Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Film-Ennis vs. Story-Ennis and Film-Jack vs. Story-Jack
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: Rayn on May 04, 2006, 01:19:12 am --- where when Jack says, "Tell you what, sometimes I miss you so much I can hardly stand it." and Ennis does nothing. I always thought that was strange, almost cold on his part.
--- End quote ---
That has always bothered me, too. But others have suggested it's because he feels guilty, knowing that he has to tell Jack he won't be back til November. He does look grim, rather than indifferent or incommunicative. Still, I wasn't sure until I watched the final argument/quit you scene today. Now I'm pretty convinced -- he looks so nervous before breaking the news and waits until literally the last possible moment, as Jack is climbing into his truck. Obviously he has been dreading it. And rightly so!
But getting back on topic, Movie Ennis is far less verbally affectionate. But in some ways, he's more in touch with his feelings than Story Ennis. For example, why would it take SE a YEAR after leaving Brokeback to figure out why he puked? Did he really think it was bad food, or was that just a colorful turn of phrase? In any case, ME may not be able to describe his feelings very articulately, and certainly would never reveal them to Jack, but I think he has at least a general idea of what they are, right there in the alley.
Another difference: Story Ennis seems much less internally homophobic.
Jeff Wrangler:
Katherine,
--- Quote ---Another difference: Story Ennis seems much less internally homophobic.
--- End quote ---
At least we agree on this one! ;)
This point came up in discussion a long time ago back at IMDb. It was suggested--not by me, though I agreed with it--that Story Ennis is more constrained by concerns or fears about society's reaction to an open relationship with Jack, whereas Movie Ennis seems more constrained by his own internalized homophobia--literally his own fear of being gay.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on May 04, 2006, 03:42:57 pm ---This point came up in discussion a long time ago back at IMDb. It was suggested--not by me, though I agreed with it--that Story Ennis is more constrained by concerns or fears about society's reaction to an open relationship with Jack, whereas Movie Ennis seems more constrained by his own internalized homophobia--literally his own fear of being gay.
--- End quote ---
I don't know who wrote the post you're referring to, but I have said that before, myself. Story Ennis' fears seem confined mainly to practical concern about the danger. With Movie Ennis, that's just the tip of the iceberg.
In that respect, ME seems like a more fully realized character. Because, as starboardlight and maybe others have pointed out, growing up gay with a father whom you believe is at least hypothetically capable of tortuing someone to death for being gay could really mess you up.
Jeff Wrangler:
Katherine,
--- Quote ---In that respect, ME seems like a more fully realized character. Because, as starboardlight and maybe others have pointed out, growing up gay with a father whom you believe is at least hypothetically capable of tortuing someone to death for being gay could really mess you up.
--- End quote ---
Not disagreeing here, just making sure I understand your point. Considering that Story Ennis and Movie Ennis "had the same father," are you suggesting that Story Ennis doesn't seem "messed up enough," or, at least, "as messed up," so to speak, in comparison to his movie incarnation?
Jeff
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on May 04, 2006, 07:09:58 pm ---Considering that Story Ennis and Movie Ennis "had the same father," are you suggesting that Story Ennis doesn't seem "messed up enough," or, at least, "as messed up," so to speak, in comparison to his movie incarnation?
--- End quote ---
Yes. Story Ennis, at least in comparison to Movie Ennis, seems to be making a calculated and rational decision: better not move in with Jack, because two men living together might get attacked. Movie Ennis is afraid of that, too. But that's only part of his problem.
Though story Ennis' fears lead to much unhappiness, they are actually well-founded, based on his childhood experience, Jack's eventual possible fate, and what we all know in real life. If anything, he's just being too rational for his own good. But in that respect, he doesn't seem particularly messed up.
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