Brokeback Mountain Selling In The Heartland...

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20060109/en_usatoday/brokebackdefiesgaycowboylabel;_ylt=Aue.rfkvAkLvYZsBFFFEXpys0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3YXYwNDRrBHNlYwM3NjI-
Brokeback Mountain Selling In The Heartland...

USA Today | Scott Bowles | January 9, 2006 at 09:17 AM

Don't look now, but Brokeback Mountain is selling in the heartland.
The gay cowboy romance, which has been cleaning up in early awards races, was considered a difficult box-office sell nationwide because of its subject matter.

But Brokeback Mountain is averaging $10,000-plus per screen in such markets as San Antonio, Nashville and Columbus, Ohio, according to Nielsen EDI......


"It's been humbling to see how the movie is getting received across the country," says Jack Foley, head of distribution for Focus Features. "We knew we were getting good reviews and doing well at the awards. But that's never a guarantee you can sell your movie across the country - particularly the most conservative parts of it.".........



The movie has earned positive reviews from nearly 90% of reviewers, according to rottentomatoes.com. And Brokeback has won more than a dozen pre-Oscar awards.

[Skittles]

1. take that, you homophobe freeper morons!!!

DON'T tell us what we will and will not see because YOU DON'T KNOW JACK.

[lolly]

6. Translation

was considered a difficult box-office sell nationwide because of its subject matter.

Translation: "Although wingnut astroturf campaigns relentlessly repeated the mantra that 'The film will be a flop because no one wants to see two men *********!,' Americans, who finally seem to be coming to their senses and ignoring the rabidly shrieking right wingers, went to the film anyway"

[ruggerson]

2. Someone who's lurking at Freak Republic

needs to post this there. Like right now.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

11. Done

}(

Anyone that wants the link can PM me.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

12. Nevermind

It lasted all of 10 seconds over there. I even pretended to be a homophobe and stuff. I can't believe it was pulled that fast at this time of the night.

[Harper_is_Bush]

43. Hope you haven't "outed" yourself! n/t

[rodeodance]

17. thanks for posting to the freepy board.

[mom cat]

3. It is a great film and I am delighted that it is getting such a good

reception.

[rodeodance]

19. The 'people' are way head of politicans who instill fear.

[mom cat]

34. I hope you are right. On good days, I almost believe that.

[peacebird]

4. it's finally in Charlottesville!

we're going to see it tomorrow!

[LostinVA]

16. Where??? Where's it playing ???

I checked on cvillemovies.com and I still didn't see it!!!

[peacebird]

40. Jefferson Theater and the Regal Downtown Mall - link here to times

http://movies.mgnetwork.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.byMovie&SiteID=CDP

:toast:

[gauguin57]

5. If you're going to see it, take a whole damned BOX of Kleenex.

I almost had to leave the theater, I was sobbing so hard. It is a beautiful, well-made, well-acted film.

And, miracle of miracles, the audience during the showing I saw was so quiet you could hear a pin drop! The audience spanned ages from teenage to elderly couples.

And Brokeback Mountain just won best film of the year (and best director for Ang Lee) at the Critics' Choice Awards, broadcast earlier tonight.

[darkism]

10. I saw it in one of the first showings a few weeks ago...

...and never have I felt such eerie quiet inside a cinema before. This film grips the entire audience from the very first scene.

[WillParkinson]

13. That's the reason...

I won't be seeing it.

Don't care for sad films. Too much of that in real life.

[Demoiselle]

41. I was totally moved, loved the movie...but...

didn't start to cry until the closing credits when you-know-who started to sing. (I won't give it away for those who haven't seen it yet.)
It was as if the movie was so real to me that I couldn't lose it until it was done...then, of course, buckets of tears. And the closing song and the singer were perfect. As was the movie. It may be the best movie I've ever seen. My husband said it was the best movie he's ever seen. Beautiful, tragic, wonderful story of love.

