Gene Shalit's a homophobe? Get a life, GLAAD (Warning: Movie Spoilers)

[Sampiro]

I should start this lame rant by saying that I haven’t seen Brokeback Mountain so I can’t judge Shalit’s review. In it he claimed that

@Shalit

“Jack, who strikes me as a sexual predator, tracks Ennis down and coaxes him into sporadic trysts. But sporadic is not frequent enough for Jack. He wants Ennis full time. He whines, he pleads, he shouts that when they’re apart, he’s desolated. Jack cannot absorb Ennis’ implied response: Better desolate than never.”

Well, one man’s opinion. I can see based on what I’ve read of the movie why some would disagree with that assessment, and the desolate pun was indeed desolate. But the gay media has just way overreacted imo:

GLAAD made the statement

@GLAAD

On Jan. 5, NBC News’ Today show featured Gene Shalit’s review of Brokeback Mountain on his regular “Critic’s Corner” segment. Rather than focus on the merits of the film, Shalit — who has been a Today show regular for 31 years — used the occasion to promote defamatory anti-gay prejudice to a national audience.
… It seems highly doubtful that Shalit would similarly claim that Titanic’s Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) was a “sexual predator” because he was pursuing a romantic relationship with Rose (Kate Winslet).

Well, if Jack had survived the Titanic, Rose had married Billy Zane and Jack had continually pushed her to resume their affair and leave him, Shalit might have. I’m not saying it’d be a valid criticism, but that’s his view, or to quote Shalit in his response "My view of “Jack” may be contrary to the views of others, but we are all entitled to our opinions..

Shalit’s gay son, Peter, was also insulted by the accusations against his father and issued a statement in his defense. Shalit has marched in pride marches and spoken out in favor of gay issues in support of his son and his son’s relationship.

I think actions like this make GLAAD and their cronies look like a bunch of playground pussies. Guys and gals, there’s real homophobia out there, just watch the religious channels and the Congressional hearings on C-SPAN if you want to get pissed. I’m a helluva lot more concerned with what a Representative from a MidWest or Bible Belt town I’ve never heard of but who has a vote in Congress has to say about gay rights or how Alito interprets Bowers v. Hardwick or how John Hagee uses his pulpit to influence the legislators of Texas to vote against gays as foster parents or other things that are fucking meaningful to real issues than some real or perceived bullshit in a weird critic’s review of a movie that’s gotten more media attention than the JFK assassination. I’ve never met one person who gave a damn what Gene Shalit thought on any movie, and 35 years ago Roger Ebert totally slammed one of my favorite movies, Harold & Maude, but I never took it that he hates old people.

Get a frigging life and make like Sinead and fight the real enemy. If you just have to aim your cannons at morning television, aim it at the face of real evil*.

Your thoughts- is it me or is it them?
*Did anybody catch the little coiffed Gollem’s interview with Lacey Peterson’s mom, Sharon Rocha, yesterday? Ms. Rocha is promoting a book and little Satan Smurfette was sympathising with her in a hushed and somber voice on how horrible it was to have had a daughter and grandson murdered so brutally, and evidently not knowing she was still on camera she shot an eye to the monitor as if to make sure she looked appropriately caring and sorrowful. All this while suckling demons under her blowse, she is incredible.

[Askia]

Gene Shalit’s straight? He has a son? GET. OUT.

>> Whacks gaydar. <<

[SkipMagic]

@Askia

>> Whacks gaydar. <<

You’ll go blind if you keep doing that, you know.

[Larry_Mudd]

It seems that Gene’s actions acquit him – but I don’t think GLAAD’s initial reaction was out of line. “Sexual predator” is such a loaded, incredibly negative term.

The definition of “predator” differs from state to state, but is generally reserved for the most dangerous sex offenders. Many states use nearly identical words to describe this type of sex offender and the offenses he perpetrates. In the words of the Kansas Sexually Violent Predator Act, “predatory acts” are those “acts directed towards strangers or individuals with whom relationships have been established or promoted for the primary purpose of victimization.” The state of California states: “‘Predatory’ means an act is directed toward a stranger, a person of casual acquaintance with whom no substantial relationship exists, or an individual with whom a relationship has been established or promoted for the primary purpose of victimization.” In some states, the definition includes criteria involving the use of violence, weapons, or causing injury during the commission of a sex crime, or those offenders who have had multiple victims. Repeat offenders, and those who have committed abduction of children or adults for sexual purposes may also be considered predators.

