Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
TOTW 04/08: Finest acting moments in BBM
smellykellyjay:
--- Quote from: Verona on February 12, 2008, 12:53:20 pm ---. . . And as Ennis is standing at the door with her on the way out, the way he mouths "thank you for this" while gesturing down at the bag he's holding...
--- End quote ---
Some of my favorite moments in the movie are the one's where Ennis expresses his gratitude:
* In the "all rodeo cowboys are fuck ups" scene, Ennis says, "Thank you," after Jack pours whiskey into his cup.
* In the "You may be a sinner. . ." scene, Ennis says, "Thank you," after Jack hands him the bottle of whiskey.
* In the "condiments" scene, Ennis says, "Thanks," to Monroe.
* In the "As long as I don't have to sing" scene, Ennis says, "Thank you," to Alma when she reminds him to take his tackle box and net.
Of the four I've listed, only the "Thanks" in the condiments scene is in the published script, and none are necessarily prominent. I've always presumed that they were acting choices by Heath to show Ennis's politeness and thoughtfullness, and I admire how Heath was consistent with it. To me, Ennis speaks so little that most anything he says is meaningful. There was a time when I thought it contradicted Annie Proulx's description of Jack and Ennis in the story as being "rough-mannered." I reconciled that someone could be rough-mannered but still polite, that their being rough-mannered meant they weren't genteel.
smellykellyjay:
--- Quote from: ifyoucantfixit on February 15, 2008, 06:31:29 pm ---Well I am going to mention one that has not been discussed. It is however in my opinion a very crucial, and pivotal part in the story. I think she never received the credit that she was due. I think it was because the rest of the cast was already nominated, they thought since her role was a smaller one. She didnt deserve the nomination. Pity. . .
. . . I have always thought that Lureen on the phone to Ennis was perfection. . .
. . . If she never does anything more than the teen fair of the Princess Diaries again. Simply because of the wonderful way she portrayed Lureen. The beautiful bouncy and sparkling Texas princess, to the lonely wife, "Why is it men never want to dance with their wives?" To the obviously distraught widow. She played it all, with perfection.
--- End quote ---
I join you in praising Anne Hathaway's performance in the movie, and I agree that she didn't get enough credit. She showed that Lureen clearly loved Jack. The way she adoringly looked at Jack while they were dancing after their rodeo wins. The way she had to stifle the smile when Jack finally stood up to L.D. on Thanksgiving. Her nasty bitterness then sad resignation at the benefit with Jack, Randall, and Lashawn. And, of course, her phone conversation with Ennis.
I remember reading some reviews stating that she gave a bad performance, that she was a caricature. I also read some reviews that said Jake didn't hold up his end either. I was totally dismissive of those reviews and critics, thinking they were crazy as hell. Of course, everybody has a right to their opinion, but, when I love something as much as I do BbM, I ain't very objective myself. I mean, I wouldn't have thought anything was off if everybody in BbM down to the actors who played Fayette Newsome and Jimbo the rodeo clown got nominated for an Oscar for their performances.
I don't think I'm a good judge of acting. There have been many times an actor's performance has been lauded as great acting, and all I see is someone whose speech and behavior was big, energized. Kinda like how the squeaky wheel gets the grease, the non-subtle actor often gets the kudos. Also, I think many people say so-and-so gave a good performance simply because they like the actor or character. I like to believe I am at least somewhat aware of the difference between likability and acting, though the dividing line can be hard to determine.
I tend to presume that the performance I see is what the director intended for me to see. Unless an actor is inconsistent in their performance (for instance, an accent that comes and goes); looks like (s)he is reading from cue cards; or their manner, speech, or actions don't somehow seem to fit the overall piece, I go with the flow, figuring that's just how that character is supposed to be. If I buy it within the context of the piece, it's good acting to me. If it touches me in some way, that's great acting.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: smellykellyjay on February 18, 2008, 08:55:52 am --- Unless an actor is inconsistent in their performance (for instance, an accent that comes and goes); looks like (s)he is reading from cue cards; or their manner, speech, or actions don't somehow seem to fit the overall piece, I go with the flow, figuring that's just how that character is supposed to be.
--- End quote ---
I think I know what you mean, SKJ. If I'm watching someone who's not known as an incredibly talented actor ... like, let's say, Jennifer Lopez or Seth Green, for example, I STILL usually get caught up in the movie and think of that actor as actually being that character. They may not strike me as great, but they're not out-and-out bad. They have me convinced that they are the person they're playing.
But obviously they ARE talented, because they make it look easier than it actually is. I'm reminded of that when I watch some community-theater performances, or bad sitcoms. That's when the actors DO seem like they're reading scripts, and I have a constant awareness as I watch them that it's an actor playing a role, "acting," saying things for effect -- not the actual character being him or herself.
--- Quote ---If I buy it within the context of the piece, it's good acting to me. If it touches me in some way, that's great acting.
--- End quote ---
Yep, I'd say the same for myself.
Katie77:
This is a great thread.....so many scenes and I guess I'm like everyone else here, when I read these posts I can visualize exactly what everyone is saying, and a lot of the times, I'm reading things that I was thinking too, just didnt know exactly how to put it in words.
I was just reading the post about Anne Hathaway, and visualizing the dance scene after the rodeo, when they first met.....Jack actually changes his character here, we see him as unsure, a little embarrassed,a bit overwhelmed by the situation he is in, and he is acutally putting on an act that this is normal for him, but he seems uncomfortable,even a little scared, yet, willing to see where it takes him. It shows the difference in how he is when he is with a woman, so out of place, whereas he seems so sure of himself with men. He's doing one thing and thinking another, and we hear the song "Nobodys Gonna Love You Like Me" and WE know what he is thinking...its like hes thinking, "well, Im not getting the love I need from Ennis, or having much luck with any man, even if this is not what I want, she is here, and it feels good that someone at least wants me"....
Oh yes, the scene where Ennis is waiting for Jack to arrive.....I remember the first time I saw the film, I was sitting there thinking "now what is gonna happen here when they meet up again"..."are they gonna act like Brokeback never happened?, just act like buddies?" and I guess that comes from the way Ennis was acting, so fidgety, and uncomfortable, even to the point that he may have even been getting bored and frustrated from having to wait all day for Jack...sitting back and closing his eyes, like he had come to the point of "well, I dont give a dam".......the frustration of the day is not only felt by Ennis but by us watching the movie, waiting, waiting to see what happens..........and then that smile, that wonderful wonderful smile on Ennis's face when he sees him, and then I think we know whats gonna happen before it does......So then, its WE know, Ennis knows, and Jack doesnt.....until that grasping embrace, that hard aching kiss and then the look from Jack, and finally, finally, WE all are there, chests pounding, feeling the presssures of their bodies andl lips pressing into each others, hands grasping and holding each other so dam hard, like nothing else exists......OMG has there ever been a scene with so many emotions.
I guess thats what the movie does all the way through, keeps us thinking, keeps us guessing, we are all making our own opinions of what is going on.
And that is still happening today, two years later......
samwise_fan1965:
I have to say that a couple of scenes stick out for me. But during the reunion camping trip when Ennis sends up that little prayer is my favorite. When he smiles toward the sky, he looks so very happy. It is only one of two scenes where I think he actually looks like that.
--samwise
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