[Hekate]

7. I can hardly wait to see it

I'll have to wait until next week though, but it sounds better and better.

Hekate

[conflictgirl]

8. I'm not surprised at all

This weekend, I drove 80 miles to see it in a Detroit suburb. I called in advance to see if I needed to reserve a ticket and they said absolutely, because all the shows were sold out. And sure enough, when I got there all the shows for that night had sold out, and several people in line ahead of me were turned away. I've never seen anything like it. The movie itself was amazing, too, and it was definitely worth the drive.

[SKKY]

9. That doesn't surprise me at all...

...most of those towns (I can speak for San Antonio and Nashville) have a pretty significant "Liberal" under current that supports things like this.

[lanlady]

14. It's a beautiful, mesmerizing film

In No. Virginia it seems to be playing in only 2 theaters, both in Fairfax. I couldn't get anyone to go with me, they thought it would be gay porn. Their loss, they missed a great film that stays in your head a long time.

[Mr. Peanut]

20. Shows in No. Virginia...

A quick search of The Washington Post’s movie listings for No. Virginia pulled up the following theaters showing “Brokeback Mountain”:

Cineplex Odeon Shirlington 7 2772 S. Randolph St. Arlington, VA 703-671-0978

AMC Hoffman Center 22 206 Swamp Fox Road Alexandria, VA 703-998-4262

Regal Ballston Commons 12 671 North Glebe Rd. Arlington, VA 703-527-9730

Kingstowne Cinemas 16 5910 Kingstowne Towne Center Alexandria, VA 703-822-4956

Multiplex Cinemas Lee Highway 8223 Lee Highway Merrifield, VA 703-876-1800

AMC Tysons Corner 16 7850 Tysons Corner Center McLean, VA 703-998-4262

Cinema Arts Theatre Route 236 W & Pickett Road Fairfax, VA 703-978-6991

Fairfax Corner 14 - Cinema de Lux 11900 Palace Way Fairfax, VA 703-5024060

Multiplex Cinemas Reston Town Center 11940 Market St. Reston, VA 703-502-4060

Regal Countryside Cinema 20 45980 Regal Plaza Sterling, VA 703-404-8603

Regal Manassas Stadium 14 11380 Bulloch Drive Manassas, VA 703-366-2842

[LostinVA]

15. My borderline Freeper, ex-military BIL is going to see it

With my sister. I was rather shocked, even though I know he's not homophobic. He told me he's in touch with his sexuality. I do know that several times over the years while he was on the duty, he caught same-sex soldiers (always guys) having sex. The only thing he ever did was tell them how stupid they were to be doing it there, because it may well have been someone other than hom who caught them.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

21. The Freepers are so fucking stupid.

They've managed to turn seeing this movie into a statement of defiance. Of course it's going to do well now, morons! Had they just ignored it, there'd be no controversy and the numbers for the film would probably be *lower* Nobody ever said the freepers were smart, though.

[rodeodance]

18. nominate this please

[Herstal]

22. The big question: How many screens is it on?

Also, I thought they were gay sheep herders, not cow punchers. Anyway, the big question is "how many screens is it on?" $10000/screen is good, but if it is only playing on a few screens, then the numbers will be skewed high. Those who have seen it tend to enjoy it, which bodes well for the film if it goes into general release.

[Bridget Burke]

24. Only 48 screens so far. IMDB says wider release later this month.

Here are details from another site:

www.the-numbers.com/charts/today.html

The point of this thread, however, is HOW Heartland audiences are reacting.

[Herstal]

32. Which I covered.

Yes, I know how they are reacting, I covered that in my post. The marketing for this film has been brilliant. Limited release, get a buzz, then general release.

[ruggerson]

30. No, that's not the big question

the only people who are asking that question are over on free republic. And, strangely, those are the same people who keep screaming "they're not cowboys, they're sheepherders!"

Anyone with even a vague understanding of the film business knows that per screen average and staying power are what distributors look at.