Not the kind of words you apply to a persistent romantic, adulturous or not. What the fuck was he thinking? He’s paid to use language in a way that reliably communicates what he means to people who are able to read. How could he not know that “sexual predator” puts someone on the same level as a paedophile or a serial rapist?

[Little_Nemo]

So? Is there some rule saying a gay person can’t be a sexual predator just like a straight person?

[Marley23]

@Larry Mudd

Not the kind of words you apply to a persistent romantic, adulturous or not.

He probably meant something more like “stalker” than “serial rapist,” but I gather he meant that he thought Jack’s character or actions made him seem more like a sexual predator than a “persistent romantic,” even if the latter is what he’s supposed to be.

[Derleth]

GLAAD is so gay somtimes.

(And so’s semantic drift.)

[Equipoise]

You know, you might want to get the latest updates before you start a thread.

SHALIT’S ALREADY APOLOGISED, RECOGNIZING THAT HE USED THE WRONG WORDS.
From GLAAD’s web site:

In reviewing the fictional movie “Brokeback Mountain”, I expressed my opinion of “Jack”, one of the fictional characters. It is my responsibility to my audience to present my views of the film and the actions of the film’s fictional characters. My view of “Jack” may be contrary to the views of others, but we are all entitled to our opinions.

In describing the behavior of “Jack” I used words (“sexual predator”) that I now discover have angered, agitated, and hurt many people. I did not intend to use a word that many in the gay community consider incendiary. Baron Lytton wrote in 1839 that “the pen is mightier than the sword,” and this matter proves again how hurtful words can be. I very much regret using them.

The GLAAD website carried an assertion that instead of reviewing “Brokeback Mountain”, which is my job, I “used the occasion to promote defamatory anti-gay prejudice to a national audience.” This is untrue. It is unfair to me and must be corrected. Everything in my life and in my family’s life demonstrates beyond doubt that I am not homophobic. Indeed, the contrary is true, and everyone who knows me knows it.

I certainly had no intention of casting aspersions on anyone in the gay community or on the community itself. I regret any emotional hurt that may have resulted from my review of “Brokeback Mountain.”

Gene Shalit

He was way off-base in the first place, and GLAAD was quite right to ask for an apology. I didn’t hear anyone accuse Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix) of being a “sexual predator” because he kept pursuing June Carter (Reese Witherspoon) in Walk The Line, and she kept telling him to go away! Ennis in Brokeback Mountain was a very willing partner. Just because the Jack character made the first move doesn’t make him a sexual predator.

Jack made the first move.

Ennis, after being shocked, has sex with Jack. ENNIS is the “Top.” He could have just stormed out of the tent.

A couple days later, ENNIS goes to Jack for comfort. He could have stayed away from Jack.

ENNIS and Jack have a merry old time for the next few weeks. He could have stayed away from Jack.

4 years later, Jack sends a postcard saying he’ll be in town and wonders if Ennis wants to meet him. ENNIS writes back saying YES. He could have just thrown Jack’s postcard away without answering.

When Jack arrives, ENNIS races down the stairs and hugs Jack. He could have called Jack up to meet his wife.

ENNIS pulls Jack into a stairwell away from prying eyes (almost) and kisses Jack like there’s no tomorrow. He could have just called Jack up to meet his wife.

ENNIS goes with Jack to a motel. He could have invited Jack in for an evening of watching TV and small talk.

ENNIS goes to Brokeback Mountain 2-3 times a year for the NEXT 20 YEARS to meet Jack. He could have stayed home.

Honestly, Shalit is an idiot and there’s NO WAY anyone with half a brain could see Jack as a sexual predator. Using those words was derogatory and disgusting.

Even he realized it. Would he have apologised though if GLAAD hadn’t said anything? Doubtful.

Shalit’s comment matters because he was seen/heard by millions of people who have not seen Brokeback Mountain, and most of whom probably haven’t read any other reviews. The words “sexual predator” changes the whole plot of the story, because “sexual predator/victim” is a VERY different movie from “tragic love story.” Word could spread and the whole thing would become an Urban Legend to people who haven’t seen the movie, not to mention that it could be picked up and used against the movie by right-wingers/conservatives/fundies/Backlashers who want to hurt its Oscar chances.

Shalit needed to be called on his choice of words, and I’m glad GLAAD did it.

[Sean_Factotum]

Shalit caved. He realized that is isn’t a battle worth fighting when there are so many other gay right issues that need attention, and decided to dispense with this one. Sampiro called it correctly.

