Michelle Williams is still puzzled 20 years later by “Crash” beating out “Brokeback Mountain” for Best Picture. Williams said during “Watch What Happens Live!” (in the below video) while promoting series “Dying for Sex” that she is baffled by even the plot of “Crash.”
Paul Haggis wrote and directed the ensemble race drama that starred Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, William Fichtner, and Brendan Fraser. (Haggis was later found liable on three counts of rape and sexual abuse in 2022.) “Crash” won Best Picture at the 2006 Oscars, despite Ang Lee’s queer Western romance “Brokeback Mountain” having already won Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Original Score.
“Brokeback Mountain” starred Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger as two closeted cowboys who leave their wives, played by Anne Hathaway and Williams, for a few days every few years. The film was adapted from Annie Proulx’s novella by Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana.
The announcement that “Crash” had gotten Best Picture is among the most contested Oscar wins in cinema history. And it seems that Williams agrees.
“I mean, what was ‘Crash’?” Williams said when “Watch What Happens Live!” host Andy Cohen shared that he believes “Brokeback Mountain” is a better film. Williams also remembered the impact “Brokeback Mountain” had on audiences at the time and its enduring legacy. When asked by Cohen if she knew how monumental “Brokeback Mountain” was when the film was released, Williams said, “Yes, because people were so open about it. I just remember doing the junket…you don’t really get a lot of opportunities to see grown men cry. That was the moment I think we knew that it was going to be special.”
“Brokeback Mountain” director Lee told IndieWire film editor Ryan Lattanzio in 2024 that the Academy discriminated against the film being a gay love story, saying, “Back then, [‘Brokeback Mountain’] had a ceiling. We got a lot of support — up to that much. […] It has that feeling. I wasn’t holding a grudge or anything. It’s just how they [the Academy] were.”
Lee also told Empire that it was late actor Ledger who grounded the film. “Heath’s aura powers the whole story. He did a lot of preparation, mostly on his own. And he often surprised me with what he brought to his work,” Lee said. “One aspect I cherish was getting to witness Heath and Jake [Gyllenhaal] develop that relationship between their characters. I saw it unfold right in front of my eyes, from rehearsal all the way to filming. […] Michelle Williams broke her knee during pre-shooting, but Heath was always looking after her. He was so naturally caring towards Michelle.”
Williams and Ledger later married and had a daughter together. Ledger died in 2008.
