I just happened to see a documentary about why there are "no gay actors" in Hollywood - and the backlash there had been for those in the past that even semi-came out. Cary Grant. I had no idea. But they told a real sorry tale of him leaving his bf after studio pressure and marrying 5 consequtive women and drinking a lot... And there were more stories like that about other actors. Who had experienced a real backlash and had been made to toe the line as a hunk for the ladies. It set me to thinking.
It made me think of what Jake experienced related to Brokeback. There were anti-gay protesters along their route to the Oscars (Annie Proulx commented on that). And he had some really ugly remarks thrown at him outside the BAFTAS. There was an immense pressure and focus on him (and Heath) for a long time.... not all of it pleasant and much of it must have felt totally overwhelming however well he seemed to field it. Several of the gossip sites keep hinting or saying openly that he's gay. It must have given him pause after a while concerning even leaving open the possibility that he would not be
"afraid, if it happened". which he said at one point.
And yes, I think there is just as much pressure (at least for mainstream movie stars) in Hollywood to conform to the "wholesome" hetero ideals as there ever was. Look at what happened to Brokeback's Oscar loss and the obvious reason for it. Look at the general anti-gay mood in the US these days... Homophobia all the way.
Even if there wasn't that whole homophobic "conform or get no good roles" issue; - imagine some big time movie star coming out. That would be the only thing the poor man would ever get to talk about and comment on, wouldn't it? He'd be a poster child for gay Hollywood, and be held up for scrutiny in every thing he said and did. He'd receive a lot of ugly constant attention from gay-bashers as well. That kind of constant attantion - both the well-meaning and the ugly - must be quite constraining and tiresome and not necessarily the one big mission in life that any person would feel comfortable with taking on....
I'm
not saying anything about Jake specifically, I have no idea about that and I have no right whatsoever to be speculating. He may be the straightest man on the planet. But I do think that if the current affair isn't the big true love thing for whatever reason, he still has many strong carreer-related reasons to be eager to present himself as in a serious relationship with a famous attractive woman, - to dispell those rumours that has been circulating and were fuelled by Brokeback. (And without too much fuss, I can manage to come up with a reason or two for Reese to go along with it.)
In short, yes
in general I do think the "beard" phenomenon is alive and kicking in Hollywood.
And I agree with you Mel that I don't get the "totally in love" vibes from the RW/JG pics I've seen, so I remain a bit doubtful about what that is really all about. Not that it's any of my business, but... well... can't go on the net anywhere these days without seeing something about it.
And anyway, probably we'll have some really schmoopy pics soon, dispelling all doubt about them being madly in love.
Topic: Jake Jake Jake! (Read 3212283 times)