Do Gay films get Oscar-bashed?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/26/09 at 2:59pm

"We all know about the well-documented “Oscar bump” a movie receives when nominations raise its profile and thousands of moviegoers check it out to see what the fuss is about. This year we see a nastier and more disturbing phenomenon occurring. Give a movie with a gay theme some Oscar attention, and there’s a backlash from certain quarters that can only be called gaybashing.

That sudden slump in Milk’s already battered position on the IMDb charts is exactly what happened to Brokeback Mountain three years ago. As soon as enough people start to see an important gay film as a threat, the same types who believe gay marriage is a menace to society climb out of their holes and start shredding it."
Man, look at that Graph

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/26/09 at 3:15pm

"But most shameful and disgusting of all is the brutal bashing Milk is taking for daring to bring a gay hero to the Oscars."

And cue to Tom Hanks (gay character Oscar winner) for comment.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 1/26/09 at 3:39pm

Its okay to have gay heroes get Oscar recognition, as long as the heroes in question are killed off or punished in some way.

Hurt in SPIDER WOMAN -- shot? beaten to death? can't remember, but it wasn't pretty.
Hanks in PHILADELPHIA -- death from AIDS
Ledger in BROKEBACK (nominee, of course) -- emotional cripple
Hoffman as CAPOTE -- hopeless drunk, unable to finish another book, pathetic parody of himself on HOLLYWOOD SQUARES
Penn as MILK -- assassination by clueless "straight" guy.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 1/26/09 at 3:48pm

add to that list Boys Don't cry with Hillary Swank getting killed. Hollywood loves the "Gays as victims" gay heros.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 1/26/09 at 3:53pm

To be fair, the gay roles that don't fit this pattern usually aren't the type to get Oscar nominations.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 1/26/09 at 3:57pm

In General, Gay characters fall into three categories in Hollywood films: Victims, Comic relief or Psychopathic killers.

[Calvin]

Posted: 1/26/09 at 4:06pm

Who the bloody hell cares what the slightly less attractive versions of Harry Knowles who post and rate films on imbd think?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 1/26/09 at 4:10pm

Well, comic relief and psychopathic killers hardly ever get nominations, so I was right!

[SNAFU]

Posted: 1/26/09 at 4:20pm

Well, I was going to use Greg Kinnear in AS GOOD AS IT GETS as a comic relief, but then I realized he is a victim a third of the way through.

edited to add: but then again that wasn't a "Gay" movie

Updated On: 1/26/09 at 04:20 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/26/09 at 4:47pm

"Give a movie with a gay theme some Oscar attention, and there’s a backlash from certain quarters that can only be called gaybashing."

For once and for all, a bashing is an act of physical violence. Saying mean things or not buying a ticket to a movie is not bashing.

[DMsquared2]

Posted: 1/26/09 at 5:36pm

Well Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild is not exactly Oscar material...

[SNAFU]

Posted: 1/26/09 at 7:45pm

"And the Oscar for best Solo scene goes to..... envelope, please....."

[Q]

Posted: 1/26/09 at 7:52pm

"For once and for all, a bashing is an act of physical violence. Saying mean things or not buying a ticket to a movie is not bashing."

Thank you, Namo.

[sally1112]

Posted: 1/26/09 at 7:54pm

"Well Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild is not exactly Oscar material..."

Says you!!

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 1/26/09 at 7:59pm

what about if they destroy the print? is that bashing?

[Q]

Posted: 1/26/09 at 8:04pm

"what about if they destroy the print? is that bashing?"

In the case of ANOTHER GAY SEQUEL, it's a blessing.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 1/26/09 at 8:07pm

That's too bad. I thought the first one was cute.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 1/26/09 at 8:09pm

y'know, q, i think it's sick that you would make a joke like that in a thread about films that are being brutally abused simply because they happen to deal with glbt themes. would you be so glib if they were using these gestapo tactics against polish films or montenegran films or - god forbid - moldavian films?

i.

think.

not.