Ang Lee: Homophobia might have cost Brokeback Mountain the Best Picture Oscar

File this one under very frustrating but interesting nonetheless. The Los Angeles Times' Tom O'Neil, who writes the entertainment blog The Envelope, recently sat down with Brokeback Mountain director Ang Lee. Amongst other things, the two men (in a recorded interview) chatted about Lee's new film Lust, Caution which was just deemed ineligible for the Oscars. But later the chat turned to Brokeback Mountain's Best Picture loss to Crash and here is the frustrating part -- the battery on the camera died and the cameraman didn't notice. Oy. (Hattip to AfterElton.com reader Wayman!)

O'Neil reports that at first Lee downplayed on homophobia on the Academy's part, but when pressed finally admitted it might have been a factor. O'Neill writes in The Envelope:

At first, he politely dismissed the idea, being gallantly deferential to the academy and respectful to "Crash." But then, as I pressed him harder, he slowly began to concede that homophobia possibly played some role. But how big? Dang! I wish I could remember the exact words Lee used! We lingered on the subject for a long time and had a fascinating chat, but I don't want to try and paraphrase him now and risk misquoting him. We'll just have to pick up the conversation at some future point when I run into Lee again.

Perhaps O'Neil could next chat with film critic Roger Ebert about it.

Interestingly enough, a short time after talking with Lee, O'Neill chatted with Heath Ledger and the subject again came up. If you're wondering how controversial the issue still is in certain circles, check out Ledger's reaction according to O'Neill:

Ledger's face went flush with terror.

"Don't make me answer that question!" he begged, waving his arms to make the question go away, then covering his head with his hands.