Well, Heath Ledger is very upset with the Utah Mormons. It appears that one theater in Sandy decided not to play “Brokeback Mountain.”
In yet another Hollywood display of deep, thoughtful logical processes, Heath compares Mormons with West Virginia racists (based on one theater’s decision, of course). My search shows there is at least one other theater in Salt Lake City that is showing “Brokeback Mountain.” But anybody who lives in Utah knows that the market there does not treat R-rated fare as well as, say, New York City.
I won’t be seeing “Brokeback Mountain” for many, many reasons, but most of all because it is R-rated and because of its subject matter. Private theater owners can, of course, make their own decisions what to show (I’m not really concerned with the theater’s contractual obligations — that’s a business and legal issue irrevelevant to the discussion.)
Could it be that Latter-day Saints simply are not interested in a graphic, sexual story about gay cowboys? Could it be that many of them have followed the prophet’s warning not to watch R-rated movies? To each his own, of course, but Hollywood liberals are the least tolerant members of the species. Soon, in a display of non-judgmental tolerance, “Brokeback Mountain” will be required viewing for public junior high students in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, California and elsewhere. Controversy will only start when it is required to be shown to second graders.