Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
TOTW 01/08: Do you think Jack was murdered or was it an accident?
Brown Eyes:
I think Jack's lack of fear of (1) Ennis and (2) the threat of violence is significant on a couple of levels.
My sense is that we're supposed to understand that Ennis has a reputation as a pretty tough and intimidating guy. And, Jack's reaction here just shows that he, perhaps uniquely, can see right through Ennis's tough-guy armor or exterior. He can probably see that Ennis's threats and macho response here are covering up some serious insecurities. I wonder if Jack may actually be flattered to see this amount of jealously and possessiveness come out of Ennis.
And, in terms of Jack not being scared of the threat of violence (as a general concept here)... I think shows that Jacks fears and worries are totally different than Ennis's. Ennis will spend his whole life obsessing about the threat of violence... and Jack can pretty much just blow that fear off (because for some reason it doesn't appear to be anywhere near as acute for him). His biggest fears are about continuing disappointment. I think. And, of course the fear of losing Ennis.
Brokeback_Dev:
Some people seem to think this is the point where Ennis loses Jack. Of course we all know this is their last time together because Jack was indeed killed. How do feel about that Amanda?
LauraGigs:
--- Quote from: atz75 ---And, Jack's reaction here just shows that he, perhaps uniquely, can see right through Ennis's tough-guy armor or exterior...
And, in terms of Jack not being scared of the threat of violence (as a general concept here)... I think shows that Jacks fears and worries are totally different than Ennis's.
--- End quote ---
IMO, Jack's worst fears and worries had already come true: his dream of a sweet life = gone. He was essentially a broken man long before he died.
(It's particularly striking to me in this shot:
Ennis had taken a terrible physical beating in just the previous scene, but Jack is the focus of concern here – from both Ennis and the filmmakers, it seems to me.)
Anyway, I think Jack was less afraid of a violent end (and thus may have gotten more careless) because his spirit was already essentially broken.
Brokeback_Dev:
--- Quote from: LauraGigs on January 08, 2008, 09:33:16 pm ---
Anyway, I think Jack was less afraid of a violent end (and thus may have gotten more careless) because his spirit was already essentially broken.
--- End quote ---
Awe thats so said Laura
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: LauraGigs on January 08, 2008, 08:39:35 pm ---What's interesting here is the wording: "All them things that I don't know could get you killed if I come to know them."
Awfully flowery language from a Wyoming ranch hand (although luckily it's delivered so well that it works).
--- End quote ---
--- Quote from: delalluvia on January 08, 2008, 09:00:37 pm ---Flowery? :laugh: Personally, I thought it was pretty ignorant and phrased so awkwardly as to be unbelievable had Heath not been as good an actor as he is to pull that out of his teeth and make it seem real.
--- End quote ---
The dialogue line as published in Story to Screenplay is "What I don't know, all them things I don't know ... could get you killed if I should come to know them." It's a direct quote from the story text.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version