As Towleroad reported in early May, the Director’s Cut of Alexander will be just that — cut. Oliver Stone confirmed the news recently to Entertainment Weekly: “We just don’t dwell on the relationship as much.”
Eight minutes of footage has been chopped from the Theatrical Cut to create this de-gayed version of the story. GLAAD’s new Entertainment Media Director Damon Romine issued this statement yesterday:
“For someone known as a fearless, uncompromising filmmaker, Stone has really compromised his own artistic integrity. This is not a special edition director’s cut, it’s an abridgment designed to pander to the lowest common denominator. Calling this DVD a ‘director’s cut’ and wrapping it up in an attractive new package does a disservice to consumers who believe they are getting something more for their money, not less. What could really boost the DVD’s profile would be to further explore Alexander and Hephaistion’s relationship, not edit it out.”
One of Towleroad’s advertisers, TLA Video, is carrying both cuts of the film (see right hand column).
When I saw it back in November, I was actually shocked at the extent that Stone did portray the gay love story, though I felt the film was troubled somewhat in its execution. I still think today that critics overreached in trashing the film simply for the purpose of hopping on a critical bandwagon. In retrospect, the film is not even close to being a disaster. Plus, Farrell and Leto are still hot as hell.
Related
Eight Cut or Uncut? [tr]
Alexander Gets Stoned [tr]
Alexander and Brokeback: Gay Scenes Spook Execs [tr]
