So, I've been reading up on Brokeback Mountain more recently since it is about to debut in theaters. The story focuses on two cowboys in Wyoming back in 1963 and the relationship and loving bond they had with each other. Its basically two gay guys in '63 that didn't know what to call it or how to handle it. Oh, and there's supposed to be a hot sex scene, but we'll see how far Hollywood really goes at showing sexual passion and intimacy between two men in a national feature film.
In any case, I ran across an article about Jake Gyllenhaal that ran in Details magazine and is also posted online. It goes over Jarhead and Brokeback Mountain, as well as Gyllenhaal's personal life. In any case, one thing that struck me odd was the conversation about Brokeback Mountain. In fact, it even struck the author as odd. Quoting from the interview:
Gyllenhaal stresses to me the universality of Brokeback's story ("My character could have been played by a woman and it would have made just as much sense," he says), but I'm astonished when he says that he doesn't believe Ennis and Jack are gay. "I approached the story believing that these are actually straight guys who fall in love," he says.
Even the film's producer was surprised:
One of the film's producers, James Schamus, is as surprised as I am when I tell him that Jake perceives his character as straight: "Did he really say that? Well, I suppose movies can be Rorschach tests for all of us, but damn if these characters aren't gay to me.
Honestly, I don't understand why Gyllenhaal skirts the gay issue in this movie; it is so glaringly obvious. While I do agree that the movie is also about the bond of love and the importance of it in our lives, I really don't see how you can confuse two men having sex and continuing a sexually charged and emotional relationship as straight. At the very least, the two are bisexual... but c'mon now.
In a previous interview I read regarding the movie, Gyllenhaal was quick to point out that he is definitely straight and that the sex scenes kind of grossed him out. Oh, and that the film teaches tolerance. Are you kidding me? Poor word choices, Jake. Not to mention his appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show barely mentioned the upcoming release of Brokeback Mountain at all. And this is one movie that everyone, gays, straights, and industry folks are all buzzing about.
I'm still going to see the movie, but I am pretty disappointed in Jake Gyllenhaal and his obvious insecurity regarding the real subject matter of the movie.

