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Controversial gay film debuts without protest from Waco community

Jan. 18, 2006

by AMANDA G. JOHNSON, entertainment editor

All was quiet on the Waco front when Brokeback Mountain made its debut in local movie theaters last weekend.

Despite the controversy surrounding the film, which has been banned in theaters in Utah and West Virginia, the so-called "gay cowboy movie" survived its opening without any active opposition from the Baylor community.

Clifton Reeves, a seminary student from Orange, said he enjoyed the movie.

"The performances were really good, the direction was really good, and the story line was really good," Reeves said.

Ken Mansfield, manager of Starplex Galaxy 16, said the opening went smoothly.

"There were no problems, no complaints, nothing," Mans-field said. "It was a pleasant surprise."

Although the film survived without protest, Mansfield said Brokeback Mountain was one of the lowest-grossing movies of the weekend.

"It was on the bottom of the list," he said. "Glory Road was the highest, but Brokeback didn't bring in very much. It's made lots of money in other parts of the country. I guess there's just not much of an audience here for that type of a movie."

But after Monday night's Golden Globe Awards, the community's interest in the film increased significantly.

"There have been a lot more people going in to see the movie after it won all the awards," Mansfield said.

The film had the most Golden Globe nominations with seven, including Best Actor and Best Actress, and four wins for Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Original Song and Best Drama.

So how did this controversial film, which has been boycotted by Christian organizations across America, make it through the weekend without any outcry from the Baylor community?

"They didn't wave the homosexual flag," Reeves said. "They just kept the story what it was and didn't make it an issue that could be a big deal or make a political thing out of it."

While the producers may not have made it a big deal, many Americans did, with heavy news coverage and protests at theaters across the country.

"I'm glad they are showing it here," Montgomery senior Melissa Rose said. "People who want to see it should be able to. And if you don't want to, just don't go."

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