Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
"I was supposed to control the weather"... Jack and the Wind
Aussie Chris:
--- Quote from: latjoreme on May 22, 2006, 12:55:42 am ---... OK, here's one. It's not hugely original, because we've talked about it before. But anyway: "What's your name?" "Ennis ... Del Mar." (And I love, in the Cassie scene, that odd little half-smile Ennis gives after saying that.) Oh, and another example of this line is the cute funny way (despite the sad context) he signs his last postcard with his whole name. Like if he just said "Ennis," Jack might be left wondering which Ennis it could be.
--- End quote ---
ROTFL! You are too funny Katherine! And I love the smiling "Del Mar" that Ennis emphasises in the Cassie scene - not going to make that mistake again. You guys are amazing and my head's spinning just reading this. I can't believe that you're still finding more symbolism and metaphors that work so beautifully and cleverly that they must be intentional. I don't really have any help for you at this stage, you're all on a level I could begin to dream of. I will think about it though!
nakymaton:
--- Quote from: Mikaela on May 21, 2006, 05:42:16 pm ---It also serves to explain why the sad flashback to Ennis's childhood appears to take place in the most arid and desert-like landscape of the entire movie, a contrast to the rushing waters of Brokeback Mountain and all that they symbolize.
--- End quote ---
Oh, wow, good catch, Mikaela. That's the scene that I think was filmed in New Mexico (the vegetation and rocks look like northern NM, at least), and every now and then I've wondered why they trekked all the way down to New Mexico to film that scene. I mean, it seems as if they managed to find places to stand in for everything else, even Texas, in Alberta. I haven't been through Ennis's hometown, but at that elevation and in that part of Wyoming, the vegetation should be a bit different, still sagebrush but not so desert-like.
But if they wanted a lack of water to be really symbolic of that memory, well, that makes the choice make more sense.
Katherine:
--- Quote ---But anyway: "What's your name?" "Ennis ... Del Mar." (And I love, in the Cassie scene, that odd little half-smile Ennis gives after saying that.)
--- End quote ---
And that sets up a sad parallel with Jack's encounter with Randall, when Randall talks about getting together to go fishing and everything. Other people are trying to pick up both Ennis and Jack, but the experiences just remind both men of each other.
You know, I like the additions of the Cassie and Randall stories to the movie. They show just how intense the bond between Ennis and Jack was -- even after so many years of being surrounded by other people, it's clear that none of the other options is a satisfying substitute.
As for other repeated lines: Ennis calls Jack "Jack fucking Twist" at the reunion and the 2nd to last camping trip. (And in the lake confrontation? I can't remember.) Jack calls Ennis "son of a bitch" at the reunion, and "son of a whore-son bitch" in the lake confrontation. Terms of affection turned painful. :(
Front-Ranger:
Thanks, Katharine and Amanda, for unburying that thread and for your kind comments. It was Amanda who pointed out about Ennis and the coffeepot.
About the “And here I am” statements, I’m sure I don’t begin to understand them but I will make a start. We hear “And here I am” in two places: . Each time there is an undercurrent of uneasiness. Aguirre is spurred by Jack’s mother to appear at the camp. Through him, she offers an out if he wants to leave his job. Perhaps she misses him (I know I would!) and wants him to return. Perhaps Uncle Harold is gay and/or Jack has a special relationship with him. In the latter declaration, Alma offers Ennis an out of the sham he is living by divorcing him. Jack shows up and says “And here I am” at the pivotal point. Ennis, panicking because now he has to make a commitment or at least a decision, uses his daughters as his latest excuse. Jack must have had qualms that this would happen; thus he sends no advance post card and makes no phone call before his visit. I’m not sure if Jack’s actions are premeditated or wishful thinking, but the end result is that, in both cases, a door is opened and no one goes through it.
starboardlight:
--- Quote from: latjoreme on May 21, 2006, 05:54:05 pm ---So that led to a discussion of coffee pots, with people noticing that the coffee pot seems to represent Jack, while the bucket represents Ennis. Ennis is washing out a coffee pot in that early scene when he's standing in the river and worriedly watches Jack ride up the mountain. The morning after TS1, he opens the tent flap and the first objects in view are a coffee pot and bucket (now uprighted). In the dozy embrace scene, the coffee pot and bucket are standing cozily side-by-side on the grill. Jack's mom serves Ennis coffee. In Ennis' trailer, there's a coffee pot on the stove, and he serves Alma Jr. coffee. There are probably others I'm not remembering.
--- End quote ---
how did I miss that discussion. I like the bucket and coffee pot analysis. Jack as the coffee pot, makes Ennis's "only traveling I eve done, was around the coffee pot looking for the handle" kinda sexy metaphor. It certainly fits into that part of the discussion about Mexico with a new underlayer for me.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: starboardlight on May 22, 2006, 01:36:25 pm --- Jack as the coffee pot, makes Ennis's "only traveling I ever done, was around the coffee pot looking for the handle" kinda sexy metaphor.
--- End quote ---
That's for sure!
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version