Last night I was lucky enough to attend the NYC premiere of Brokeback and I have to say, upon seeing the movie a second time (the first time I’ve seen it with a full audience) I’m more assured than ever of my original convictions. This is a movie for the ages. I urge you to head out in force if you’re in New York or L.A. this weekend when it opens in limited release.

Here’s a great interview with Annie Proulx, the author of the short story on which Brokeback Mountain is based, in which she gives some insight into a lot of the story elements and the process the story took as it was adapted to screen:

Proulx: “Far from being ‘liberal,’ Hollywood was afraid of the script as were many actors and agents. Of course I knew the story would be seen as controversial. I doubted it would even be published, and was pleased when The New Yorker very quickly accepted it. In the years since the story was published in 1997 I have received many letters from gay and straight men, not a few Wyoming-born. Some said, ‘You told my story,’ some said ‘That is why I left Wyoming,’ and a number, from fathers, said ‘Now I understand the hell my son went through.’ I still get these heart breaking letters.”

Incidentally, the New Yorker has generously brought up the story from its archives for all to read. It’s an amazing piece of writing.

LOGO recently ran a documentary on the making of Brokeback. The Malcontent has the video.

The Boondocks has begun a few strips that include references to Brokeback.

Heath Ledger recently talked to film site Dark Horizons about Brokeback and provides some additional insight into his character. It seems Ledger has a gay uncle he thought about quite a bit while preparing for the role:

“I have a very good friend of mine, who’s actually an uncle of mine. I didn’t base this character off him, but he’s gay. He’s always struggled with his sexuality. He’s like 60 now but back when he was younger, his dad kicked him of the Perth and said to him, ‘Go to the hospital and get fixed or you’re not coming back to the family.’ My uncle said, ‘I can’t get fixed’ and his dad said to don’t come back and he left and hasn’t been back since then, but he’s also the most masculine person I know. He’s the head of arm wrestling federation and he goes to cage fighting. So that was definitely a good example of the level of masculinity, the range of masculinity; there relationships that occur with him. It’s purely masculine and it was important for Ennis to be that.”

In terms of how he sees Ennis’ love for Jack: “His love for Jack is true in a passionate love, but he hates the way he loves and it’s forbidden. Essentially, he’s like a homophobic male in love with another man. He’s very fixed in his ways and he’s left lingering in between the role.”

It seems as if we’ve lost something in the transcription over at Dark Horizons but you get the idea.

MSNBC presents “The Straight Dude’s Guide to Brokeback“. Aww, poor straight guys need a little coddling to get through the movie. Towleroad’s advice for straight guys who can’t deal with the movie: grow a set of balls.