Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
lovable subtle details
DeeDee:
so dark...I want the cap before this one
serious crayons:
Among the subtle details that I love the most are the expression changes on Ennis' face in the last few scenes that, though almost imperceptible, suggest surging emotions. Somehow he is able to move his face half a millimeter and convey anything from hope to hearbreak. For example, when Lureen mentions Brokeback as being "where bluebirds sing and there's a whiskey spring," he manages to give the slightest hint of a smile as he remembers the source of the phrase, while still looking distraught. Again, when John Twist mentions Jack's plans to ranch with Ennis, he reacts with -- well, it can hardly be called a smile, more like his face slightly brightens, but you can see that he finds knowing that comforting. And of course his face darkens a second later, when he hears about Randall, but again, just slightly -- plus the flared nostrils -- yet we see how devastating that news is.
And the range of expressions he goes through after hearing Alma Jr. say her fiance loves her -- well, that's my OTHER favorite two seconds of the movie.
Brown Eyes:
--- Quote from: latjoreme on May 12, 2006, 06:28:25 pm ---Again, when John Twist mentions Jack's plans to ranch with Ennis, he reacts with -- well, it can hardly be called a smile, more like his face slightly brightens, but you can see that he finds knowing that comforting. And of course his face darkens a second later, when he hears about Randall, but again, just slightly -- plus the flared nostrils -- yet we see how devastating that news is.
And the range of expressions he goes through after hearing Alma Jr. say her fiance loves her -- well, that's my OTHER favorite two seconds of the movie.
--- End quote ---
Yes, I generally think that facial expressions on the part of all the actors virtually make this movie. Alma Jr. is brilliant at subtle facial expressions... most of her acting in this movie comes from facial expressions rather than lines delivered... amazing for such a young actress. And Jake deserved every award he won for the range of facial expressions in the reunion kiss scene. Seriously.
Anyway, in reference to the quote above... yes it is absolutely wonderful to see that almost smile out of Ennis when John Twist lets him know all about Jack's plans to bring Ennis to the ranch and run it. I think this moment is a revelation to Ennis. It probably never occurred to him that Jack's plans were concrete... that there was an actual ranch available to them to have... that Jack had been confident enough about this idea to tell his parents. Ennis had never been able to imagine/ visualize what a life with Jack would look like in the real world. And now, John Twist makes it crystal clear to him. Jack's plan might have worked... and could have been real- not just a fantasy. But, the most heartbreaking thing about Ennis's *almost* smile is that it is tinged with guilt. He knows he was responsible for dashing that dream of Jack's. How awful to know that you're the one who truly loved Jack and are also just one of those people who prevented Jack's "ideas from coming to pass." I don't think I'm being too harsh on Ennis here. It's just part of the grim reality of the way the story ends I think.
Yes, the nostril flair over Randall is awesome. One more sign, I think, that Ennis truly thinks of himself as Jack's real partner by now.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: atz75 on May 12, 2006, 10:08:12 pm ---Anyway, in reference to the quote above... yes it is absolutely wonderful to see that almost smile out of Ennis when John Twist lets him know all about Jack's plans to bring Ennis to the ranch and run it. I think this moment is a revelation to Ennis. It probably never occurred to him that Jack's plans were concrete... that there was an actual ranch available to them to have... that Jack had been confident enough about this idea to tell his parents. Ennis had never been able to imagine/ visualize what a life with Jack would look like in the real world. And now, John Twist makes it crystal clear to him. Jack's plan might have worked... and could have been real- not just a fantasy. But, the most heartbreaking thing about Ennis's *almost* smile is that it is tinged with guilt. He knows he was responsible for dashing that dream of Jack's. How awful to know that you're the one who truly loved Jack and are also just one of those people who prevented Jack's "ideas from coming to pass." I don't think I'm being too harsh on Ennis here. It's just part of the grim reality of the way the story ends I think.
--- End quote ---
Yes, I agree that the subtlety of ALL the characters' facial expressions is amazing. I recently posted on the "I love everything Alma Jr.' thread about how much I love her long, thoughtful look and gentle voice as she says, "Yes, daddy, he loves me." And Jack in the reunion kiss -- I also love seeing that he's so happy and incredulous he appears on the verge of tears. Touching and amazing.
You're right, Amanda, the fact that Ennis realizes the plans were concrete, and he was the one that prevented them, make this scene so heartbreaking. At one time I could hardly watch the last few scenes; now they've become possibly my favorite part of the movie (though I still can hardly stand to watch them). Ennis' expressions emotions are SO powerful, yet the constraints are SO strong that he is hardly able to reveal any emotion at all. That happens throughout the movie with both Ennis and Jack, but the conflict between emotion and restraint is particularly strong in the Twist ranch scene. We see what Ennis is going through, as does Mrs. Twist, yet John Twist hardly notices. It's amazing to see an actor 1) pretending not to show any emotion, yet somehow 2) actually showing huge depths of emotion and yet all the while 3) never going over the top or seeming the least bit maudlin or false.
I've said it a million times, but Heath was so robbed of that Oscar.
silkncense:
--- Quote ---but Heath was so robbed of that Oscar
--- End quote ---
You are SO right!!!
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