Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Interpreting the Brokeback poster
myprivatejack:
--- Quote from: ineedcrayons on December 29, 2007, 04:07:24 pm ---Interesting! It could almost be seen as a picture of Ennis with Jack in his thoughts.
--- End quote ---
Jack in his thoughts when they were away from each other or,unfortunately,when this was the only place he can recover Jack,already not in physical sense...And also,as it's been said if I remember well,a way to protect Jack,the way Ennis was protecting him against inopportune glances or gossip but above all,against society's intolerance-his "hobbyhorse" in which,by the way,he was unsuccessful-.Does this also make sense?.
Brown Eyes:
--- Quote from: myprivatejack on December 31, 2007, 07:31:50 am ---Jack in his thoughts when they were away from each other or,unfortunately,when this was the only place he can recover Jack,already not in physical sense...And also,as it's been said if I remember well,a way to protect Jack,the way Ennis was protecting him against inopportune glances or gossip but above all,against society's intolerance-his "hobbyhorse" in which,by the way,he was unsuccessful-.Does this also make sense?.
--- End quote ---
I like the idea that Ennis's position might suggest a protectiveness or defensiveness in blocking the viewer's access to the image of Jack. We've seen repeatedly discussions about Ennis's protectiveness regarding Jack so this makes good sense to me. I also think the image could imply that Jack is also being protective of Ennis in the sense that he may be interpreted a bit like a guardian angel (a little surreal with the distorted anatomy here, and also in a hovering position)... this falls nicely in line with the "ministering angel" description of Jack from the story and may be particularly poignant if this is an image of Ennis' remembering Jack following the accident/murder.
Sandy:
I think that I have a slightly different take on the poster.
When our boys first met and were heading to the bar, Jack walked with his head high whilst Ennis walked behind him, facing the ground. In this poster however, they are both facing down. Is Ennis’ fear changing Jack?
Let’s say that Ennis is moving forward. Jack can’t move forward, because he is almost side on to Ennis. It appears that Ennis is moving on from Jack.
Taking it further however, does anyone have any thoughts as to why Jack is looking down at the path Ennis is leaving? Is he now watching Ennis’ back, as opposed to Ennis watching Jack’s?
The poster is of them when they were younger, in the first flush of their love. To me, Jack looks disappointed so maybe this picture shows them as they felt when they parted.
You will see that I am not really expressing my opinion, rather asking questions of you all! When I first watched the film, this poster summed it up and I’m really not sure why ???
Brown Eyes:
Hey Sandy!
I think your questions and suggestions are really intriguing.
It's definitely a puzzle why Jack would be behind... since he's usually positioned in the lead throughout the movie whenever Jack and Ennis are moving (walking to the bar, Jack is in the lead when they move the sheep, etc.). I think the main explanation for this is to foreground Ennis as the protagonist for an uninitiated viewing audience of the poster as an ad.
However, I think it is smart to see Ennis as blocking Jack... and I think this can be interpreted in many ways.
I don't see Jack here as looking disappointed... he looks wistful to me... or almost like he's sleeping. Maybe something like his facial expression in the dozy embrace... or in the motel scene where his eyes are closed. But, this is all purely personal interpretation... I'm sure there are zillions of ways to read his facial expression.
And, I think that showing Jack and Ennis while they're young, again serves at least two purposes. It emphasizes the importance of the Brokeback phase of their lives and the ideal aspects of the beginnings of their romance. And, from a more cynical marketing point of view... they're shown young because that's the phase when it's probably assumed that audiences will find them most attractive (pre-moustache-of-disillusion and pre-fisherman's hat, etc.).
Sandy:
Hello Amanda, thanks for your reply! I forget that the "money-men’s" purpose of the poster is to promote the film!
I agree with your comments that the positioning of Ennis in front of Jack shows the delicate balance between the characters that the film achieves.
You’re correct, disappointment is probably too strong a word to use here, but I think if he was wistful he would have his head raised and be looking at Ennis? I think the fact that he has his head lowered shows his hopes being dashed, but maybe again that is too strong.
Their youth in the frame? Agreed. Although Ennis says that it is a “one shot thing”, as their feelings develop on the mountain, the viewer has complete faith that they will be together (as in most love stories). And of course, Heath & Jake’s good looks get the vote!
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version