to base their performance off of, thus making it less difficult to perform. Since when does most difficult = best? I can think of some pretty dang difficult-to-achieve aspects of some pretty terrible Michael Bay films. That doesn't mean they should be nominated.
Matt Wed, Mar 15, 2006 at 03:12 PM EST
Wow! I never thought Annie Proulx would be such a cry-baby, but I was completely wrong! The fact that she did not win Best Picture at the Oscars? Come on!
First off, her story was like 30 pages and they made a 2 1/2 hour movie out of it. She deserves credit for the idea, but that's it.
Secondly, she says, "From the first there was an atmosphere of insufferable self-importance emanating from 'the show'". Well, that didn't stop her from playing dress up and jumping into a limo and walking down the red carpet and wanting that little golden boy.
And finally, THE MOVIE WASN'T EVEN THAT GOOD! As a gay man, I have to say that Crash was a better movie. I'm not saying Brokeback wasn't an important movie and groundbreaking in it's own way. It was. But months after I saw Crash, I remembered scenes and dialogue from it. Months after seeing Brokeback, the only thing I remember was that Heath Ledger spit in his hand as a form of lube! And the fact that Ms. Bitter (I mean, Proulx) equates her movie's Oscar wins with those of King Kong as if that's a bad thing...King Kong was even better than Brokeback. And Philip Seymour Hoffman's win not being valid because he portrayed someone who was actually alive? Please! Heath Ledger mumbled his way throughout the movie. If that is the criteria of winning an award, then he should have won the Oscar. And obviously the criteria for winning a Pulitzer Prize is being a cry-baby and being bitter. So I guess Ms. Proulx will be winning another Pulitzer next year! Just go back to your ranch and keep writing your short stories that more talented writers will adapt to overlong, overdrawn, critically acclaimed films and you can just collect your check.
Anne Wed, Mar 15, 2006 at 01:18 PM EST
You didn't win everything. Big deal, get over it and try harder next year.
john hoff Wed, Mar 15, 2006 at 12:39 PM EST
to krelnich
yes....but they were very handsome sheep.....
Krelnick Wed, Mar 15, 2006 at 12:31 PM EST
Could it be that BBM didn't win Best Picture because it was BORING? Endless shots of scenery, sunsets and sheep with only intermittent scenes where something actually HAPPENED. Without all the overblown imagery, this movie could have been boiled down to an hour. Crash was a superior film in every way - one that triggered endless discussion and introspection. I suggest that Ms. Proulx - a woozle if ever there was one - get over herself and move on.
Giorgio Wed, Mar 15, 2006 at 12:22 PM EST
The bottom line is that 50, 60 years from now, people will still watch BBM like we still watch "Citizen Kane", "The Grapes of Wrath", "Sunset Boulevard", "A Place in the Sun" and "Double Indemnity", none of which won the Best Picture Oscar...
Kelly Wed, Mar 15, 2006 at 12:03 PM EST
One word for this rant: Wow. At the end of the day... does any of this stuff even matter?
Jenet Wed, Mar 15, 2006 at 11:10 AM EST
I'm sorry, but immature ranting is not the way to go on something like this. If the Oscars are so backwards and out-of-touch with America, then why does she even care that they snubbed her movie?
She should be thankful that the movie managed to overcome so many taboos and defy social norms, yet still garner critical acclaim and box office success. Yes, the Academy Awards are important, but nobody is going to look at the fact that Brokeback lost "Best Picture" and start saying that it's an inferior, worthless movie. People still love the movie. Critics still say it's good. So what's the big problem here?
She has every right to be upset. She has every right to say that the movie was robbed of the "Best Picture" Oscar. But bashing Crash (and even other winners who had nothing to do with Brokeback's loss) just makes her come off as bitter and immature. Nobody's going to take away Crash's Oscar and hand it over to Brokeback. It's done. Over. Just cut your losses and move on.
mella Wed, Mar 15, 2006 at 10:52 AM EST
All this over what an Oscar? I mean really is it so important? People need to let this go.
Nicole Wed, Mar 15, 2006 at 10:46 AM EST
"Brokeback? C'mon, who's shocked today by two cowboys kissing? So, what? Where's the story? Where are the distinctive characters? The plot?
Annie Proulx get over yourself, just because you write doesn't mean you're a writer. Who will remember you after 100 years with the trash you publish as high art?"
Jarrod, where to begin? First of all, where are the distinctive characters? Are you kidding? I was just talking with a friend the other day about the fact that, although we have both seen Crash, neither of us could remember one single character's name (other than Shaniqua, but only b/c that was a plot point). Instead, we remembered: black TV producer; racist Asian driver; racist white cop, Latino locksmith, etc... Strange that the characters in Crash are reduced in memory to race, rather than as people that we came to care about while watching the film. Ennis and Jack on the other hand have practically become real to audience that has seen BBM. Not only that, but so have the even the smallest supporting characters (Alma, Monroe, Lureen, Randall, LaShawn, Bobby Twist, etc...).
