Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
The mettle of a man
Penthesilea:
--- Quote from: ineedcrayons on January 08, 2008, 02:57:32 pm ---I think you should post it there, too, Chrissi.
--- End quote ---
I think you're right. Will do.
Brown Eyes:
Hey Chrissi,
That's definitely interesting to realize how frequently the tire iron comes up in the story and it's even more interesting to realize exactly how tied that concept is to Ennis specifically. I think the tire iron comes to symbolized Ennis's issues in general and I think having this violent/difficult symbol helps illustrate just how painful and difficult Ennis's issues (fears, repressions, etc.) are for him to overcome.
Poor Ennis. :(
But, back to the amount of space the tire iron takes up in the story... thinking about that, it's a tad surprising how infrequently it comes up in the movie. I mean, it's dramatically placed in the Earl discussion and in Ennis's vision of Jack's "murder"... but I wonder if the tire iron as an object or symbol in and of itself comes through as strongly for a film viewer as it does for a reader of the story.
I also always think about the motel scene as a big issue that differentiates the film from the story. The prominence of that scene is just so different in the two forms of BBM.
Penthesilea:
--- Quote from: atz75 on January 08, 2008, 04:23:03 pm ---But, back to the amount of space the tire iron takes up in the story... thinking about that, it's a tad surprising how infrequently it comes up in the movie. I mean, it's dramatically placed in the Earl discussion and in Ennis's vision of Jack's "murder"... but I wonder if the tire iron as an object or symbol in and of itself comes through as strongly for a film viewer as it does for a reader of the story.
--- End quote ---
Hm. I'm undecided. One one side, I'd say no, simply because the tire iron is only shown twice (well, actually it's only shown once and one time talked about). But on the other side, during these two occasions, the tire iron makes a huge impact on the viewer. Both are really shocking moments.
--- Quote ---I also always think about the motel scene as a big issue that differentiates the film from the story. The prominence of that scene is just so different in the two forms of BBM.
--- End quote ---
In her essay "Getting movied" Annie Proulx refers to exact this scene as an example of disagreements between Ang Lee and her:
"In the written story the motel scene after a four-year hiatus stood as central. During their few hours in the Motel Siesta, Jack's and Ennis's paths were irrevocably laid out. In the film that Ang Lee already had shaped in his mind, the emotional surge contained in that scene would be better shifted to a later point and melded with the men's painful last meeting. I didn't understand this until I saw the film in September 2005 and recognized the power of this timing."
The bolded part leaves me puzzled. Do you think we should open a new thread specifically about the motel scene and its differences in story and movie?
Artiste:
Yes!
Since, it is interesting!
Hugs!
Front-Ranger:
--- Quote from: Penthesilea on January 08, 2008, 05:06:27 pm ---
Hm. I'm undecided. One one side, I'd say no, simply because the tire iron is only shown twice (well, actually it's only shown once and one time talked about). But on the other side, during these two occasions, the tire iron makes a huge impact on the viewer. Both are really shocking moments.
--- End quote ---
This is one aspect of the fascinating comparison of the tools that Lee likes to use compared to those of Proulx. Lee is very subtle, he substitutes things made of iron, like the iron skillet or the bronzed shoes on the chest outside of Jack's closet. In a very clever double entendre, he actually uses an iron...in the corner on an ironing board in Alma and Ennis's apartment!! What irony!! (groan, sorry I couldn't resist!)
--- Quote from: Penthesilea on January 08, 2008, 05:06:27 pm ---In her essay "Getting movied" Annie Proulx refers to exact this scene as an example of disagreements between Ang Lee and her:
"In the written story the motel scene after a four-year hiatus stood as central. During their few hours in the Motel Siesta, Jack's and Ennis's paths were irrevocably laid out. In the film that Ang Lee already had shaped in his mind, the emotional surge contained in that scene would be better shifted to a later point and melded with the men's painful last meeting. I didn't understand this until I saw the film in September 2005 and recognized the power of this timing."
The bolded part leaves me puzzled. Do you think we should open a new thread specifically about the motel scene and its differences in story and movie?
--- End quote ---
Sure, great idea!!
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