Friday, September 14, 2007

It Really Shouldn't Matter, But, For Some, It Does


This should really be a good movie. Tom Cavanaugh is a hottie, and the subject matter couldn't have come out at a better time. Now, if we can only see these guys give each other on the ice big hairy muscle hugs and locked lips, after a goal, WOOF. That and a locker scene full of buddy body bonding would make this flick a screen gem.

'Gay hockey movie' hopes to score despite vicious remarks
Last Updated: Thursday, September 13, 2007 8:12 PM ET
CBC News
Director Laurie Lynd says he's shocked by the hateful comments aimed at his "sweet film" about tolerance — Breakfast with Scot, or the "gay hockey movie" as it has been dubbed.
But if the movie can score at the box office as a result, Lynd says he doesn't mind.
In the movie playing this week at the Toronto International Film Festival, Canadian actor Tom Cavanagh plays a gay former Toronto Maple Leaf who works as broadcaster for a major sports network.



Because of homophobia in the field, he decides to keep his personal life a secret but that all changes when his partner's flamboyant nephew, Scot, comes to live with the couple.
"It's the one hurdle that's left to be cleared and yet they're not even close to clearing it," said Cavanagh, the Ottawa-born actor who played the title character on the TV series Ed.
The NHL and the Leafs both gave permission for their logos to be used in the movie — a first for a gay-themed movie, according to the director.


"It was an easy decision," said John Lashway, a member of the Leafs' management team. "We have fans from all kinds of lifestyles, so it just made sense for us."
Negative online posts have already taken aim at the movie, with a couple of right-wing U.S. groups contacting the Leafs. Lynd has also received hate mail.



"I read [the negative comments] while we were in production, and I had to put it down because it was so vicious about such a sweet film that is … about tolerance," says Lynd, adding he was surprised it was even an issue in 2007.



One of Canada's most vocal openly gay athletes, former Olympic swimmer Mark Tewksbury, says he's hopeful this film will open doors for athletes.



"What it could mean is that if it's OK in a fictional movie then maybe, if there is a gay person on a professional franchise like the Maple Leafs, it gives them permission to be themselves."
But for the Montreal-native Noah Bernett, who plays Scot in the movie, the issue is a no-brainer: "I think the moral of this story is that people shouldn't be scared of who they are."
More:
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/09/13/hockey-movie-scot.html?ref=rss--

5 comments:

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Anonymous said...

I love it! A sweet film about tolerance and the right wing reaction is hate. Hmm... Go figure.

I hope the publicity just helps to draw more people to the film and to the message.

Anonymous said...

From Cowboys to Ice Hockey mainstream America here we come. I love it!

Greg Fox said...

How interesting! And here I thought my character Breyer, (in Kyle's B&B) was the only fictional gay Toronto Maple Leafs jersey-wearin' character out there!

Seriously, though, this movie sounds like a lot of fun, and I look forward to seeing it.

Hope all is well with you, Buff!

--Greg

Will said...

Well, if there's any lesson to be learned from right wing bigots who protest movies, plays, etc. for their "outrageous moral content," it's that they give the very thing they decry the most invaluable free publicity.

When I was a kid growing up in an ultra-Catholic neighborhood in Queens (prophetic, no?), New York City, a totally forgettable little soft-core movie called "Baby Doll" that would have disappeared quickly on its own, was turned into a major hit by Cardinal Spellman (notorious pedophile--but that's another story). He thundered against its "indecency," its "moral degredation," etc. and Bingo! we had Baby Doll nightwear for women in lingerie stores and Woolworth's, people flocked to the movie, and he was made to look like the pompous ass he was.

Thanks for this info, Buff!