And Annie Proulx not a real writer? She is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author who's work has been featured in some of the most prestigious publications in existence. I think it is safe to say that her work will have a place in history.
Her comments on the Oscars were spot-on. Not to mention extremely well-written. People have been complaining (justifiably, in my opinion) about the outcome of the ceremony for a week and a half now. Why should someone directly involved in BBM not be allowed to speak their mind? We have become so used to a white-washed, PC version of Hollywood created by PR agents that it seems shocking when someone actually expresses an opinion that isn't all sunshine and rainbows. I for one think it's refreshing to hear some honesty for once.
jarrod Wed, Mar 15, 2006 at 09:52 AM EST
Crash was the only watchable movie of the five nominated
Munich was cool in a way too. But Brokeback? C'mon, who's shocked today by two cowboys kissing? So, what? Where's the story? Where are the distinctive characters? The plot?
Annie Proulx get over yourself, just because you write doesn't mean you're a writer. Who will remember you after 100 years with the trash you publish as high art?
Jean Wed, Mar 15, 2006 at 09:48 AM EST
One more thing - both Crash and BB were filled with cliches and stereotypes.
Jean Wed, Mar 15, 2006 at 09:45 AM EST
Proulx is a great writer and I'm sure the short story on which this movie is based is excellent. But the movie, not so great. It went on way too long and it wasn't able to sustain the dramatic intensity once everyone had to start putting on their "older" makeup and costumes. Then it just got stupid.
Oren Wed, Mar 15, 2006 at 09:40 AM EST
I guess it's too much to expect an adult, award-winning writer to be mature and allow for the possibility that the academy members thought "Crash" actually was better than "Brokeback". As a gay midwestern farmer, I did.
Both films were good, neither deserved to win Best Picture, but I don't understand why so many people seem to find it impossible that both films were good. They were. Get over it, and get over yourself, Ms. Proulx.
wiccawoman Wed, Mar 15, 2006 at 09:40 AM EST
I saw each of the 5 films nominated for best picture. Saw BBM twice in the theatre; have Crash at home on DVD and have seen that at least 3 times. I read Annie Proulx's short story. Her piece in the Guardian reaffirms that she is a Damn Good Writer and as an Artist she has every right to defend her work. The transfer from page to screen of her short story was brilliant. Every actor in BBM brought layers to the characters they played that is rare in today's films. From the opening long shot of Jack Twist driving that lonesome dark road from his parents' home toward a job that changed his life, to that long shot near the end when Ennis drives along that same dark road--only this time going the other way back to Jack's family home--hoping to gain a last memory from a life he lost to a 1960's society that couldn't tolerate differences. 40 years later, much of it still remains with us. BBM is a film that will long be remembered after Crash. All the films nominated were Good Films. Too bad we don't have more of them coming out of Tinseltown.
Three 6 Mafia the "highlight of the evening"? I'm an African American woman and was wondering if the academy members who voted for that awful pimp song were on drugs. Enough with my sistahs shaking their bare booties while the brothas prance around covered in clothes head to toe.
pillow Wed, Mar 15, 2006 at 08:45 AM EST
Ms. Proulx, note to self. Brokeback was not all that groundbreaking. We already knew homosexual men can fall in love. You put it in an unexpected setting. So what? That trick's been done by other authors thousands of times before. There were flaws in the adaptation of your story as well - sorry. That said, it was a better movie than Crash. But Ms. Proulx, you're hardly the first to be snubbed. Good Night and Good Luck was a better movie than Brokeback and didn't even get an award, so really by comparison, you're movie did quite well. Also, note the Academy is not conservative, but rather risk averse. There is a difference. If you remember that, you might not take these things so personally. Try doing something mature and healthy like appreciating the accolades you recived and move on to your next project.
Kate Wed, Mar 15, 2006 at 04:48 AM EST
She can say what she wants about Crash, but she shouldn't diss the Three 6 Mafia -- they were one of the definite highlights of the evening!
sickofLA Tue, Mar 14, 2006 at 10:52 PM EST
Crash was a stupid movie. It relied entirely on coincidence and stereotype. Brokeback was vastly superior in every way,not even in the same category. Of course, the Crash win (cringe) proves what America never gets anyway - Hollywood is deeply CONSERVATIVE and always has been. Not to mention blue collar and unsophisticated.
Annie, you are a great writer.
Laura Tue, Mar 14, 2006 at 10:39 PM EST
Funny, I don't see Martin Scorsese writing hateful, petty rants about the SIX Best Director Nominations he has lost...
Jaime Tue, Mar 14, 2006 at 09:58 PM EST
Ugh, I've seen this circulated around the internet for a while now. The only thing more upsetting than the fact that what she's saying is petty and snobby is the fact that for the most part, I agree with her. BM was a far superior movie to Crash. But I'm more or less sick of the entire debate.
