‘Brokeback Mountain’ writer on when she knew film…
A Hollywood travesty.
“Brokeback Mountain” co-writer Diana Ossana remembers the second she knew the homosexual romantic drama would lose the Oscar for Best Picture.
In a new interview with the New York Times for the film’s twentieth anniversary, Ossana, 75, recalled that weeks before the 2006 Oscars, after voting had closed, she went to a celebration for the nominees at “Crash” director Paul Haggis’ home where Clint Eastwood was one of the attendees.
Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger in “Brokeback Mountain.” ©Focus Films/Courtesy Everett Collection
Ossana “was eager to meet” Eastwood, 95, but before they might work together, she acquired dangerous information.
“Paul started walking me over and he goes, ‘Diana, I have to tell you, he hasn’t seen your movie,’” Osanna instructed the outlet.
Diana Ossana attends the twenty fifth Annual Scripter Awards in Feb. 2013. WireImage
Clint Eastwood at the twentieth Annual AFI Awards in January 2020. WireImage
“And it was like somebody kicked me in the stomach,” the screenwriter added. “That’s when I knew we would not win Best Picture.”
“Brokeback Mountain” infamously misplaced Best Picture to “Crash,” despite dominating the award season up to that level and successful the Oscars for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score.
Ossana, who co-write the film with Larry McMurtry, instructed the NYT that she blames homophobia for the defeat.
Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal in “Brokeback Mountain.” AP Photo
“People want to deny that, but what else could it have been?” she stated. “We’d won everything up until then.”
At the time, some Academy voters including Ernest Borgnine and Tony Curtis publicly declared that they wouldn’t watch the Western romance.
“I absolutely think that block of voters kept this movie from winning Best Picture,” Osanna acknowledged.
“Brokeback Mountain” screenwriters Diana Ossana and Larry McMurtry settle for the award for Best Screenplay at the 63rd Annual Golden Globes. NBCUniversal via Getty Images
“Brokeback Mountain” adopted two males, Ennis (Heath Ledger) and Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal), who discovered love despite one being married.
“Crash,” meanwhile, instructed the true story of a 1991 Los Angeles carjacking and starred Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Esposito, Thandiwe Newton and Matt Dillon.
Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal in “Brokeback Mountain.” ©Focus Films/Courtesy Everett Collection
Michelle Williams, who performed Ledger’s spouse in “Brokeback Mountain,” addressed the film dropping Best Picture on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen” in April.
“I mean, what was Crash?” Williams, 44, joked.
“Crash” gained Best Picture at the 2006 Academy Awards. ©Lions Gate/Courtesy Everett Co
Williams was also requested if she was conscious the project would make such an affect before it hit theaters.
“People were so open about it,” Williams mirrored. “I just remember doing the junket. You know, you don’t really get an opportunity to see a lot of grown men cry. That was the moment that I think that we all knew it was going to be special to people.”
Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger in “Brokeback Mountain.” Focus Films/Everett Collection
Lee, 70, equally mirrored on the snub to Deadline final month.
“Your guess is as good as mine,” the director stated. “There are times when I feel like there’s an unlimited willingness to watch the movie. There’s so much love for it. Generally, you feel like it’s a breakthrough, that it broke all barriers. People seem to melt down. And you cannot even define it as gay cinema. It’s not gay cinema, right? It’s a love story.”
Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger in “Brokeback Mountain.” ©Focus Films/Courtesy Everett Collection
But Lee did make clear that he’s moved on from the film not successful Best Picture.
“I’m nothing but grateful. I have no bitterness,” he shared.
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