Briefly explain why the movie Brokeback Mountain was important to the advancement of the gay rights movement in cinema

What will be an ideal response?

Answer: The ideal answer should include:
1. Queer cinema may be a term coined by (mostly) gay film artists and critics in the 1990, but you don’t have to be gay to be a part of that movement.
2. For example, all the major talent in Brokeback Mountain (including stars Jake Gyllenhall and Heath Ledger) was heterosexual, and proud of it. This picture was also not marketed to just a narrow niche, “queer” audience.
3. The movie was a surprise mainstream success, grossing over $165 million worldwide. It became a cultural phenomenon, providing a seemingly inexhaustible source of material for mainstream late-night comedians (who referred to it as “the gay cowboy movie”), as well as countless op-ed commentaries by cultural journalists.
4. It was the most critically and commercially successful movie ever to deal with the subject of homosexuality. The picture was the recipient of many honors, including twelve Academy Award nominations. It received universally favorable reviews and won many prizes, including a Best Director Oscar for Ang Lee and one for Best Adapted Screenplay for Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana.