Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
TOTW 02/08: Was Lureen pregnant when she met Jack?
moremojo:
Our fellow member brokeplex provides compelling evidence that corroborates what Chrissi has posted:
http://bettermost.net/forum/index.php/topic,15379.msg311426.html#msg311426
I do share Chrissi's doubts as to whether the timeline discrepancies were intentional and subtly reflected Jack's lack of paternity or whether they were an oversight. For the longest, I never questioned Jack being Bobby's father, but the very real possibility that he wasn't cannot now be ignored.
So, in answer to the question, I must submit...maybe. This could help to explain the perception that some have voiced that the child cast as Bobby in the Thanksgiving scene does not resemble Jake's Jack very strongly.
LauraGigs:
Well, young Ennis has ruler-straight hair, as opposed to grownup Ennis' curls. And the child cast as Alma Jr. (who says "bring fish home daddy, big ones" and "I need crayons") doesn't resemble the other Alma Jr. actresses — in fact, none of their eye colors match. So personally, I wouldn't take Bobby Jr's casting into much account.
We're talking about the backstory of a secondary character; it doesn't make sense from a story-structure angle for there to be an issue here.
I agree that Lureen was smitten with Jack. (Hathaway's performance in the final telephone scene implies possible deception; if Lureen were 'hoodwinking' Jack in the beginning, the acting performance would imply that deception too. But it doesn't.)
I think the simplest solution is the best: "eight months old" just should have been "four months old".
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: LauraGigs on January 14, 2008, 02:22:59 pm ---Well, young Ennis has ruler-straight hair, as opposed to grownup Ennis' curls. And the child cast as Alma Jr. (who says "bring fish home daddy, big ones" and "I need crayons") doesn't resemble the other Alma Jr. actresses — in fact, none of their eye colors match. So personally, I wouldn't take Bobby Jr's casting into much account.
We're talking about the backstory of a secondary character; it doesn't make sense from a story-structure angle for there to be an issue here.
--- End quote ---
I agree with all of this. I wouldn't put much weight on the appearance of the actors. Even in real life, children often look nothing like their biological parents. And there's no point in their being an elaborate backstory to a character that isn't explored further in the film.
And yet, I have seen credible arguments, in addition to the timeline, that Lureen was already pregnant. Let's see if I can remember some of them:
-- Lureen is very eager to get together with Jack in the bar, and even more eager to have sex with him on their first "date." She IS in a hurry! For good reason.
-- L.D. Newsome gives Jack the brushoff immediately after the baby is born and then (supposedly) would even pay him to get lost, even though being dumped like that would have hurt his daughter and her reputation. But Jack's done his job, saving Lureen's reputation from even worse damage. And remember in those pre-Roe v. Wade days how disastrous and out-of-wedlock birth could be.
-- "Isn't he the spittin image of his grandpa?" repeated twice for emphasis. A relieved acknowledgment -- or perhaps a cautionary reminder to all listening -- that the baby does NOT resemble anyone outside the family.
-- Jack is far less concerned than Ennis about the prospect of readily ditching his child in favor of the sweet life, even though it seems possible that such a move would mean never seeing the boy again.
-- Thanksgiving scene: "This is MY house and this is MY child." Jack reasserts his paternity. L.D. backs down quickly -- because they've all agreed to uphold, tacitly or openly, the story that Jack IS the father.
Now, I realize all of these have other perfectly reasonable explanations. Still ...
Jeff Wrangler:
I'd be in a hurry, too, if I was in the back seat of a car with Jake Gyllenhaal. I wouldn't want to give him time to change his mind! :laugh:
No, I don't believe Lureen was pregnant when she met Jack--though she may well have conceived in the back seat of that car.
That rodeo arena sign with a date on it goes by so quickly that I have yet actually to see it when I'm watching the film. Without checking, I won't swear to it, but I think Jack's "eight months old" line is taken from Annie Proulx's text (I admire McMurtry and Ossana for using as much of AP's dialogue as they did)--and the story gives no indication when Jack and Lureen met.
I guess it seems a stretch, but I think this is just a case where no one checked the continuity.
tampatalon:
--- Quote from: Penthesilea on January 14, 2008, 08:03:57 am ---But it is a good thought and it might be interesting to look at some close-ups of Lureen anyway. Maybe someone will post some or I will do so in the next days.
--- End quote ---
Chrissi, Its was just a quick thought on my part but I appreciate the response
and the beautiful shots of Anne Hathaway. They will make a great addition to
my saved movie photos!
Thank you so very much :)
Steve
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