Randy Quaid Sues over 'Brokeback' $cam

We love this news story: Randy Quaid is apparently suing the producers of "Brokeback Mountain" for misrepresenting the film to him during contract negotiations as "a low-budget, art house film, with no prospect of making any money."

We read this from TMZ.com:

"TMZ obtained a copy of the lawsuit, filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, claiming producers falsely represented the movie to him as 'a low-budget, art house film, with no prospect of making any money.' Quaid claims the representations were a ruse from the beginning. 'Brokeback' has grossed around $160 million.

"Quaid's suit claims that in 2004, he met with director Ang Lee, who offered him the role of Joe Aguirre. The suit alleges that Lee told Quaid: 'We can't pay anything, we have very little money, everyone is making a sacrifice to make this film.'

"The suit does not specifically state how much Quaid made, but it does claim that the defendants 'were engaged in a "movie laundering" scheme designed to obtain the services of talent such as Randy Quaid on economically unfavorable art film terms ... ' The suit asks for $10 million in damages as well as punitive damages. It also seeks 'restitution for all ill-gotten gains.'"

What's wonderful about this lawsuit is that it will help expose what a complete fraud the "independent" film scene has become, with studios distributing and even financing "art house" films through their specialty outfits.

Essentially the "independent" film world has become an elaborate shell game whereby the studios are able to take advantage of high-end talent with little financial risk, and re-package conventional Hollywood product made by conventional Hollywood talent with conventional Hollywood attitudes as "new," "risky," "edgy," "outside-the-mainstream" ... pick-your-cliché.

According to the Hollywood Reporter:

"Randy Quaid sued Focus Features, 'Brokeback Mountain' producer James Schamus and former Focus co-president David Linde for $10M for allegedly persuading him to effectively 'donate' his performance in the film by claiming the project was going to be a low-budget art house project."

It's completely easy to believe Quaid's claim here, because the indie film scene has become such a sham. Look, for example, at the Independent Spirit Awards given out in Santa Monica the day before the Oscars. It's all the same honorees!

Hollywood has figured out that a great way to make money is to take high-priced Hollywood stars, put them in cheap, indie films, mau-mau critics into praising the films for their transgressive/left-leaning politics, and then rake in the resulting awards and box office receipts.

It's funny, for example, how these companies can always find an extra $10 million for Oscar promotions, but not for anybody's up-front salaries.

It's a great racket and we're hoping Quaid's suit helps to expose the fraudthat makes this entire money-making scheme possible.