This is why art shouldn't be pitted against each other in awards; one viewer's "trash" is another viewers treasure. It's impossible to compare.
Jill Tue, Mar 14, 2006 at 09:54 PM EST
While it does seem that her opinion is based on the fact that her movie didn't win, she has some good points. There is a large part of the academy that is quite old, and loyal to the westerns that were made decades ago. I personally know that many members didn't even view BBM.
I think that Crash had amazing acting performances, but the script was so condesending and it beat you over the head with its agenda. Because of this it was VERY predictable. Brokeback, however, was a delicate study of human nature. I think that the details make all the difference, and Brokeback had soooo many nuances that added up to brillance.
John Tue, Mar 14, 2006 at 09:03 PM EST
While Ms. Proulx's comments do seem a tad simplistic (Hollywood is bad) and even mean-spirited, she does bring up an interesting point that I have maintained all along; which is easier, mimicking a real (albeit dead) celebrity or creating a fully realized human being from scratch? Phillip Seymour Hoffman has been one of my favorite actors for years, and I for one think his performance transcends mere mimickry. But I also think that Heath Ledger's performance was more heart-wrenching, and technically more difficult. Hoffman's performance was, in a word, glitzier, plus he is known as an "actor's actor," and Hollywood loves to shower these lesser-known but undeniably talented actors with "gimme" awards--even in years when there are better performances.
As for Crash, it seems to me an obvious choice for Los Angelenos to choose a picture with a theme of racism over a theme of unrequited love--homosexual or not--for much the same reason; it's flashier, and despite what you may hear in the news--affects more people even in Hollywood than does homosexuality.
What bothers me about the loss is this; Brokeback Mountain needed to win Best Picture in order to transcend it's "art house" or "genre" status. Now it can too easily be discredited as "that gay cowboy movie" than if it had won. Best Picture would have given Brokeback Mountain legitimacy in the eyes of the public at large.
daisyj Tue, Mar 14, 2006 at 06:23 PM EST
True, it's nice to read something that isn't a puff-piece, but harder to take when it's so clear that all of her dislike for the Oscars stems from the fact that her movie didn't win (the Independent Spirit Awards, on the other hand, are "funny" and "lively", and they just happened to shower it with praise). Petty is the right word for this article, and no one comes off looking worse from it than Ms. Proulx. I'm not saying that 'Crash' deserved its win but, 'heffalump voters'? Really?
Tricia W. Tue, Mar 14, 2006 at 05:55 PM EST
Boy, I'm so glad Ms. Proulx is so much smarter than everyone else that she can stand in judge of the artistic and entertainment merits of the nominated films and actors.
Hey there LADY. It's YOUR opinion that Brokeback was better than Crash. And, excuse me, you are a littled biased don't ya think?!!!!
And, isn't it funny that when people like Ms. Proulx want to rant about something happening in culture or in the news in America, they run to a British tabloid?!!!!
MJ Tue, Mar 14, 2006 at 05:50 PM EST
I agree with Cecil. Proulx's piece was an insider's look at the Oscars with a jaundiced eye. A well-written one at that.
Are you all aware that the Kodak Theater is in a shopping mall? The Academy Awards are presented directly above a Virgin Megastore.
justin Tue, Mar 14, 2006 at 04:56 PM EST
well said jim, Brokeback has won more in people's hearts than any number of Oscars...
cecil Tue, Mar 14, 2006 at 04:49 PM EST
I thought her article was quite funny. This is my kind of pop journalism, it's so much more interesting to read a scathing satire from an insider than it is to read fawning sycophants gush over stars and their dresses.
professor74 Tue, Mar 14, 2006 at 04:47 PM EST
The thing that really bothered me was how she trashed Three 6 Mafia and Hustle & Flow. I mean, talk about being intolerant (maybe she should have watch 'Crash' a little more closely - j/k). Don't get me wrong, "Pimp" is not exactly Shakespeare, but it was terrible either.
Ep Sato Tue, Mar 14, 2006 at 04:28 PM EST
Somewhat sour gripes, er grapes from an author who's use of 5 dollar words would imply a slightly greater sense of dignity. Or maybe expecting maturity from a grown up author is asking too much somehow.
Plenty of unmasked snobbery, looking down on others and petty ranting about a movie that garnered more accolades. Sorry no one can live up to your oh so high standards Ms. Proulx, maybe we're not smart enough to rent your movies.
jim Tue, Mar 14, 2006 at 04:25 PM EST
I feel your pain, Annie. They were wrong and you have a big rooting interest. But, the long-term benefits and accomplishments of this story and movie will last longer than ONE award Brokeback Mountain didn't win.
pitchmeister Tue, Mar 14, 2006 at 04:14 PM EST
wow - we are just a bit bitter aren't we. I am glad that Crash won - it was a better movie anyway - and this coming from a Gay Northeasterner.
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