Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Film-Ennis vs. Story-Ennis and Film-Jack vs. Story-Jack
serious crayons:
OK, here's one. Both Movie Ennis and Movie Jack are far more handsome than their story counterparts. In that sense, the story is more realistic; chances seem pretty slim that two randomly selected cowboys would both be that hot. The descriptions in the story sound a lot more like real-life cowboys would probably look.
Anybody here wish the movie had been more faithful to the story in that respect?
Also, the movie versions are also much less colloquial in their speech. Which is fine with me. The colloquialisms of the story are colorful and well-written and evoke a sense of place, but to me they are also a bit distancing.
Brown Eyes:
Heya Katherine and Jeff,
It's fun watching you two have conversations sometimes. :D
I've just been waiting for someone to bring up the glamour-factor in the book vs. film difference.
I think it's definitely clear that the filmmakers made a conscious decision to make both characters more appealing (physically in terms of casting, but also in terms of mannerisms, etc.). I think this is particularly true of Jack. I don't remember where the interview is, but I recall reading Proulx talk about how she really likes Jake's depiction of Jack but that she sees the film character as really quite significantly different. I remember she thought of film-Jack as being like "quicksilver." I don't quite know what that means, but I like it.
I think that through casting Jake the filmmakers definitely wanted to make Jack more conventionally attractive, but I'm glad they conveyed some of his "average-ness" through keeping his awkwardness (it's interesting how Jake makes this "awkwardness" simultaneously endearing and charming) as part of his character. I like in the DVD special feature how Jake describes his understanding of Jack as a person who's "really trying" that the act of "trying" hard is just part of Jack.
Personally, I'm glad I saw the movie before I read the story. One thing I find strange when I read the story even now is that I don't at all feel the same level of emotional connection with the written characters. I love Annie's writing and phrasing, etc. But, I've never felt as connected to story-Ennis or Jack.
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: latjoreme on May 05, 2006, 02:05:35 pm ---OK, here's one. Both Movie Ennis and Movie Jack are far more handsome than their story counterparts. In that sense, the story is more realistic; chances seem pretty slim that two randomly selected cowboys would both be that hot. The descriptions in the story sound a lot more like real-life cowboys would probably look.
Anybody here wish the movie had been more faithful to the story in that respect?
--- End quote ---
Not particularly. ... ;)
But this point does remind me of something I don't understand. I've read somewhere that Annie Proulx has said that in her own vision, Jack is "homely," yet her description in the story doesn't strike me as particularly unattractive. He has curly hair, and he smiles a lot. She says his buckteeth are noticeable but, in my opinion, sort of undercuts herself by saying they aren't big enough that he could eat popcorn out of the neck of a jug (I know someone with buckteeth who probably could!). Apparently he's a little broad in the, er, thighs, but so what? And he has an outgoing personality. I've never had any trouble believing that a lonely kid like Ennis could fall--hard--for an outgoing guy like Jack.
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: atz75 on May 05, 2006, 07:31:13 pm ---Heya Katherine and Jeff,
It's fun watching you two have conversations sometimes. :D
--- End quote ---
Thanks. I think. ...
--- Quote ---I've just been waiting for someone to bring up the glamour-factor in the book vs. film difference.
I think it's definitely clear that the filmmakers made a conscious decision to make both characters more appealing (physically in terms of casting, but also in terms of mannerisms, etc.). I think this is particularly true of Jack. I don't remember where the interview is, but I recall reading Proulx talk about how she really likes Jake's depiction of Jack but that she sees the film character as really quite significantly different. I remember she thought of film-Jack as being like "quicksilver." I don't quite know what that means, but I like it.
--- End quote ---
I don't really understand what she means by "quicksilver," either. Since I know that "quicksilver" is an antiquated name for "mercury," I tend to think of "quicksilver" as meaning "mercurial," which I associate with "changeable," which, to me, isn't necessarily a good thing, though it can be.
--- Quote ---I think that through casting Jake the filmmakers definitely wanted to make Jack more conventionally attractive, but I'm glad they conveyed some of his "average-ness" through keeping his awkwardness (it's interesting how Jake makes this "awkwardness" simultaneously endearing and charming) as part of his character. I like in the DVD special feature how Jake describes his understanding of Jack as a person who's "really trying" that the act of "trying" hard is just part of Jack.
Personally, I'm glad I saw the movie before I read the story. One thing I find strange when I read the story even now is that I don't at all feel the same level of emotional connection with the written characters. I love Annie's writing and phrasing, etc. But, I've never felt as connected to story-Ennis or Jack.
--- End quote ---
Interesting. I've known the story well since it's original New Yorker publication, so there was no way I could avoid seeing the film "uncontaminated." Actually, I think I must confess I do feel more connected to Story Ennis. (At least he talks more!) Story Jack, on the ther other hand, is the type of person who makes me suspicious when I meet them in real life--people who smile a little bit too much, talk a little bit too much. They make me wonder what they're up to.
Brown Eyes:
I just thought of "quicksilver" as evoking something along the lines of "high-spirited" or "energetic". Well, one of my favorite things about Annie's use of language (and this certainly does get translated into the movie) is her ability to be enigmatic.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version