The film has enormous box office appeal and is GAINING strength. After five weeks of limited release.

In the theaters where it is playing it is often the number 1 screen, even in places like Utah.

Read here: http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=1979&p=.htm

Moviegoers in the Salt Lake City area still have a chance to see Brokeback Mountain as the picture is playing at three other theaters: the Broadway Center Cinemas in Salt Lake City, the Century 16 in South Salt Lake and the Cinemark 24 at Jordan Landing.

On the four-day New Year's frame, Brokeback Mountain earned $46,300 at the Broadway, landing among the top nationwide per-screen averages that weekend. For the weekend ending Jan. 8, the movie took in $18,823 there, still No. 1 in the complex, after Focus added the Century 16 and Cinemark 24 on Friday.

[Herstal]

31. More info that bodes well for general release.

Thank you for it. My sister saw it and said they were sheep herders.

[xchrom]

23. a feel good kick.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

25. K & R. The movie is one of the best I've seen and I'd like to see it again

The brilliance of this movie was how it makes one care about all the characters.

MKJ

[The Backlash Cometh]

26. Is the plot a red state version of Midnight Cowboy?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

27. More to make DUers happy:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1555036/posts

[oneoftheboys]

28. Huh...? Is this the Ebert & Roeper show?

:boring:

[Bridget Burke]

33. No.

Perhaps it's time for you to wake up.

[Raster]

37. No, this isn't Ebert and Roeper. But you knew that.

A tad uncomfortable, eh? Welcome to DU. Enjoy your stay.

[ruggerson]

29. Kick n/t

[roguevalley]

35. they had a very smart release program, giving it to a few and letting

the buzz, critical and public, build. smart, smart, smart. A good film gets its audience.

[fleabert]

36. Having lived in SA and Columbus, this does not surprise me at all...

very strong and active gay populations in those cities, I'm surprised that this is surprising to anyone. And Nashville, according to my friends who live there, also has a strong, active, and out gay population as well. (that comes from both a gay couple and a straight woman's perspective)

At one time, it was said by the operators of the two gay clubs I frequented often in my HS and college days that SA had the 2nd largest gay population (by percentage of total pop) in the country, San Francisco being 1st. This was in the early 90's.

[stanwyck]

38. Jimmy Carter won't be surprised

I'm listening to his latest book on DVD while I drive to and from work (Our Endangered Values). He maintains that America (and he backs up his assertions with poll numbers) accepts homosexuality. However, a small group of people have undue influence with this administration. They've skewed the perception that their following is larger than it is.
Look at how much press Pat Robertson and Bill O'Reilly get. They're not mainstream. They don't represent American values. They're just loud.
We're a more liberal country that Bush and his fundamentalists adherents want you to know.
But, as this thread shows, the truth is out there.

[spinbaby]

39. Imagine how well it'll do when it becomes widely available

I'm south of Pittsburgh and a yahoo movies search for it still brings up "Sorry, showtimes are not currently available
for this title in your area."

[gorbal]

42. I wasn't going to see it...

Until I heard how much right wingers hate it, now I simply MUST go.

(Besides, my dad says it's good. And if my dad will watch a movie that features gay sheepherders and say it is good, it must be.)

Edit- That same theatre is showing "Hostel" which features horrible scenes of torture at the end. Just so you know.

[MrSlayer]

44. Good for them.

Anything that pisses off the neo-con, religious fundy type assholes is a good thing.

[aaronbees]

45. Heartening to hear...

don't think it will make to my town (texarkana), though ... perhaps if/when it creates some loud Oscar buzz it may. Closest is probably Little Rock, where I imagine it will do a-ok. I've read one reviewer (forget who, though) who thinks it's a lock for best picture Oscar. That would be sweet.

[JI7]

46. this is why some feel the need to shut it down

rather than relying on people to just not see it . i assume a lot of people will watch based on just being curious. and of course some will not even know the subject matter before seeing it. the haters don't want people to see a positive view of gays.