Big topic for debate on the TOB is the missing "I Love You"

[vkm91941]

There is much debate about whether or not Ennis actually says "I love you."  There is now a whole group of newbies who swear he breathes it into the shirts when he finds them...If he doesn't then they don't say "I love you" at all. ) WE all know he does not)   I think it's  better that way, the audience doesn't need to hear it.

From all the imagery and actions in the film we know that they are deeply in love with each other. The dramatic scene at the end, where they argue and break down exemplifies their passion for each other.  So Let address those scene where they say  I Love You with their actions an other words....


First example that comes to mind for me is the "NO more Beans" comment from Jack, Ennis who doesn't eat soup orders soup and tells the Basque that he's sick of beans.  Sweet!   Others?

[David]

Second example:   When Jack takes off his bandana, dips it in hot water and tries to tend to Ennis's bleeding head wound.

[DeeDee]

My biggest  I love you moment is when they are sitting by the campfire and Jack gently touches Ennis' cheek.  I tell you, I felt the love right through to my own heart.

[vkm91941]

Another one is the gut-wrench and evocative line  "Sometimes I miss you so much I can hardly stand it"

[MaineWriter]

I know that when Ennis says, "I'm sending up a prayer of thanks..." he is not really being thankful for Jack not bringing his harmonica.

[Ray]

The moment when Ennis pushes Jack away from him in the final lake scene and Jake doesn't skip a beat, but pulls Ennis into him even though he knows it could mean another bruised cheek. He knows precisely what Ennis is going through and just wants to comfort him.

[JennyC]

Reunion scene in the motel:  Ennis' almost undetectable smile and mumble when Jack said he red-lined all the way , couldn't get there fast enough and asked Ennis "What about you?'

[Becky]

There are lots of "I love you"'s throughout BBM. But they tend to come from me and not the screen.

But you guys are right, they don't need to say that they love each other, it is all said on the screen with the actions they use and the looks they give. And remember the saying "Actions can speak a thousand words".

[Meryl]

Heh, this is so reminiscent of my Lord of the Rings days.  At some point, all sorts of people became convinced that Frodo said "I love you" to Sam when he hugged him in the last scene.  No amount of listening with the volume up ever made me think they were anything but wishful thinkers.  I think this is the same phenomenon at work. 

I think maybe the closest Ennis comes to saying "I love you" is "There ain't no reins on this one."

[littleguitar]

The way Ennis is clearly excited while waiting for Jack after those four years apart then Jack's big grin and "son of a bitch" as he hugs him....

[Brown Eyes]

I think maybe the closest Ennis comes to saying "I love you" is "There ain't no reins on this one."

I agree with this one.  But, I would add that it's just as important that when Jack asks him how long they'll be together (under Ennis's horrible rule of only 'once in a while') Ennis says "for as long as we can ride it."  He's essentially saying he wants to be with Jack for as long as humanly possible.  I think this sentence softens the blow for Jack of Ennis's rejection of the cow and calf operation.  Otherwise... I think film-Ennis almost exclusively expresses his love physically (we know that book-Ennis is much more vocal about his affection).

Some of my favorite instances of Ennis's love are things like the hand-holding in the 1st tent scene, everything about the 2nd tent scene, his explosion of smiles and kisses for the reunion, the way he caresses Jack's arm in the motel (these caresses sometimes are his only response to Jack's comments... most importantly the "Brokeback got us good" comment... he really rubs Jack's arm there), etc. 

This topic is reminding me of all those old threads on the old board about Ennis falling in love first, etc.

As for Jack, well, he just wears his heart on his sleeve for me. 

[vkm91941]

I think maybe the closest Ennis comes to saying "I love you" is "There ain't no reins on this one."

As for Jack, well, he just wears his heart on his sleeve for me. 

Yep, I agree with this statement about Jack.  Everything about him is right there in his eyes all the time. It would be so easy to crush him.   He's like a big ol puppy dog who gets kicked and comes right back and loves you just the same.    He is a  kind hearted and giving person. ... A cheeky, quicksilver character adrift in a world of less kindhearted strangers.

[littleguitar]

I think maybe the closest Ennis comes to saying "I love you" is "There ain't no reins on this one."

