Brokeback Mountain Author Criticizes Academy

The Guardian published a letter by "Brokeback Mountain" author, Annie Proulx, criticizing Oscar voters and The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the film's Best Picture loss to Crash:

"The hours sped by on wings of boiler plate. Brokeback's first award was to Argentinean Gustavo Santaolalla for the film's plangent and evocative score. Later came the expected award for screenplay adaptation to Diana Ossana and Larry McMurtry, and only a short time later the director's award to Ang Lee. And that was it, three awards, putting it on equal footing with King Kong. When Jack Nicholson said best picture went to Crash, there was a gasp of shock, and then applause from many - the choice was a hit with the home team since the film is set in Los Angeles. It was a safe pick of "controversial film" for the heffalumps."

Some are saying her letter is nothing but sour grapes at the loss, while others seem to agree with her forthrightness. I had a chance to catch some of the Awards show while I attended the Decoys Rebirth wrap party and like presenter Jack Nicholson, was shocked at the Best Picture winner. Though I really enjoyed Crash, especially the editing and great score, I certainly thought Brokeback Mountain had the award wrapped up. It seems the Awards show is steering toward a more diplomatic direction and distributing awards across the board. Ang Lee receives the Best Director award while Crash gets the Best Picture. There was no all-out win like with Peter Jackson and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

As Proulx suggests, and others around the Internet have theorized, perhaps it wasn't so much the subject matter in Brokeback Mountain that was the losing factor in it's bid for Best Picture. Perhaps, it was the fact that Crash takes place in Los Angeles, and more importantly, was filmed in the movie production capital of the world. The Alberta-filmed Brokeback Mountain, on the other hand, represents the "runaway production," the film that doesn't film in Hollywood. With the Academy based in Los Angeles as well, it almost seems as though Crash was destined for the Best Picture trophy. Certainly there were other pictures worthy of the award, so Brokeback isn't the only loser.

Still, the entire crew and cast (including Albertans) should be proud of something that garners so much praise and creates discussion.