Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
You shut up about Ennis - this ain't (all) his fault
JennyC:
--- Quote from: ednbarby on June 27, 2006, 02:58:00 pm ---The first time I saw it, I was just letting the story unfold for me - I hadn't read the short story yet so I knew nothing of what was to come. The second time, I saw it very Jack-centrically.
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Barb,
I didn't realize until you mentioned it Now come to think of it, I saw the movie with an Ennis-centric view. Wonder if that has anything to do with why we pick our favorite character among these two. But is it the reason or the result?
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: ednbarby on June 27, 2006, 02:58:00 pm ---Do you know, Ruthlessly, that all this time, I've never properly seen this movie from Ennis' perspective?
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I, on the other hand, alwys HAVE seen it from Ennis' perspective -- the movie and in these scenes in particular -- and at every opportunity have rushed to his defense when people "blame" him for his actions (or lack of). Yet I haven't always been able to articulate as well as I'd like the reasons I feel so empathetic toward him. So this discussion has opened up a whole new level of understanding for me, too. Especially this part:
--- Quote ---it's Ennis who is making little gestures and speaking little words of love or affection -- Ennis starts the playful tussle by tapping Jack... Ennis, like a wide-eyed little boy, shows Jack the piece of hail -- lookey how big this one is! -- while Jack just tends to the business of getting them secured in the tent... Ennis is the one who dismisses Jack's "f- Aguirre" comment -- by saying "What if we need to work for him again?" -- ENNIS is the one who actually verbalizes that they may be together again after this summer... Ennis teases Jack about his harmonica playing... and Ennis is the one who initiates the dozy embrace (which I believe is properly placed at this point in the film). Post-SNIT, it's Ennis who does all of the overt affection showing.
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All this time defending Ennis, and I'd never thought of those scenes in that light. Way to go, Ruthlessly.
And Barb, if this perspective helps unite die-hard Jackcentrics and Enniscentrics like you and me, so much the better! :)
PS, this makes perfect sense:
--- Quote from: ruthlesslyunsentimental on June 27, 2006, 01:55:13 pm --- But the interesting irony here is that Ennis pushes people away from himself. Often times people become what they fear or hate the most. Ennis became what he believed he "was worthy of" -- being abandoned. And he himself ends up doing the abandoning -- most importantly, on an emotional level.
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So true! People who fear being abandoned often are the first to do the abandoning, because they'd rather have control of the situation rather than endure the pain of having it done TO them.
PSS Jenny, your post came in as I was writing this. Good point, and it seems like a chicken-and-egg question, hunh?
southendmd:
OK, I feel the need to defend poor Jack: While I can agree on some of the above points, I want to point out the following:
Jack is incredibly tender in tent scene #2, cradling Ennis who looks like a scared child, and tells him it's all right.
Certainly their paradise is cut short and unexpected. Jack's offer of a loan is, I think, a way, however lame, to extend the relationship; stay in touch.
In their tussle, Jack is horrified that he has hurt Ennis and tries to comfort him and is blasted instead.
At the parting, it is Jack who asks if Ennis is going to do this again, Jack says I might be back. Ennis says, like I said I'm getting married (shades of 'it ain't gonna be that way').
Just as Ennis expects abandonment, I think Jack expects rejection.
YaadPyar:
Hello Ruth/Ruthless -
You'll find plenty of folks here happy to explore every nuance of BBM right along with you. Great community here and great spirit - lots of humor and insight and all sorts of wonderful other qualities. Welcome!
Celeste
ednbarby:
--- Quote from: southendmd on June 27, 2006, 04:20:53 pm ---Just as Ennis expects abandonment, I think Jack expects rejection.
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Wooo-eeee. You sure said a mouthful there, darlin'.
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