After yesterday’s less-than-impressive (but-nonetheless-a-return-to-blogging) update, I wanted to follow up with some further news and information. So here goes, roundup part II…

First and foremost the awards and honors list has been updated with what I believe is the most complete list of awards received. I counted an amazing 52 awards received so far. In related news, the the 78th Academy Award (Oscars) nominations will be announced on Tuesday, January 31, 2006, at 5:30 a.m. PST, 8:30 a.m. EST. I will, of course, post the list of nominations for our boys in cowboy hats as soon as they’re made available. (Hehe… intentional modifier misplacement…)

Next is, of course, the news that the movie is in general wide release throughout the United States. Check the release dates page for the complete list of cities the movie is showing in currently, as well as the future opening dates for international locations. Now, the numbers are modest, but remain very good per theater. As of this past Sunday, the movie was ranked in 9th place nationally, with a weekend gross of $7,041,508. That was the 6th week it was showing, and was in 683 theaters. Total gross so far is $32,074,517. (Source) Don’t forget that most “big name” movies show in no less than 1,500 theaters. Narnia, for example, is showing in 3,224.

On this vein, I want to mention a newspiece from January 8th: Utah Theater Cancels ‘Brokeback Mountain’. Shows that there is still a lot of resistance in more conservative areas. But on the flip side, you have an older article in Variety, from December 19th, ‘Brokeback’ tries red-state breakout, which talks about how Brokeback is opening in the right-leaning states and hoping to score in whatever fashion it can. I would also mention another article from 12/19, titled ‘Brokeback ‘ faces marketing challenge which addresses the movie’s marketing and how it is struggling with the “Gay Cowboys” moniker.

On the flip side, I’ve got two great pieces about how great the opening of the movie went. The first is ‘Brokeback Mountain’ debuts without protest from Baylor U. community, which is just a humble little story about how conservative protestors didn’t show up, which is always nice. And then a heart-warming feel-good little thing from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette called Local opening of acclaimed ‘Brokeback Mountain’ draws crowds. The latter is actually a nice read about opening night with some personal touches.

No scramblin’ roundup would be complete, of course, without mentioning the Shalit mess. Some of you, I’m sure, have heard of Gene Shalit, the arts reviewer for The Today Show. The long-and-short of it is that Shalit didn’t much like our movie. But the rub was that he described Jake Gyllenhal’s character Jack as a “sexual predator” who “tracks Ennis down and coaxes him into sporadic trysts.” (Source) GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) got their panties in a wad over the fool’s statement’s, and made a ruckus. In response, Shalit admitted fault, and apologized. His gay son got in on the game, too. So what’s the moral of the story? Don’t listen to the professionals for your movie-going advise, I guess.

Next-to-last, I want to end this roundup with two little tidbit stories. First, a delicious little bit of gossip: Gyllenhaal Suffered with Unfriendly Lee. Yes, that Asian wannabe-queer must be a total queen to hurt Jarhead’s feelings. And then this odd one, Is There a ‘Brokeback Mountain’ Syndrome? which questions just how pervasive the “I’m a straight-person who once loved another person of the same sex and then put it all behind me to marry someone of the opposite sex but now feel like I need to love people of the same sex” phenomenon is. Interesting.

And finally, my first fan mail! I was so totally pleased to get this I just want to puke warm fuzzies:

Hi!

I am an English teacher at LaGuardia High School in New York City (the school featured in the movie FAME). My students read the Annie Proulx story and saw the Ang Lee movie. Your blog has been invaluable for them to find reviews when writing some of the most fascinating essays I have ever received.

Thank you!
Garret

Shout-out to the LaGuardia kids! Keep up the good writing. And Garret: much love for the support. Can’t tell you how much it inspires us toiling, starving blog writers to keep at it.

Today’s roundup brought to you by Garret, the letter B, and well-worn chaps. Until next time buckaroos!