Gene Shalit calls Brokeback Mountain's Jake a sexual predator
Gene Shalit's recent review of Brokeback Mountaon on the "Today" show found Shalit referring to Jake's character as a "sexual predator who tracks Heath Ledger down and coaxes him into periodic trysts." Lesbian gossip monger Liz Smith responds, "Really? I don't think sending a postcard saying, 'Want to get together?'- after several years apart - translates into predatory coaxing. And Heath jumps at the offer." We're inclined to agree. The whole thing is a little odd in that Gene Shalit's son Pete is gay and Shalit's out about his support of his son - "Peter is humane and intelligent, and I am crazy about him." Nevertheless, as Kevin Naff notes, "Shalit’s smackdown was so thorough and so focused on the gay sex depicted in the film that his review says more about him than it does about the movie
Comments
For Gene Shalit to make that kind of comment is outrageous. If sending a note suggesting a get together after several years apart is predatory, I hate to think what that makes all those heterosexual men, who scour the bars every weekend for their next conquest. Shalit once gave me his autograph. I'm going to burn it.
Posted by Mark? on January 11, 2006 1:47 AM
Is that a photo of Shalit wearing a plastic Groucho Marks disguise to hide his ugly face?
Posted by Lish? on January 11, 2006 4:25 AM
I think Shalit is referring to Jake's body language that lead to the "tent scene", this guy (Jake) wanted Ennis and it was so obvious he was going to try his best to get him
Posted by dave? on January 28, 2006 9:04 PM
Wow... I don't think that anyone has taken a Shalit review this serious for years. That said Shalit's statements regarding Jack Twist appear flippant and I am glad he was called on it.
Posted by canadasown? on February 4, 2006 8:47 PM
I would like to get a look at Shalit's review of "Same Time Next Year". I'll bet he didn't describe George Peters (the character played by Alan Alda) as a sexual predator. The difference would be the sexual orientation of the characters. I realize Gene Shalit has a gay son and that he loves and accepts his son, but he is definitely at odds with the gay life style and should not have reviewed this movie. "Brokeback Mountain" pushed his buttons. Predator? That's more than a stretch, that's homophobia.
Posted by cmcl? on February 16, 2006 12:22 AM
« Read Previous Post | Queer Day Home | Read Next Story »
