The Brian Lehrer Show

Actors Heath Ledger (L) and Jake Gyllenhaal in Brokeback Mountain.

Actors Heath Ledger (L) and Jake Gyllenhaal in Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain. (Focus Features)

But is it a Gay Movie?

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

It has sex between two matinee idols in a tent, but is Brokeback Mountain really a gay movie? Many critics think it isn’t. But—pardon the expression—how can you tell? And could Brokeback just be a Priscilla, Queen of the Desert for the 21st century? Also: NJ politics, suing the government and juicy supreme court decisions.

Listen to the whole show

Mr. New Jersey

Bob Hennelly, WNYC reporter
- on the inauguration of Jon Corzine yesterday

But is it a Gay Movie?

Harry Benshoff, assistant professor in the Department of Radio, Television and Film at the University of North Texas in Denton,
- on Brokeback Mountain's place in gay cinema

» Harry Benshoff (University of North Texas)
» Brokeback Mountain (official movie site)

Crossed Wires

Christopher Hitchens, contributing editor to Vanity Fair
and
Arsalan Istikahar, legal director of the Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR)
- are suing the Bush administration to find out if the NSA monitored their communications

» "Two Groups Planning to Sue Over Federal Eavesdropping" by Eric Lichtblau in The New York Times (free for one week from publishing date)
» Christopher Hitchens statement (ACLU)
» CAIR

Supreme Court Skinny

Emily Bazelon, senior editor of Slate
-on assisted suicide, parental controls on abortion and the lawsuits against the Bush administration

» Slate Magazine