Except for that nasty slander about my Katie. Just stop it. Perky doesn’t (always) mean evil. Just when it applies to Mary Lou Retton.

[Walter_Windchill]

Right or wrong, Shalit seemed to be analyzing one character from one film, and not implying in any way that that character represented the actions of all gay men. I think it shows enlightenment that he got past the “gay” and judged the relationship on its own merits, as he would any relationship in a film.

[Crotalus]

@Sampiro

If you just have to aim your cannons at morning television, aim it at the face of real evil*.

This made me laugh out loud. Thanks.

[Equipoise]

Wait, I looked at the OP closer and saw that Shalit’s “apology” WAS included in the OP, which makes the OP even lamer. Shame on me for not seeing it, but I still think GLAAD was in the right and Shalit in the wrong.

[Casey1505]

@GLAAD

GLAAD thanks and applauds Mr. Shalit for clarifying his comments…

What did Shalit clarify, exactly? He regreted using the phrase “sexual predator” and denied that he used the review “to promote defamatory anti-gay prejudice to a national audience”. He didn’t clarify anything. It’s not like he pulled a 180 and decided he liked the character or the film.

More people have probably now read Shalit’s review than ordinarilly would have, thereby further promoting whatever it is he was supposedly promoting in the first place. The film has had all of this free publicity as well. Nice jerky knee, GLAAD. But don’t hurt your shoulders reaching around to pat yourselves on the back in victory.

[Martin_Hyde]

I thought it had generally be accepted that Gene Shalit was one of the worst, if not worst, major film critics in America and that his opinion on film is all but worthless…

[Dob]

Shalit is a wuss, I cannot believe he freakin caved into pressure from another damn intrest group. Fuck GLADD…and fuck Shalit for being a pussy.

[Diogenes_the_Cynic]

I thought it was a stupid thing for Shalit to say, and regardless of intent, it was right for GLAAD to be upset about it. To say that a gay man is a “sexual predator” simply for making the first move WITH ANOTHER CONSENTING GAY MAN and for being the one to initiate contact later on WITH ANOTHER CONSENTING GAY MAN is indeed insulting and ignorant and I think it betrays a perception (or at least plays to one) that Ennis wouldn’t really be gay if Jack hadn’t seduced him…that Jack was making him be gay against his will and that somehow Ennis was a victim. If a love story featured an emotionally closed off man and an emotionally demonstrative woman who tried to draw him out, no one would call her a “predator.”

There have also been a million conventional love stories where one or both characters are nominally involved with somebody else. How many times have we seen a romantic lead pursuing the woman with the asshole boyfriend or fiance?

Another successful movie out right now is Walk the Line, a movie in which Johnny Cash is depicted as aggressively pursuing June Carter over a period of years despite that fact that both of them are married to other people. Was Johnny Cash a sexual predator? I would say his behavior was depicted as being more aggressive than Jack’s was in Brokeback.

GLAAD is right about this and Shalit is a moron. Fuck him and fuck his stupid mustache.

[Diogenes_the_Cynic]

@Walter Windchill

Right or wrong, Shalit seemed to be analyzing one character from one film, and not implying in any way that that character represented the actions of all gay men. I think it shows enlightenment that he got past the “gay” and judged the relationship on its own merits, as he would any relationship in a film.

I disagree. I think he judged the character differently because he was gay. If he didn’t call Johnny Cash a “sexual predator” in his Walk the Line review, then he’s a hypocrite.

[gigi]

Maybe you could have boxed the spoilers, Equipoise?

[FinnAgain]

@Diogenes the Cynic

I disagree. I think he judged the character differently because he was gay. If he didn’t call Johnny Cash a “sexual predator” in his Walk the Line review, then he’s a hypocrite.

So his choices are hypocrisy or stylistic rigidity?

Everything would’ve been fine if instead of ‘sexual predator’ he had said something like ‘sexually agressive’ or ‘sexually predatory’? We refer to some women as “maneaters” and some men as “ladykillers”. We talk about someone “chasing” and “catching” someone else, that sure sounds like a predator to me. Hell, the most common slang word for sexual intercourse implies violence. It’s just part and parcel with how we talk about sex.

I can understand how people got upset, and I can also understand how it’s really no big deal. ~shrugs~

/ $.02

[Cluricaun]

@Diogenes the Cynic

GLAAD is right about this and Shalit is a moron. Fuck him and fuck his stupid mustache.

But that would tickle…