Importance of the Jimbo Scene

[optom3]

The bartender asks if Jack has ever tried calf-roping, which is a rodeo event.  It requires a very skilled, trained and usually expensive horse... which is why Jack gets upset, saying that he couldn't afford to do that.

I find that bit very sad.He has just suffered one humiliation , then is asked about calf-roping and just says, do I look like I can afford that.The whole of that scene seems designed to belittle Jack.
I used to feel more sorry for Ennis, but the more I think of Jacks' optimism being continually quashed, the more my heart goes out to him.How he kept the candle alight for so long is amazing really.

[Brown Eyes]

I certainly feel sympathy for the predicaments and perspectives of both Ennis and Jack.

But, to me Jack's story makes me particularly heartbroken.  I feel like watching him get rejected and struggle throughout the film is a little bit like watching a puppy get kicked over and over again.  Yes, this whole Jimbo scene is very hard to watch.

I think Jack is annoyed by the bartender not only for making that irritating suggestion, but also probably because the bartender hovering made it particularly hard for him to speak with Jimbo.  Jimbo clearly kept glancing over at the bartender as Jack was talking to him.
He probably felt that the bartender played at least some role in him striking out with Jimbo here.

[optom3]

I certainly feel sympathy for the predicaments and perspectives of both Ennis and Jack.

But, to me Jack's story makes me particularly heartbroken.  I feel like watching him get rejected and struggle throughout the film is a little bit like watching a puppy get kicked over and over again.  Yes, this whole Jimbo scene is very hard to watch.

I think Jack is annoyed by the bartender not only for making that irritating suggestion, but also probably because the bartender hovering made it particularly hard for him to speak with Jimbo.  Jimbo clearly kept glancing over at the bartender as Jack was talking to him.
He probably felt that the bartender played at least some role in him striking out with Jimbo here.

OMG that is exactly how it is. It is just like watching a puppy being kicked over and over.Particularly with Jack and those massive soulful puppy dog eyes of his. So full of hope and love me please one minute, then another kicking and the confusion, why did you do that, I am only trying to please and love you.
Thankyou for that, it resonates perfectly, with how I now feel about Jack, yet could not articulate.

[Marge_Innavera]

I think you hit the nail on the head there Atz..........surely back then there would be some talk or curiosity about some of the men at those rodeos, and if Jack had heard something about Jimbo, he thought he would try to chat him up, but Jimbo certainly did not want to take up with Jack in front of all his pool playin mates.

When Jimbo says...."if I took a drink of every cowboy who wanted to buy me a drink....."...was he maybe telling Jack, that others have hit on him before with no luck......

That would answer one thing that's kind of puzzled me about this scene, which is why Jack would zero in on this guy to begin with. I'd thought he was just taking advantage of the fact that Jimbo has helped him out -- using it as a reason to offer to buy him a drink.

Another thing maybe someone here can shed some light on: is there any social barrier between rodeo riders and rodeo clowns?

[Brown Eyes]

That would answer one thing that's kind of puzzled me about this scene, which is why Jack would zero in on this guy to begin with. I'd thought he was just taking advantage of the fact that Jimbo has helped him out -- using it as a reason to offer to buy him a drink.

Another thing maybe someone here can shed some light on: is there any social barrier between rodeo riders and rodeo clowns?

Heya Marge! 
I think you're right that Jack decided to approach Jimbo because he helped him.  When you think about it... it would have provided a very comfortable and reasonable reason to approach him.  When he first looks over to Jimbo and sees him sitting alone, it's almost like a light goes on in Jack's eyes and facial expression, recognizing a possible opportunity.  I think Jack was often very smart about how he dealt with men he was interested in.

I think his interest in approaching Jimbo may have been multifaceted.  He may have had an inkling that Jimbo might have been receptive to an advance from a man, and I still think it's very important that Jimbo bears a slight physical resemblance to Ennis.


As far as rodeo culture goes... I think there's a clear hierarchy when it comes to the events (bull riding vs. saddle bronc riding, etc.).  My sense about rodeo clowns (or "bull fighters" as a person in Jimbo's position would be called today) is that their status has changed over the years.  I think now they're recognized as very skilled and definitely brave athletes and also people who are very good and relating to the animals.  Despite their title "bull fighter" they only distract the bulls so that a rider can get out of the way when he dismounts or falls off... they don't literally "fight" with the bull.  The bull fighters usually know all the bulls by name and have a sort of interesting chemistry with the bulls they interact with.  There are genuine clowns (trained, actual clowns) that entertain the crowd at a rodeo or PBR event these days... but they rarely if ever get involved with distracting the bulls (which is what the bull fighters do now).   So, the old fashioned job of a rodeo clown has been divided up into two different positions... the actual clown for entertainment and the bull fighter that works with the bulls.


