Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
A Ninth Viewing Observation
Mikaela:
I've never doubted that Ennis loves his daughters. I'm certain that he does. "Life's continuance" is important to Ennis, as AP points out. He cares about them deeply. In the "moving to Texas" quarrel he is genuinely worried about losing contact with his girls - he can't imagine doing that, so in the fantasy world they have to come along. But, still - in his dealings with Jack, several times Ennis uses his daughters / the child support as an objection, an impediment to Jack's wishes for a sweet life that he (Ennis) is able to verbalize, when the *real* or rather the *major* impediment(s) and emotions remain unvoiced.
--- Quote ---In the post-divorce scene, I think the girls are a legitimate reason to turn Jack away. Still, he could have found some other way to reassure Jack, and didn't.
--- End quote ---
This is a case in point. Word for word, Ennis is talking as if Jack has come up to spend the weekend with him, which can't be because of the girls. He doesn't address the real reason Jack is there, doesn't tell him to come back in two days' time so they can deal with it and try to sort themselves and their future out..... Of course he should prioritize his girls when he has the care of them that one weekend. But that's not the point in that scene IMO. The inability to acknowledge openly what's really at stake, and to arrange some way to deal with it, is.
--- Quote ---From Diane
I think the post-divorce scene was a turning point for Jack. [ snip] At that moment, Jack’s hopes and dreams died. IMO, neither one ever brought it up again …. none of it (the divorce fiasco, the hope for a life together, etc.)
--- End quote ---
I think you must be right in this. Nevertheless I feel nearly stunned by the thought that they did not at all address the post-divorce fiasco the next time they met. That was only one month later.
All the hopes and fears went unspoken but were out in the open, unprotected and vulnerable, those few minutes Jack was at Ennis's place - so overwhelming for both of them, neither had any hope of being calm, reasonable, rational about it then. But one month later? They'd had time to think it through. To form thoughts that might be spoken. And the emotions were still raw, the wounds open. It's sad beyond belief that they didn't acknowledge this, didn't talk about it, couldn't find a way to get to the things unsaid that were becoming unsayable. :-\ :'(
--- Quote ---This is evidenced by the conversation at the lake scene. Jack asks Ennis, “after all this time, you ain’t find nobody else to marry?” Jack has resigned the fact that Ennis is too paranoid and homophobic to ever publicly acknowledge their relationship.
--- End quote ---
Oh, yes. I know I posted previously somewhere that Jack's question about Ennis re-marrying is among the saddest lines in the movie to me - because I think it confirms that Jack has given up hoping, even. Saying that, he acknowledges that he realizes Ennis is going to go through life pretending to not be queer with all his might; - and so to that purpose Jack is genuinely surprised that Ennis hasn't done the obvious thing, then, and found a new wife to complete the "charade".
Momof2:
I thought it was so sad. Ennis looked so happy to see him and in I think maybe a little awe struck that he was there. To see Jack so happy and then in a matter of seconds to go to the look of pure hurt. I guess in a way I fault both of them for not saying the things that needed to be said. Why oh Why did he not tell him to come back in two days when the girls were gone. He could have said, Jack I love you and am thrilled that you are here. You can sleep on the couch. When I get the girls home we can talk about this. How could anyone have known that 2 men were in the house together. Why was he so scared. Other than the obvious.
In the lake scene when Ennis said Jack, I just cant stand this no more. I do not think he was saying he did not want to do this anymore. I think he was saying I love you so much and want to be with you so badly. I can not stand living this lie any more. If only. That is why it is so sad that both of them marry and try to have a "normal" life. Would they be together if they did not have kids. I think so. But Ennis was stuck with what he had in Riverton. So sad. It is amazing to me how to "straight" men could put so much emotion into these scenes. I am sure they draw from personal experiences but to me it is absolutely amazing.
nakymaton:
--- Quote from: Momof2 on August 10, 2006, 05:32:19 pm ---He could have said, Jack I love you and am thrilled that you are here. You can sleep on the couch. When I get the girls home we can talk about this.
--- End quote ---
Or even something like: "Door's unlocked. Nothing but beans in the cupboard, though." God, I would love to see Jack's face reacting to even that subtle of an acknowledgment.
jpwagoneer1964:
--- Quote from: nakymaton on August 10, 2006, 06:02:22 pm ---Or even something like: "Door's unlocked. Nothing but beans in the cupboard, though." God, I would love to see Jack's face reacting to even that subtle of an acknowledgment.
--- End quote ---
Ennis does start to say something"Jack..." and the Jack steps in with"I see you next month then" and leaves.
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote --- Quote from latjoreme:
I don't think the words "I can't stand it no more" were carelessly chosen (by the filmmakers, I mean) as just some random phrase for Ennis to blurt out in the heat of the moment. It's no coincidence, IMO, that these words precisely echo what has been Ennis slogan all along -- that if you can't fix it you gotta stand it -- as well as Jack's "I miss you so much I can hardly stand it."
--- End quote ---
Undoubtedly correct, Katherine. I agree with you, hunderd percent. :)
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