Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Ennis and Old Man Twist
Mikaela:
--- Quote from: nakymaton on May 23, 2006, 02:46:52 pm ---There's definitely more than one meaning to everything said in that conversation -- heck, there's more than one meaning to nearly everything in the movie, I suspect.
--- End quote ---
Tell you what - I think that would be an interesting topic in its own right: Which lines in the movie cannot under any circumstance be said to have more than one meaning, - ie. can *only* be interpreted in one specific way, at face value? I bet there aren't many. I'd create that thread myself except I feel a bit too new around here still.
--- Quote ---Actually, the spitting even has more than one level of meaning. I kind of figured that Mr. Twist chewed tobacco, and that the cup was his spitoon.
--- End quote ---
Oh, the spitting definitely has more than one meaning. Even if it's viewed as a certain sign of contempt (which by no means is certain) - what is it contempt *for*? Jack thinking himself above his folks? Jack's (and Ennis's) sexual orientation? Everyone and anything in general, 'cause Mr. Twist is a mean old bugger?
It doesn't look to me as if he's chewing tobacco - at least not that the actor is doing it in the scene. But that doesn't mean that Mr. Twist didn't chew, of course.
And thank you for the explanation on US property law! :)
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: nakymaton on May 23, 2006, 02:46:52 pm ---Oh, definitely. There's definitely more than one meaning to everything said in that conversation -- heck, there's more than one meaning to nearly everything in the movie, I suspect. (Which is why I'm still trying to talk through it after five months or more.) And sexuality is definitely an undercurrent in that conversation.
--- End quote ---
OK, I should have figured that's what you meant. Sorry, I didn't mean to sound teachery.
--- Quote --- I've seen guys spit into far more disturbing things than a coffee cup.
--- End quote ---
I once had a boss who chewed tobacco all day long and spat in his trash can. The worst part was that after he left, I got his job, his desk ... and his trash can.
Good idea, Mikaela, only it's so hard to exclude the possibility of multiple interpretations of almost any line, maybe it would work better to just list lines and see how many different interpretations we can come up with. Either way, go ahead and start a thread! No one's too new, and it's your good idea. Though if you don't, I will! (Speaking of which, what the hell does that line mean? I've always found it a little weird.)
Mikaela -
Hmmmm. US property law. It's possible to set up a "trust," in which property is passed on to an heir before the death of the original property owner. But for some reason, it doesn't seem as though farming/ranching families use them that much. (I hear a lot of stories about elderly owners dying and their kids selling the place to developers to pay the estate taxes, though I don't know the truth behind the stories -- they get brought up in political debates, and may be exaggerated.) For some reason, the past few generations of farm/ranch kids don't seem to have been as likely to keep up the family place. I don't know if it has to do with US property law, or if it has to do with pressure for 20-somethings to go make their own way in the world, and then the kids not being willing to go back to the farm/ranch once they're 40 or older.
The question might also be whether Mr. Twist, the original "stud duck," would have been willing to let Jack be the "man of the place." But, yeah, if there were a stronger tradition in place, it might make that kind of transition easier.
[/quote]
Mikaela:
--- Quote from: latjoreme on May 23, 2006, 03:08:17 pm ---Though if you don't, I will! (Speaking of which, what the hell does that line mean? I've always found it a little weird.)
--- End quote ---
Well, at least it's given rise to some good captions as Ennis replies: "Be my guest" and "Go right ahead!" and the like.
It *is* a weird line. I've been thinking that the vicar senses more than the normal tension in the air - Ennis probably is radiating much more mixed-up determination and reluctance than your normal groom - so perhaps he felt the need to break the tension with a bit of humour. Or perhaps he figured Ennis needed an additional spur to get on with it? Or perhaps he was just the kind of person who couldn't stop himself from telling misplaced jokes at the most inappropriate of times.
Yup, multiple meanings to *that* line for sure! ;)
Which reminds me of another topic I've been curious about - The Del Mar family and their church involvement. It's mentioned several times throughout the film - it would be interesting to explore that a bit, and what it meant to Ennis, Alma and their daughters respectively. But I honestly do not feel comfortable posting threads here just yet - so as for a new "One or multiple meaning of lines" thread - please do go right ahead! :)
nakymaton:
--- Quote from: latjoreme on May 23, 2006, 03:08:17 pm ---maybe it would work better to just list lines and see how many different interpretations we can come up with. Either way, go ahead and start a thread! No one's too new, and it's your good idea. Though if you don't, I will! (Speaking of which, what the hell does that line mean? I've always found it a little weird.)
--- End quote ---
That would be fun. Heck, we could just go through the screenplay and list a different line each day, and see how many different interpretations we could come up with. (Probably "Hunnh?" will have the most possible readings. :D )
And then we can start on the multiple interpretations of every one of Ennis's facial expressions. :D (Jack's, too, but Ennis in particular says so much without words.)
(And you didn't sound teacher-y. :D)
serious crayons:
Yay! We can keep these threads going for months and months. I would gladly spend that much time scrutinizing every single one of Ennis' facial expressions. (Hell, I already have spent that much time doing that! ;))
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version