Back in the 60s in Texas, I really don't know how a rodeo clown would be perceived.  Although the tone in Jack's voice seems fairly (and genuinely) reverential when he says "best damned rodeo clown I ever worked with." 

Even back then the riders must have valued the rodeo clowns because they really did depend on them to save their lives sometimes.

[Brown Eyes]

Here are some pics of current day bull fighters and the PBR's most famous clown, Flint Rasmussen  (they also call him a "barrelman" sometimes).


<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/5219683-8bb.jpg" border="0" />
bullfighter on left, Flint the clown on right

Cool pictures of bull fighters working:

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/5219741-e5c.jpg" border="0" />
A classic stance for a bull fighter during a ride.

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/5219679-f07.jpg" border="0" />
Helping a rider whose hand is stuck in his rope after being bucked off.

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/5219681-968.jpg" border="0" />
Getting launched in the air in front of a bull as a rider dismounts.

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/midsize/3988503-dc5.jpg" border="0" />
bullfighter standing out of the way, waiting for a ride to finish (the bull fighter here is Shorty Gorham and the rider is Brian Canter).


<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/5219690-e43.jpg" border="0" />
Flint the clown

[Katie77]

The more I read here the more "what if's" I think about.....

What if Jack was only buying a drink for Jimbo, thanking him for his help at the rodeo....a little bit like tipping a waiter for good service.

What if Jack was't even trying to flirt with him, and it was sincerely and honestly just a gesture of friendship, BUT because there may have been rumours about Jack, the rodeo clown rejected the drink because he didn't want to look like he was getting to friendly with the "likes" of Jack.

And maybe the anger Jack felt afterwards was more...."Christ, I cant even buy a bloke a drink, without them thinking Im trying to flirt with them"...

And then the following night with Laureen.....he thinks, "Well I'll show em, I like ladies"...

There are so many interpretations......

[Brown Eyes]

I think there's so much suggestiveness and tension in the way that Jack looks at Jimbo, and even the way that Jimbo looks back that there's serious flirting going on, at least from Jack's side.

Jack's going through all the classic motions of picking someone up... finding an entree or pick-up line and then the cliche of buying a drink.  As a scene in the film, I personally really do think it's meant to demonstrate the frustrations Jack encounters when trying to find a male partner prior to the reunion.
To me it would seem strange for the filmmakers to go through the effort of showing an elaborate scene where Jack is just trying to become friends with the rodeo clown.

I think there's a ton of ambiguity in the Randall encounter about who's flirting with whom, and what Jack's reactions to Randall's attentions are.  I think there's less ambiguity in the Jimbo scene.  But, with almost all aspects of BBM there's certainly room for multiple interpretations.

To me, Jack's decision to hook up with Lureen is a form of giving up.  He may partially have done it to squash rumors that might have existed about him.   But, mostly I think it's a form of reluctant resignation to an expectation that society is foisting on him with the end result being a marriage of convenience and a child he doesn't want. The bartender's comment in the Lureen scene about how much money Lureen's family makes seems to sweeten the deal slightly for Jack in this decision for him.  For Jack, I think it's as much about the money as anything else.

[Artiste]

You are all females making posts on this, and you have a different view than men do!

Not only a man, such a myself being gay, would be in Jack feet, and see Jimbo as being dangerous, besides insulting, but making an anti-gang also towards him!

Plus that bartender, insults him too !! Telling him to forget so-called adult men, but go after pups !!

It is obvious that Jack not only hears those bad insults, but feels now the present danger !!

This whole scene forecasts Jack's futur, being murdered by so-called adult straight con artists men !!

[Katie77]

Amanda, I agree with you on the interpretation of the scene entirely.

My previous post was just a "what if" kind of post, but not what I really believed happened.

Isnt it amazing how so many scenes can be inerpretted in so many ways.....

This has been a very interesting thread....ive done a lot of soul searching, while contributing to it.

Maybe you should start a smiliar one on the Randall and Jack scene.