Although gays and lesbians have gained more and more rights after entering the 21st century, in 2001 there were still many places to fight. For example, same-sex romances were still illegal in several inland states, or Same-sex marriage is not allowed - the Netherlands passed a law allowing same-sex marriage back in 1998.
So, on December 15, five days after the premiere of "Brokeback Mountain," San Francisco and Los Angeles simultaneously launched gay parades. Men and women came out of the community with rainbow flags, gathered together and walked lively through the streets of the city according to the established route, and spit at each other with the opponents across the street.
Fortunately, even though the people in the parade are very excited and excited, the overall order is still very good in both San Francisco and Los Angeles. This is of course because there is a large number of police in maintenance, but it has nothing to do with the open atmosphere of the West Coast itself. If such a parade were held in Utah or even Salt Lake City, there might be a large-scale conflict.
The media was quick to report on the "grand event", although no name was given, but there was a hint that it had something to do with the release of "Brokeback Mountain", and one report even used the phrase "they seem to be celebrating a victory" 's words.
"I like the movie "Brokeback Mountain", this is the best gay movie in years!" The comrades who participated in the parade also expressed their love for "Brokeback Mountain" - of course, most of them were gay men .
However, while loving, they also expressed their dissatisfaction: "Why didn't Ennis and Jack go to the West Coast? If they came to San Francisco or Los Angeles, it would never end like this."
This claim was supported by many, who even subtitled the film: "Brokeback Mountain: Why Don't They Go to San Francisco?" ". Of course, it's more about telling people how much they love the movie.
"They do have a reason to party and, as some have said, Brokeback Mountain is the most successful gay movie of the year, maybe even of all time.
Although Angela's huge fame has played a big role, her subtle grasp of the film is the main reason for its success. She can always create miracles, can't she? ' said a guest on a talk show.
In the face of this situation, conservatives will naturally have to fight back. In addition to continuing to mobilize supporters to boycott the film, they are also fighting in the newspapers. It's just that this can't stop the momentum of "Brokeback Mountain". Except for Utah, which is still banned from being released, other places have begun to gradually accept it. The initial number of 600 theaters is also slowly increasing. According to the current situation, the number of theaters will eventually be screened. It is not a problem to reach 2000.
And even if there were only 600 theaters when it first premiered, it still had a box office of more than 3 million in the first week. Many gay men watched it once and then watched it a second time. It is hard to guarantee that people will not watch it continuously like "Titanic". last ten times. Coupled with the fact that the actors are all newcomers, Angela gave up the director's salary and chose box office dividends, so the actual cost is lower than "The Devil", and it is possible to recover the investment or even sell it.
However, conservatives did not give up, not only increased their propaganda and boycott, but also pointed the finger at Angela. A member of the parents' association publicly declared: "As a high-profile icon, it can even be said to represent American culture. , it is shocking to support homosexuality with such fanfare. One man and one woman marriage is the universal norm, but Miss Angela wants to subvert the values held by most people in the world, and I have to say that this is a very bad thing.”
In addition, religious groups such as "Saving Biblical Marriages" and "Freedom Advice" also expressed their dissatisfaction with Miss Angel from various channels. If someone accuses someone, someone will support it. For example, the author of the novel, Anne Prue, wrote directly in the New York Times: "The so-called universal value is also divided into high and low. If even the most basic and most beautiful feelings of human beings are opposed, Then there is no point in insisting on anything. Everyone has the right to love and be loved, homosexuality has existed for a long time in history, and as long as it does not hurt other people, there is a reason to exist!"
These are actually clichés, and there won't be any change in those religious organizations conservative groups. So all kinds of debates escalated again, and even the president of the Cowboy was asked in public: How do you feel about "Brokeback Mountain"? Although this gentleman's IQ is not high, he also knows that he can't express his position on this kind of thing casually, so he confused the past with the words "I have heard of it, but I haven't seen it yet".
The initiator of all this, in the face of various accusations, did not say anything until after the parade and wrote on his blog: "Although I have made it very clear, it seems that I have to repeat it again. I just Tell a story, a story about love. As a screenwriter and director, the first consideration is the conflict of the story and the expression of various emotions, not anything else. If you put aside all the things about this movie, We can find that it is not much different from Romeo and Juliet in essence.
Ennis represents people who don't know how much they love each other until they lose them; Alma represents people who have been betrayed but hope that the other person will come back; Jack represents people who fall in love with someone they can never get in their life; And what Lulin represents is falling in love with someone who doesn't love her. Frankly speaking, I would rather the audience focus on this. "
As soon as this blog post came out, it caused a lot of controversy. The liberals praised one after another, and the conservatives refused to forgive. The guy who just wrote these words left LA the next day for London, where there was a premiere waiting for her.
