Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
A Ninth Viewing Observation
nakymaton:
--- Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on August 09, 2006, 10:12:18 pm ---I hadn't realized that some folks are uncomfortable thinking Jack would talk about the ranch neighbor so soon after the confrontation. It has never troubled me because I think it fits the mood of depression and bitterness I would expect Jack would be in at that time. And I'm feeling now that the comment about the ranch neighbor is really Jack's bitterness and unhappiness talking. I'm doubting now that he would have really gone back to Texas and "proposed" to Randall the way he "proposed" to Ennis in '67.
--- End quote ---
Yes. Exactly. Actually, it really really surprises me that people think any other timeline makes sense. (The dates in the screenplay are all screwed up, so I just ignore them all. But this timeline makes sense based on the story, and based on the behavior of the characters.)
I've always assumed that, after Jack moved to Texas, that he only visited his parents after his visits with Ennis. (It is a long drive, after all.) So Jack's comments about how he and Ennis were going to move to Lightning Flat and whip the ranch back into shape happened when Jack was feeling especially mushy towards Ennis, too.
fernly:
--- Quote from: nakymaton ---Another thought about Randall... you know, the character is just designed to make Jack miss Ennis. For instance: Randall's got this college education... in Animal Husbandry. Randall went to college to learn the kind of stuff that Ennis learned from experience, starting in his teens when he dropped out of high school. (And Jack meets Randall when Randall's car is broken down, and Randall couldn't fix it. Contrast that with the way Ennis helped get Jack's truck started, there at the end of the Brokeback summer.)
--- End quote ---
That makes a lot of sense. He's wearing 'Ennis' colors, too, and he's tall, and quiet.
Jack helping Randall and LaShawn out when their truck breaks down out "on the side of the road" contrasts sorrowfully for me too with when Jack's truck breaks down and no one is there to help him.
dly64:
--- Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on August 09, 2006, 10:12:18 pm ---You might get an argument about the sequence for the film, however, because the screenplay dates the final confrontation in 1981 and Ennis's receipt of his postcard stamped "deceased" in 1982.
The difference in chronology is reflected in Jack's dialogue. Annie has Jack say, "Count the damn few times we been together in twenty years." The screenplay has Jack say, "Count the damn few times we been together in nearly twenty years." (I added the italics to point up the difference.)
--- End quote ---
I never noticed that before, but it is clearly stated in the screenplay … which makes the timelines more reasonable. But there are still discrepancies. So, I try not to focus so much on the logistics. It only makes me frustrated.
--- Quote ---As far as it goes, I think someone has already mentioned, we don't ever actually see Jack suggesting to Ennis in so many words that they ranch up together on the Twist spread in Lightning Flat. We only see Jack propose that they set up their own little cow and calf operation. For all we really see in either story or film, Jack was ruminating about bringing Ennis to Lightning Flat to his father and mother for years but never said a word to Ennis.
--- End quote ---
Jack has always been depicted as a dreamer … and I think the whole “Ennis del Mar … I’m gonna bring him up here and we’re gonna lick this damn ranch into shape..” scenario was Jack’s wishful thinking. Ennis knows Jack is a dreamer … “Texas? Maybe you’ll convince Alma to let you and Lureen adopt the girls, and then we could all live together herding sheep, and it’ll rain money from L.D. Newsom and whiskey will flow in the streams ….” as does Lureen … “But knowing Jack, it might be some pretend place where bluebirds sing and there’s a whiskey spring.” And even OMT says, “.. but like most of Jack’s ideas, it never come to pass.” Poor Jack! Always the dream, never the substance.
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: nakymaton on August 09, 2006, 10:29:45 pm ---The dates in the screenplay are all screwed up, so I just ignore them all.
--- End quote ---
Tell you what, I ignore them, too! ;D
(Sorry folks, couldn't resist that. ...)
welliwont:
--- Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on August 09, 2006, 10:12:18 pm ---
because the screenplay dates the final confrontation in 1981 and Ennis's receipt of his postcard stamped "deceased" in 1982.
--- End quote ---
and
--- Quote from: nakymaton on August 09, 2006, 10:29:45 pm ---
(The dates in the screenplay are all screwed up, so I just ignore them all.
--- End quote ---
I agree, the screenplay must be wrong. If, according to the screenplay, Ennis tells Jack in 1981 that he is going to have to skip August, and the next trip is in November...... then, Ennis sends Jack a postcard in 1982, to plan their next fishing trip on November 7th..... what 'n the hell ever happened to September October November December, January February March April May June July and August? ??? ??? :o It don't make sense to me.
--- Quote from: nakymaton on August 09, 2006, 10:29:45 pm ---
when Jack was feeling especially mushy towards Ennis, too.
--- End quote ---
awwwww........
Jane
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