Editorial: Of men and mountains

Sunday, March 5, 2006 | 7:17 a.m.

That "gay cowboy movie" and other Oscar contenders have boosted ticket sales in the United States and Canada by $43.1 million since the Academy Award nominations for best picture were announced in January.

But, Bloomberg News reports, that's the smallest revenue bump for best-picture nominees in 10 years, showing that what's nominated isn't always what sells the most. Still, don't blame it on the movies, industry experts said. Ticket sales for movies have been in a slump overall, with 2005's figures representing the steepest plunge in almost 20 years.

Studio executives told Bloomberg News that maybe last year's movies were too serious. And it does seem that making a statement was nearly as important as making big bucks among this year's best-picture candidates. These weren't your average shoot-em-up flicks or romantic comedies.

"Brokeback Mountain" chronicles the yearslong love affair between a pair of Wyoming cowboys. Moviegoers explore the McCarthy era in "Good Night, and Good Luck." The movie "Munich" shows a different - and highly controversial - take on the response to the murder of 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympic Games.

The film "Crash" explores racial tension in Los Angeles. "Capote" viewers follow Truman Capote as he writes "In Cold Blood," a book about four murders in rural Kansas. And "Transamercia," which was nominated for best song and best actress, follows a transsexual's cross-country trip with her son.

All are pretty deep subjects for a Saturday afternoon matinee. A fair number of movie patrons did seem perfectly content to munch on Junior Mints while reflecting on McCarthyism. Movie industry executives simply wish there were more of them. We just hope studios - big or small - keep churning out these flicks that make us think. Meanwhile, pass the popcorn.