It was still Leicester Square, still surrounded by countless reporters and movie fans. After more than 20 days, the only thing that changed was the guests and the movie to be released - the first movie of "The Lord of the Rings".
"Miss Angela, what do you think of Tolkien's novel?"
"There is no doubt that this is a masterpiece. Even if the novel has its shortcomings in one way or another, no one can deny its status. Mr. Tolkien is a great master."
"Why did you choose to play the role of Legolas, Miss Angela?"
"I've said this many times, I dressed up as Legolas for the Halloween parade a few years ago. Peter just saw the video and he thought I was a good fit for the role and sent out the invitation."
"So it has nothing to do with "The Devil" and "Brokeback Mountain" released this year? Miss Angela?"
Before the reporter could react, Angela had already walked straight to the theater along the red carpet with a smile, as if she hadn't heard the question at all, and the reporter scratched her head depressedly.
Although she was prepared to be bombarded by those people long before "Brokeback Mountain" was released, it really made her very unhappy after it came out, and now is the premiere of "The Lord of the Rings", so for this kind of The question is simply ignored. And not only this kind of problem, as long as she has a little relationship with homosexuality, she will be selectively ignored by her, such as the reason for the role of "Legras".
The movie poster was released as early as early December, and although her bust was not even as big as Liv's at the back of Frodo and below the big head of "Dried Tofu", it still attracted a lot of screams. Then the New Line Company immediately released the first trailer. Even though there were not many Angela figures, they deliberately gave a few shots of "Legras" shooting a bow and arrows during editing, so that more Miss Angela could be seen. The fans screamed.
Then, New Line released several posters of the main characters in succession, and at the same time opened the movie website of "The Lord of the Rings" to release a large number of stills. He also focused more attention on Legolas who turned his head sideways and aimed his bow and arrow at the camera.
"I never thought she would be so handsome!" someone wrote on the website.
"Angela is so beautiful, I love her!" This is obviously what a nympho woman would say.
In short, most people are curious about her style, and only a few diehard fans of the original book like to nag here and there. Although many people don't think so but they don't refute it. After all, the movie has not been officially released yet.
However, many lesbians see their eyes shining brightly. Angela, who had fallen out of "Out of the Closet" magazine's "Most Wanted to Date Female Celebrities" list, returned to the top ten because of "The Devil". The Lord of the Rings topped the list.
Then the premiere of "Brokeback Mountain" allowed the girls to get one-sided support from gay organizations, so there are countless lesbian messages on blogs and official websites every day. When the parade was interviewed, many women shouted to the camera: "I love you, Angela! I love you, Legolas!"
Reports such as "So-and-so publicly shows love to Angela", "played male roles in reverse and won a large number of female fans" have appeared frequently during this period of time, and even the "Sun" that has just been cleaned up not long ago. He also said in secret, "If Miss Angel is really gay, her mailbox will definitely be crowded with the girls' courtship letters", even when Angela just stepped on the red carpet before, there are many The girl with the rainbow flag painted on her cheek cheered her: "Legras, I love you! Give me a kiss!"
Even if Angela really likes women, she will still feel annoyed in the face of this situation, and there is also the influence of "Brokeback Mountain" mixed in, so she simply avoids all relevant questions.
"I thought you weren't going to come in," Mavis, who was guarding at the entrance of the theater, said half-jokingly, half-sarcastically after Angela came in, "or planning to give them a comforting kiss one by one in front of the reporters before coming in. ?"
"Shut up, Mess!" Angela gave her a blank look and walked straight inside.
For Mavis, the girl suddenly felt a sense of hopelessness. God knows why she has returned to the attitude of always targeting herself during this period of time. The difference is that Mavis is just right now, making her feel uncomfortable and at the same time not being able to lose her temper, and... It always feels like she sees something.
Angela glanced at Maeves secretly, but the other party didn't sneer at her again, and followed her with a calm expression. The girl breathed a sigh of relief in her heart, shook her head indiscernibly, and recovered her thoughts.
After arriving in the hall, she quickly met a lot of acquaintances, such as Viggo, Elijah, Sir McKellen, and Peter Jackson's "big director", etc. Angeli had to greet them one by one, and then was caught by the nearest one. A few jokes about things.
"Tell me, Angie, which side do you support?" Peter raised his eyebrows sarcastically. He rarely trimmed his messy beard, and his hair was neatly combed. He wore a suit and straw shoes. It looked so dazzling that it was almost unrecognizable.
