Critics Blast 'Alexander' But Novelist Gore Vidal Defends It

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - While critics savaged Oliver Stone's long-waited epic "Alexander," novelist and social activist Gore Vidal rallied to the $160 million movie's defense saying it was "barrier-breaking" because of its frank depiction of bisexuality.

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Vidal said the critics failed to see it was a seminal movie because of its treatment of Alexander's bisexuality.

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In an interview with Reuters, Vidal said the film was "a breakthrough in what you can make films about. Movies are always the last to register changes in society and this movie does it."

Vidal's novels and plays, including the hit drama "The Best Man," often deal with once taboo gay themes. He said American filmmakers had thrown up a wall against showing bisexuality out of fear of alienating the public.

"But I don't see why they should be so upset since the public practices it," he said.

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=6920297

what I've read in reviews doesn't suggest it explores his bisexuality in any serious or ground-breaking way. The only sex scene is between Alexander and a woman, and his relationship with Jared Leto's character is communicated via steamy looks alone. In an era where we have shows like Six Feet Under, it doesn't seem all that cutting edge.

...it doesn't have to explore it, it's just a "given". Which is how I prefer the issue of sexuality. It's not something to exploit or persecute or proclaim. It just is. It may colour a persons perspective, but it's not the sum totality of our being.

I'm just saying it doesn't sound like there's anything ground-breaking about the movie. If the movie is going to be extolled for dealing with bisexuality in a ground-breaking way, it would have to do something, you know, ground-breaking.

sometimes camp is a great cultural meme vector.