Brokeback Mountain

The two movies Jarhead and Casanova are extremely different from Brokeback Mountain. Jarhead (Gyllenhaal) and Casanova (Ledger) are both movies that have main characters that are very masculine. Gyllenhaal and Ledger are both talented actors whose roles in films are very believable and could led people to believe that they are both gay. Clearly, both men were not comfortable with playing homosexuals. Gyllenhaal and Ledger chose these other roles, while filming Brokeback Mountain, to prove that they were not gay and wanted to prove their masculinity. Ledger’s maleness would definitely not be challenged after his role as a fast-talking, womanizer in Casanova. Similarly, Gyllenhaal’s reputation as a heartthrob among his female viewers would not be disputed after his role as a tough marine in Jarhead. Gyllenhaal’s effort throughout filming to prove he was not gay was to show that there were no correlations between him and his character, Jack Twist. I do not think Ledger’s relationship with his co-star Michelle Williams was to prove that he was not gay. It may have been a subconscious reaction, but I don’t think he started dating her for that purpose. I feel that the only reason why Gyllenhaal and Ledger might have felt uncomfortable with their roles were because of the media. They both wanted to prevent any false rumors that would interfere with their current or future relationships.

Brokeback Mountain

I really don’t think that the actors in Brokeback Mountain are gay. I don’t think that they should feel the need to defend their sexuality or prove that they are straight in any way. I’m not even sure if the fact that Heath Ledger had an onset romance or that Jake Gyllenhaal filmed a war movie was a conscious effort to prove their masculinity, movie schedules are sometimes random and Ledger and Williams got married so something must have been real. The driving issue in this quandary is not that they “proved” that they were not gay, its our society’s (when I say that I only have experience America and the UK, although I highly suspect this is a global issue) obsession with celebrities, their personal lives, and just generally what other people do behind closed doors. I mean really? It’s almost impossible to turn on the tube without coming across some reality show about famous people in rehab or something like that, or rich housewives taking their kids to get their nails done, etc. I don’t feel that the actors in Brokeback Mountain were homophobic or that our society, in general, is; I honestly think that we just love a scandal and no one wants people to think that they’re something that they’re not. But that’s just my opinion.

Brokeback Mountain

I definitely think the reason Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger filmed Jarhead and Casanova (respectively) was to try to quell rumors of homosexuality. Seeing such a realistic portrayal of a gay relationship is against what we are used to. Almost any film you see today with homosexuality as a theme is totally unrealistic, or at least does not reflect the majority of gay relationships. In the 2007 movie I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry homosexuality was played for laughs, while on the surface the movie claimed to be a movie about tolerance. All of the actual gay characters are punch lines, with no characterization other than being flamboyant. Even more recently the 2009 film Bruno reinforced the old heterosexual fear that gay men will come on to anything that moves by having the title character trying to force himself on Ron Paul. Bruno was meant to be a satire of people’s prejudices, but how many people took it that way? While there are many irresponsible films such as those, there are also a few that have improved people’s perceptions, along with Brokeback. The 1992 film The Crying Game humanized a transsexual, amid the backdrop of IRA terrorism. However, I think the sexual politics may have been overshadowed by the shocking reveal that she is a man (which is most often mentioned when people talk about the movie). Not all comedies featuring gay characters have to portray homosexuals in a negative way. The 1978 film La Cage aux Follies and its 1996 remake The Birdcage use humor as a tool to point out people’s prejudices. Even though it takes place at a drag club, the men are concerned fathers trying to do the best for their straight son when his fiancée’s family comes to dinner. Given the state of societies perceptions towards gays, it is hard to blame Ledger and Gyllenhaal for trying to assure people they are straight.

Brokeback Mountain: Jake and Heath

I definitely do not think that Jake chose the role in Jarhead based on any feelings that he had to prove his masculinity after Brokeback Mountain. I think that Jake chose the role in Jarhead for the same reason he chose the role in Brokeback Mountain: the film had a meaningful message expressed through an excellent storyline. Heath probably chose the role for Casanova because the film was big budget and based on a historical legend. Again, I do not think that either of these actors chose these uber-masculine roles based on a need to prove their own masculinity after filming Brokeback Mountain.

These heartthrob actors would not have agreed to be in an independent film about two bisexual men if they felt it would taint their masculinity in any way. So many famous actors turned down roles in BM for that very reason, like Mark Wahlberg Joaquin Phoenix, and Matt Damon.

Regarding Jake’s assertions about not being gay, I don’t think there is any thing wrong with him correcting any such rumors. Again, if he felt any discomfort about being associated with homosexuality/bisexuality he would not have taken the role in the first place.

Regarding the fact that Heath Ledger had an affair with Michelle Williams on set, maybe they just fell in love. It would be jumping to conclusions to assume that the started seeing her just so he could prove how straight he was.

Brokeback Mountain

The fact that each of these men chose to play such vastly different characters speaks volumes about their level of security. The characters Gyllenhaal plays in Brokeback Mountain and Jarhead coul hardly be any more different. If anything, the roles aside from Brokeback Mountain that these two men played probably allowed them to more accurately portray a gay man in society because after playing such assertive characters, the contrast of a man scared about the consequences his true feelings may bring would bring out the caution of the actors. However, the contrast of these roles probably also allowed the actors to potray the roles more intamately without having to worry about the perception in the public eye. It would be far easier for Gyllenhaal to convince the public that he is not gay after shooting a film like Jarhead in addition to Brokeback Mountain moreso than if he had only starred in the latter.

Brokeback Mountain Post

I think that Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger probably enjoyed doing both movies at the same time. Jake was filming Brokeback and Jarhead at the same time and Health was filming Brokeback and Casanova at the same time. These movies are very different and I believe that the actors enjoyed the difference. Actors are trained and schooled to play different parts. Jake and Health are both very good actors and I think that they would have enjoyed putting the pressure on them to fulfill both parts.

In Jake’s case, I am sure it was hard playing a gay cowboy and an army man. I think that is very ironic because gays and the military are two things that are very controversial with each other. I do not blame Jake for saying many times that he was not gay. When filming a movie that you are playing a gay man in then many people think that that actor probably is gay. It is sad that Americans would think that today. I do not think that Jake had to tell our nation the things he did but that’s just the way it is.

Health had an affair with a co-star. I do not think this is good but I cannot make anyone do anything. Being married and having an affair with another person is very wrong. I think that Health was wrong in this.

The two must have definitely been comfortable playing the gay roles in this movie. If they were not I do not think they would have dealt with it. I do not think they are gay but they definitely did not have a problem playing gay characters.