Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > IMDb Remarkable Writings Rewound
An Old Man's Rambling Thoughts -- by ClancyPantsNasty
CellarDweller:
--- Quote from: TOoP/Bruce on May 05, 2014, 05:10:29 pm ---Someone once brought it up before (Was it in Casey Cornelius's "Is Brokeback a Palindrome?" thread?) that "Talkative Timmy" has Ennis's ear in a parallel construction to how "Loquacious Lashawn" has Jack's.
--- End quote ---
Oh, hadn't thought of that.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: Front-Ranger on April 28, 2014, 08:07:33 pm ---Word of the day seems to be "pavement". And here's what ole Clancypants has to say about it:
"One of the first astounding things I learned, shortly after I came onto this board, was how much info was packed into that tiny little scene. This is what suddenly opened my mind to the film's enormous complexity (I think of it as my Helen Keller at the water pump moment). Up until then, I thought the scene's purpose was just to establish how boring Ennis' life had become, how bleak his potential future (represented by Timmy) might be, how unappealing a coworker Timmy was, compared to Jack. Then Casey Cornelius pointed out that Timmy had talked about breaking his back, an allusion to Brokeback (it's probably not accidental, either, that Timmy refers to his heterosexual marriage), and we discussed the idea that Ennis was thinking of Jack as he gazed off into the distance, at a green field which represents the natural world, i.e. Jack and Ennis' relationship. And I think at some point we also discussed the idea that Ennis is paving over this natural world -- symbolically suduing it with the substance of society.
Then later Clancy drew the connection between the idea of pavement and the point later in the movie when Ennis tells Jack about going "out on the pavement" and having people look at him as if they know he's gay. So this scene could also be an early example of Ennis' paranoia about their relationship."
--- End quote ---
Actually, I wrote the passage above. Bruce's compilation includes ClancyPants' comment plus responses from others. That one is mine (I was latjoreme then).
--- Quote ---Re: An old man's rambling thoughts
by latjoreme (Mon Apr 9 2007 16:18:47 )
Ohh, good one, Gary and retropian. Ennis is literally on the road he has chosen to take in life and it looks bleak and he looks miserable. Wow.
One of the first astounding things I learned, shortly after I came onto this board, was how much info was packed into that tiny little scene. This is what suddenly opened my mind to the film's enormous complexity (I think of it as my Helen Keller at the water pump moment). Up until then, I thought the scene's purpose was just to establish how boring Ennis' life had become, how bleak his potential future (represented by Timmy) might be, how unappealing a coworker Timmy was, compared to Jack. Then Casey Cornelius pointed out that Timmy had talked about breaking his back, an allusion to Brokeback (it's probably not accidental, either, that Timmy refers to his heterosexual marriage), and we discussed the idea that Ennis was thinking of Jack as he gazed off into the distance, at a green field which represents the natural world, i.e. Jack and Ennis' relationship. And I think at some point we also discussed the idea that Ennis is paving over this natural world -- symbolically suduing it with the substance of society.
Then later Clancy drew the connection between the idea of pavement and the point later in the movie when Ennis tells Jack about going "out on the pavement" and having people look at him as if they know he's gay. So this scene could also be an early example of Ennis' paranoia about their relationship.
--- End quote ---
Casey's analysis of the pavement scene was my Helen Keller at the water pump moment. (I don't think Casey and Clancy knew each other, though they would have been a dynamic duo!)
--- Quote from: TOoP/Bruce on May 05, 2014, 05:10:29 pm ---Someone once brought it up before (Was it in Casey Cornelius's "Is Brokeback a Palindrome?" thread?) that "Talkative Timmy" has Ennis's ear in a parallel construction to how "Loquacious Lashawn" has Jack's.
--- End quote ---
Oh, cool! I missed that part of the palindrome first time around. Eight years in, my Helen Keller at the water pump moments continue!
Front-Ranger:
I was in line to pick up my son at the airport today and he said over the phone that they were keeping the plane on the tarmac for a bit. I wondered why he said "tarmac" instead of "pavement" and, just hearing that word in my mind brought up the whole scene where Ennis wonders aloud to Jack what people out on the pavement think. Then, it flashed to the Timmy scene where Ennis is daydreaming while Timmy paves and complains about breaking his back. I had to go back to this thread and resurrect it. Here is a quote by serious aka latjoreme ::)
--- Quote from: Front-Ranger on April 28, 2014, 08:07:33 pm ---"One of the first astounding things I learned, shortly after I came onto this board, was how much info was packed into that tiny little scene. This is what suddenly opened my mind to the film's enormous complexity (I think of it as my Helen Keller at the water pump moment). Up until then, I thought the scene's purpose was just to establish how boring Ennis' life had become, how bleak his potential future (represented by Timmy) might be, how unappealing a coworker Timmy was, compared to Jack. Then Casey Cornelius pointed out that Timmy had talked about breaking his back, an allusion to Brokeback (it's probably not accidental, either, that Timmy refers to his heterosexual marriage), and we discussed the idea that Ennis was thinking of Jack as he gazed off into the distance, at a green field which represents the natural world, i.e. Jack and Ennis' relationship. And I think at some point we also discussed the idea that Ennis is paving over this natural world -- symbolically subduing it with the substance of society.
Then later Clancy drew the connection between the idea of pavement and the point later in the movie when Ennis tells Jack about going "out on the pavement" and having people look at him as if they know he's gay. So this scene could also be an early example of Ennis' paranoia about their relationship."
--- End quote ---
serious crayons:
I think all of our group discussions were fascinating and enlightening. I learned so much about analyzing the film -- and cinematography/literature in general from Casey Cornelius and Clancy/ruthlesslyunsentimental. Both were amazing -- not only pointing out things I wouldn't have noticed but supporting their theses with so much evidence you knew they were right.
Lee, correct me if I'm wrong but I believe I heard of the coffee pot significance from you. In fact, the pot and coffee pot and the fan. You, too, have been a major influencer at BetterMost.
The best gift Clancy/ruthless ever left, IMO, is what seems to me like a solid explanation of why Lureen's understanding of Jack's death is right. Highly questionable for sure, but I believe it.
Another amazing one, from Clancy I think, is that Old Man Twist isn't actually as homophobic as one might assume.
And I believe Casey pointed out the mind-blowing inkblot structure?
Front-Ranger:
--- Quote from: serious crayons on December 12, 2021, 09:05:14 pm ---Lee, correct me if I'm wrong but I believe I heard of the coffee pot significance from you. In fact, the pot and coffee pot and the fan. You, too, have been a major influencer at BetterMost.
--- End quote ---
I believe that was a collaboration between browneyes and me and maybe some others.
--- Quote from: serious crayons on December 12, 2021, 09:05:14 pm ---The best gift Clancy/ruthless ever left, IMO, is what seems to me like a solid explanation of why Lureen's understanding of Jack's death is right. Highly questionable for sure, but I believe it.
--- End quote ---
I don't remember that one.
--- Quote from: serious crayons on December 12, 2021, 09:05:14 pm ---Another amazing one, from Clancy I think, is that Old Man Twist isn't actually as homophobic as one might assume.
--- End quote ---
Yes I remember that. I recall he thought OMT was gay himself.
--- Quote from: serious crayons on December 12, 2021, 09:05:14 pm ---And I believe Casey pointed out the mind-blowing inkblot structure?
--- End quote ---
Yes, he sure did. Or maybe he called it bookending?
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