Ang Lee recently reflected on the memorable best picture loss of Brokeback Mountain to Crash at the 2006 Academy Awards. After winning best director for the modern-day Western, Lee was instructed by a stage manager to stay backstage as the film was expected to win best picture as well. Despite the anticipation, Crash was announced as the winner, leaving Lee and many others surprised.
In a 2015 poll conducted by THR, many Academy members expressed that they would have voted for Brokeback Mountain over Crash in the historic and controversial race. The loss of Brokeback Mountain was widely criticized at the time, with some attributing it to potential discrimination against a gay love story.
When asked about the possibility of discrimination influencing the outcome, Lee acknowledged that there may have been a ceiling for Brokeback Mountain's success within the Academy. Despite the disappointment of losing best picture, the film still received recognition with Oscars for best adapted screenplay and best original score.
