'Brokeback' rides roughshod over Oscar nominations

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2006

BEVERLY HILLS, United States (AFP) — The gay cowboy love story "Brokeback Mountain" rode roughshod over the Oscars nominations, lassoing in a leading eight nods, including best picture, best director and best actor.

Taiwan filmmaker Ang Lee's controversial tale of two young ranch hands who fall into a conflicted two-decade relationship, won him a best director nod, a best actor nomination for Australia's Heath Ledger and twin best supporting actor nods for co-stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Michelle Williams.

"The gay cowboys are way out front in the race now, as in the past 20 years, the movie with the most nominations has gone on to win best picture 17 times," said awards expert Tom O'Neil, warning however that the rule may not hold this year.

The film, based on...