As for Jack, well, he just wears his heart on his sleeve for me. 

Yep, I agree with this statement about Jack.  Everything about him is right there in his eyes all the time. It would be so easy to crush him.   He's like a big ol puppy dog who gets kicked and comes right back and loves you just the same.    He is a  kind hearted and giving person. ... A cheeky, quicksilver character adrift in a world of less kindhearted strangers.

That is so true Victoria! That is one of the reasons that last shot of his face after the flashback is so heartbreaking for me.  He looks so bitter and angry in that shot, like everything you just said about him finally had been crushed out, almost like he had no one to go back to and love (maybe because he had decided he was going to give up on Ennis? I'm not sure, I still haven't decided where I lie on this one...) This thread is making me really sad...   

[DeeDee]

I'm not real big on noticing symbolisms or subtleties.  I usually need several viewings to catch on.  The first time I saw the movie, and I saw that flashback scene, I immediately thought to myself, he's giving Ennis up.
The look on his face showed love lost, and heartbreaking resolve that he needed to move one and it was not going to be easy.

You're right, very depressing thread..

[nakymaton]

Heh, this is so reminiscent of my Lord of the Rings days.

Heh. Yep.

I would need to get better at making screencaps to catch the "I love you" moments. There's this smile that Ennis does -- and I'm not sure that Jack's looking at him most of those times -- but that's what says it, for me.

[Meryl]

Well, howdy, nakymaton!   Glad to see y' here.  Cuppa coffee, piece a cherry cake? 

[serious crayons]

I agree with this one.  But, I would add that it's just as important that when Jack asks him how long they'll be together (under Ennis's horrible rule of only 'once in a while') Ennis says "for as long as we can ride it."  He's essentially saying he wants to be with Jack for as long as humanly possible.  I think this sentence softens the blow for Jack of Ennis's rejection of the cow and calf operation.

Definitely both Ennis' "no reins" and "ride it" remarks, and I would also add his "if this thing grabs hold of us at the wrong place, wrong time" -- as if Ennis' normally tucked-in passion is so uncontrollable that he can't fully trust himself not to burst into a public display of affection. As, in fact, he did in the apartment parking lot!

And Jack's cheek-caressing shortly afterward is another.

And re this:

that last shot of his face after the flashback is so heartbreaking for me.  He looks so bitter and angry in that shot, like everything you just said about him finally had been crushed out, almost like he had no one to go back to and love (maybe because he had decided he was going to give up on Ennis? I'm not sure, I still haven't decided where I lie on this one...)

I would add that pretty much everything Ennis said after Jack's speech, culminating in "I can't stand it no more" and a collapse mirroring the early one in the alley, is a way of saying "I love you" (not exactly an upbeat way of expresing it, of course). So is Jack's immediately comforting response.

[nakymaton]

Well, howdy, nakymaton!   Glad to see y' here.  Cuppa coffee, piece a cherry cake? 

Can't have no coffee just now, but I'll take some a that cherry cake. (Almost bedtime, you see. Plus I live too close to Texas to drink coffee. Or somethin' like that.)

[slayers_creek_oth]

The scene when Ennis gets back from the bear incident....Jack begins to bitch (which he does so well btw) until he sees what has happened to Ennis.....then he turns to him and says in a very soft and calming voice....."what in the hell happened Ennis?" 

The way he says it........couldn't be more concerned......thats 'I love you' at its finest IMO!  But what the hell do I know...

[vkm91941]

The scene when Ennis gets back from the bear incident....Jack begins to bitch (which he does so well btw) until he sees what has happened to Ennis.....then he turns to him and says in a very soft and calming voice....."what in the hell happened Ennis?" 

The way he says it........couldn't be more concerned......thats 'I love you' at its finest IMO!  But what the hell do I know...

I would say you know one hellava lot my friend!  Good call

[Kelda]

for me its jack's balled up fist in his mouth when driving away after the divorce scene..

gets me every time.

[serious crayons]

I know that when Ennis says, "I'm sending up a prayer of thanks..." he is not really being thankful for Jack not bringing his harmonica.

Right, and in fact Jack knows that's not what he meant, too. I think this is the closest Ennis comes to ever saying it in words (though he says it a lot nonverbally).