"Don't worry, we won't say it, right?" Peter spread his hands solemnly and looked to the side, the last "right" was said to Vigo and Ilya.
"Why do you want to know the answer so desperately, Peter?" Angela narrowed her eyes. "It's not what a gentleman should do to ask a lady like that."
"Hey, I'm just curious and don't want to be misled. After all, the media has everything to say." Peter said earnestly, but there was a sly light flashing in his eyes from time to time, obviously he didn't know much about Angela's various actions during the filming. Completely relieved.
"Well..." Angela tilted her head, and the corners of her mouth showed the same slyness, "Guess!"
Peter couldn't help rolling his eyes and said angrily, "So, whatever I think is fine?"
"That's your freedom," Angela shrugged. "Of course, I have that freedom too. Um... Let me think about what words to use to mislead the public without being sued for defamation. You can also try How influential my blog is."
Peter, who was choked up by her words, rolled his eyes again, gritted his teeth and had to accompany the few people next to him to laugh twice in embarrassment.
Angela, who also covered her mouth and chuckled, turned her attention to another person not far away. The other person had just finished talking with someone else and was standing there in a daze.
"Sorry, I'm going to be excused." Angela put away her smile and nodded childishly, turned and walked over there. Although Mavis was not by her side, the girl knew that she must be looking at herself somewhere, but she couldn't care less.
She walked to the other side in a few steps. After standing still, Angela looked at the tall and beautiful girl in front of her with complicated eyes. She was wearing a moon-white evening dress with a corset, which complemented her azure blue eyes, and her long brown and black hair was soft and smooth. The drooping is like an elf princess walking down from the screen, just frowning slightly and staring blankly at the crowd, not knowing what they are thinking.
"Hi, Liv." After sighing softly in her stomach, Angela finally opened her mouth.
"Angel?" Liv was stunned for a moment, then followed with a wry smile and gritted her teeth, "No, Angela... No, Angela... No, Angie... Oh, damn, why am I always like this!"
Seeing her annoyed appearance, she almost clenched her fist and waved it randomly, Angela couldn't help but chuckle out. Liv glared at the girl immediately, but her eyes became much more complicated.
Angela sighed lightly and waved her hand: "Some things don't have to be forced, otherwise... you're not Liv anymore."
Liv fell silent, and after a while, she looked up at Angela, but her beautiful eyes drooped down, with an air of indifference: "Recently... how have you been?"
"It's okay," the girl made a few meaningless gestures, "With the premiere of Brokeback Mountain, controversy is inevitable."
"How are they... No, I didn't mean that... I mean... I'm asking about... your... your younger siblings..." Liv waved her hands and smiled wryly at not knowing what to say.
"Very bad." Angela said in a calm tone that surprised even herself, "Maybe when..."
The girl shrugged self-deprecatingly, and Liv didn't continue. It took a few minutes for her to speak again: "Thank you...for the reminder, that day—I was going to Manhattan with a few friends."
"As long as it's fine, I too... I made the call with the attitude that I would rather believe what I have than I don't believe in nothing, but I didn't expect... a disaster happened." Angela suddenly became stammered, and in the end she still Gathering up the courage to look Liv in the eye: "You... will you forgive me, Liv? Can we... be friends?"
Liv finally raised her face, and the two pairs of eyes collided for the first time without reservation. As if a few seconds or a century had passed, Liv turned her head sharply and bit her lip, shaking her shoulders a few times before whispering, "I don't know, Angie, I don't know... I'm very I want to say yes, I thought I could face it calmly after half a year..."
She turned her head, and a trace of sadness flashed in her blue eyes: "But when you appear in front of me again, I don't know what to say or do, I want to hug you, I want to push you away, I …I want to hate you, but…”
Among Liv's beautiful eyes, there was only sadness that could not be resolved. Angela clenched her hands tightly, her knuckles were turning white, and she barely calmed down after taking a few deep breaths. Just as she was about to reach out to grab the other's arm, Liv shook her head slightly, turned and left in a hurry without looking back.
The girl didn't catch up. After watching her back disappear into the crowd, she slowly wiped her face back and forth a few times. This was in a public place. Bear it in your heart. Even Liv wouldn't forgive me, what if... if I told them all three... what would happen
At this moment, a slightly proud voice rang in my ears: "I didn't expect to see you here again, Chris."
William, who was in a suit and leather shoes, neatly adjusted his collar, exuding the temperament of His Royal Highness as a prince of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and naturally ignored Angela's cold white eyes: "This time I am Going to the premiere in a private capacity, frankly, I'm looking forward to seeing you do things in the movie that you wouldn't normally do."