Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
A Ninth Viewing Observation
nakymaton:
--- Quote from: goadra on June 02, 2006, 06:11:57 am ---How about this one: During the scene where Alma meets Jack, there’s a loaf of Wonder bread (in its opaque wrapper) behind her. Each person in that room is wondering--and hiding--something.
When Alma confronts Ennis at Thanksgiving, there’s a loaf of bread behind her. This one is in a clear wrapper--what was previously concealed (by both of them) is now exposed
--- End quote ---
Oh, wow, good one, goadra. And welcome. :)
--- Quote from: ednbarby on June 02, 2006, 01:01:26 pm ---The only thing I'll add is that imagine if Ennis hadn't sucker-punched him when he went to administer to his wounds. Imagine if Ennis had *let* him. I think we'd see a whole other facet of Jack's real feelings about the impending separation then.
--- End quote ---
*imagines scene in full NC-17 detail*
*comes back into thread after a cold shower*
Ok, kidding aside -- that's the tragedy of the whole relationship, isn't it? I think that Jack's apparent insensitivity is entirely within character (while respectfully disagreeing with Katherine on the subject ;D - but can I tease you about it, like it's a harmonica or something?) -- but so is Ennis's reaction. I mean, I can't imagine Jack coming out and saying "Hey, Ennis, I can tell that you're really upset about this. Let's talk about it." And I can't imagine Ennis saying "Thanks for wiping the blood off my nose. I was just so upset about leaving you, you know?" They're both who they are, perfect for each other and yet doomed by some combination of outside forces and their own personalities.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: nakymaton on June 02, 2006, 03:39:45 pm ---Ok, kidding aside -- that's the tragedy of the whole relationship, isn't it? I think that Jack's apparent insensitivity is entirely within character (while respectfully disagreeing with Katherine on the subject ;D - but can I tease you about it, like it's a harmonica or something?) -- but so is Ennis's reaction. I mean, I can't imagine Jack coming out and saying "Hey, Ennis, I can tell that you're really upset about this. Let's talk about it." And I can't imagine Ennis saying "Thanks for wiping the blood off my nose. I was just so upset about leaving you, you know?" They're both who they are, perfect for each other and yet doomed by some combination of outside forces and their own personalities.
--- End quote ---
Yes, in fact that suggests one of the big "if onlys" about this scene: if only Ennis and Jack had gotten into couples therapy and learned to express their feelings honestly and openly while always being careful to use "I" sentences so as not to put the other person on the defensive (i.e., "When you sucker punch me, I feel bad.")
;)
alec716:
OK, that was funny! thanks for the chuckle from someone who spent the late '80s immersed in group process. there could be a whole discussion thread of other examples of Jack and Ennis speaking in those "when you blank, I feel blank" statements... could get pretty hilarious.
stevenedel:
--- Quote from: goadra on June 05, 2006, 05:35:10 am ---That line seems out of character for him because he usually knows what to do in “practical” situations (chasing after the mules, shooting the elk).
--- End quote ---
Following up on that thought: I got the impression that at some point, each of the three characters that I will for the sake of simplicity lump under the category "gay" (Jack, Ennis, Randall) is associated with clumsiness. Jack can't open a can of beans, spills cigarette ashes on his clothes and doesn't catch the key L.D. throws him; Ennis won't work in the powerplant, because, clumsy as he says he is, he's afraid he'll get electrocuted; and Randall, says LaShawn, "is not very mechanical".
serious crayons:
Interesting points, goadra and stevendel. And stevendel, I second the welcome!
Personally, though, I'll have to say I don't think I could compare the three men on similar terms. I think Ennis is feigning clumsiness about the power plant just because he doesn't want to take the job. In fact, he is pretty mechanical (fixes Jack's truck) and coordinated (shoots an elk, easily catches an unexpectedly tossed watch left-handed). Dancing is another matter, though; clearly he is terrible at that.
Randall's ineptness we know only through LaShawn, and I've always interpreted all her criticisms as unwitting euphemisms for his sexuality (much like Lureen's "husbands don't never want to dance with their wives"). We don't know for sure that they're accurate.
Jack is genuinely clumsy, it's true. I've always thought that's one reason he's attracted to Ennis, who isn't. Pretty good dancer, though.
And it's true that none of the men pay much attention to the women in their lives.
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