Henrick Vartanian
Details on why Mark Wahlberg turned down a leading role in the Heath Ledger-Jake Gyllenhaal romp in the woods “Brokeback Mountain” are surfacing. In 2007 Wahlberg said the gay scenes weren’t his bag – tea bag that is. The star of the upcoming boxing flick “The Fighter” said, “I met with Ang Lee on that movie, I read 15 pages of the script and got a little creeped out. It was very graphic, descriptive – the spitting on the hand, getting ready to do the thing. I told Ang Lee, ‘I like you, you’re a talented guy, if you want to talk about it more…’ Thankfully, he didn’t…I didn’t rush to see Brokeback, it’s just not my deal… Obviously, it was done in taste – look how it was received.” Now word has it Wahlberg was advised by his priest and friend Reverend James Flavin not to involve himself with the film because the gay subject matter was opposite of Catholic teachings. The actor is a devout Catholic and hardly makes a move without a little holy consult. Reverend Flavin must have given the green light to Mark’s role as drug addicted porn star/hustler Dirk Diggler in “Boogie Nights” from 1997. And come to think of it, who hasn’t seen a Wahlberg flick where the macho man murders a few folks? And those roles are in line with Catholic teachings? The “National Enquirer says Wahblerg admits Flavin was a huge influence in his life. BNH suggests “a second opinion!?”