“As an active member of the LDS (Mormon) faith, a semi-new resident of Salt Lake City and a self-proclaimed cineaste, I find Larry Miller’s pulling of Brokeback Mountain rather hypocritical and in very poor judgement,” says Jeremy Porter. “Good ol’ Larry has been making mint off of morally questionable films for a long time now (Casanova, Hostel and Grandma’s Boy are all currently playing the same location from which Brokeback Mountain was pulled). While I believe theater management is completely entitled and justified to pull a film on moral grounds if they so desire, but if you want to take a stand, Larry — take a stand! Refuse to show the ‘immoral’ PG-13 sex-comedy dreck and soul-numbing horror films that are polluting our theaters and crowding out thoughtful pieces that might make a mensch of someone. Had he pulled all such ‘immoral’ films from his theater, thought I may have disagreed personally, I still would’ve applauded the move and said, ‘Here’s a man who’s finally standing by his principles and doing what he feels should be done, commercial interests and public opinion be damned.’ But by simply pulling Brokeback Mountain, he isn’t convincing anyone. So Larry, until you can make that decision, you’ll have to let viewers decide for themselves.”

“Apart from the news about Brokeback Mountain getting pulled in two cities, I thought you might be interested to know that in Oklahoma City last night’s Brokeback opening was packed,” says reader Kevin Costello. “Two theatres were filled with 45 minutes prior to a 7:15 showtime — the two biggest auditoriums in the biggest multiplex in the metro area. This without the film being screened for area critics at any point and a just-moved-up release date here. Now, Oklahoma is state so red the skies and buildings are coated in a tangible Matrix-like crimson haze (this might also be due to our abundance of red dirt and frequent high winds), but there were tears, cheers, and much after-film discourse in the lobby. I was surprised, to say the least. And I, you know, live here.”

Reader Harold Wexler has explained, and I understand now: it’s not SAG’s fault for leaving Roberta Maxwell out of the SAG ensemble nomination list for Brokeback Mountain. The film’s producers are responsible for submitting the lists of which cast members should be cited in the nomination, and with the notable exception of Good Night, and Good Luck (which lists everyone who has a halfway important part, up to and including Dianne Reeves), all the nominated films are represented only by those cast members with featured billing. As small as Anna Faris‘ role is in Brokeback Mountain, she’s got featured billing because she’s been in a few crap movies and played Cameron Diaz in Lost in Translation.

I heard this morning that Eli Roth’s Hostel, which opened Friday to big business, could have been a Screen Gems release but something queered the deal and Lions Gate came in and scooped it up. It did $7.5 million on Friday at 2195 theatres (roughly $3400 a theatre) and is expected to take in $20 million for the weekend.

Narnia will do about $14 million for the weekend. Fun with Dick and Jane isn’t a very good film, but it’s going to top $100 million after all — did $3.8 million last night and projecting $12.2 million for the weekend. King Kong did $3.4 million last night…expected to earn $11.5 for the weekend. (It’ll wind up with about $225 million.) Cheaper by the Dozen 2 did $2.2 million last night, $7.7 million for the weekend. In 1485 theatres, Munich did $2.2 million last night and is expecting a $7.6 million weekend haul…not so great. Memoirs of a Geisha did $1.8 million last night with an expected $7 million for the weekend. Rumor Has It is still dead…$1.8 million last night. The Family Stone still might each about $60 million, but it only did $1.5 million last night. The Ringer did the same. Poor Casanova isn’t going anywhere…it did $1.2 last night in 1000 theatres for 1100 per print. Match Point expanded to 304 theatres and did $790,000 last night — expected to earn about $2.8 million for the weekend. It’s going to do better than most Woody’s, but it’s still a Woody. Grandma’s Boy died…about $1,380,000 last night. And I’ve lost the figures on BloodRayne but I know they weren’t sensational.

These stories about Brokeback Mountain getting suddenly pulled from theatres [see below] in both Salt Lake City and Pulsbo, Washington, are terrific. I love it when the red brigades get all morally adamant and dig in their heels…it’s good drama. Ang Lee’s film moved into 215 new theatres yesterday (Friday, 1.6). If there are any new incidents happening anywhere else in the country, please advise.