Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > IMDb Remarkable Writings Rewound
Brokeback and the Number Three -- by Meryl_88
TOoP/Bruce:
Brokeback and the Number Three
by meryl_88 (Wed Apr 5 2006 23:35:54 )
Many posters over the past months have noticed examples of the Number 3 in Brokeback Mountain. One of the most interesting appears in CaseyCornelius's thread about Ennis's (Three) Maledictions.
Occurrences of the Number 3 can be significant or trivial. Here's one from Casey to start it off:
I'd begin with the three telephone poles in the opening shots as Ennis gets dropped off by the truck - too much of a Calvary image for me to ignore.
And I'd begin with the fact that Ennis experiences three harsh visions of death during the film:
The mutilated corpse of Earl the rancher (Witnessed by 3--Ennis, K.E. and their father)
The gutted sheep on the mountain (Witnessed by 3--Ennis, the dog and the horse)
His vision of Jack's violent death (at the hands of 3 thugs wielding a tire iron)
Re: Brokeback and the Number Three
by caoilfhionn (Wed Apr 5 2006 23:46:12 )
damn. casey is a genius. thanks for reprinting this. i've seen the movie 7 times and each time i try to look for things from the imdb board that others have noticed. what are the three maledictions?
Link to Casey's 'Ennis' Maledictions'
by kula17 (Wed Apr 5 2006 23:50:54 )
UPDATED Thu Apr 6 2006 00:00:57
It's nice that they didn't get to delete this one yet. I'm not bumping it though, for fear that a phantom troll might get his claws on it.
Ennis' Maledictions:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0388795/board/flat/35009762?d=38353965#35009762
But so far this board has been free of trolls the last couple hours or so, and it would be a "real sweet life" if it was "just like this" always.
Edit: Fixed url link
__________________________________
"Straight" Guide to BBM: http://www.cs.brandeis.edu/~psyc/personal/brokeback.htm
Re: Brokeback and the Number Three
by meryl_88 (Wed Apr 5 2006 23:55:49 )
caoilfhionn, look here for the Maledictions thread: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0388795/board/flat/35009762
Jessica, thanks, those are all interesting examples of threes. To expand on your theme of children: between them Jack and Ennis father 3 offspring.
Another example:
Jack and Ennis each have three significant sexual relationships:
Jack = Ennis, Lureen and Randall
Ennis = Jack, Alma and Cassie
TOoP/Bruce:
Re: Brokeback and the Number Three
by Jessica_Weasfoy (Wed Apr 5 2006 23:48:24 )
What about- Ennis had a brother and a sister- that's 3 kids all together.
When him and Alma are about to have intercourse right before the divorce, she stops him and says that about the bills and being careful. Well, if she would have not stopped him, they might have concieved thier 3rd child that night. (okay that one is reaching)
In the film it showed Ennis only living in 3 places. The first home that Alma hates, then the Apt. above the Laundry (then back to the first house but that doesn't count) and the trailer in the end.
OOhh, I just thought about this but I might be wrong. I only remember 3 different scenes with Jack's first (black) truck. 1) When he's putting along in the first scene with him 2) When he is standing there staring at Ennis and when he is shaving 3) when he is leaving after the Brokeback job is done.
Man....I will find more. Now Im very interested.
Do your FREAKIN Rounds or Ima bust a NUT!
Re: Three Full Moons
by Ever_Victoria (Thu Apr 6 2006 00:01:44 )
"Aside from Ennis's wisecrack about sending up a prayer of thanks for Jack forgetting to bring his harmonica, it is SO touching that the reality is that heaven is not above - the two of them have found it in each other's company and embrace. The stars above are ratifying the holiness of their union."
Awww, that made me smile. And I must thank you, my girlfriend has been after me to write a brokeback centric poem (my first poem in over a year, damn that writers block) and I think you just gave me some inspiration. :-)
Re: Three Full Moons
by Jessica_Weasfoy (Thu Apr 6 2006 23:23:40 )
Man I thought we were gonna go more into the 3 thing here. Guess Not. :(
Do your FREAKIN Rounds or Ima bust a NUT!
Re: Brokeback and the Number Three
by muscla_1 (Thu Apr 6 2006 23:40:13 )
n the film it showed Ennis only living in 3 places. The first home that Alma hates, then the Apt. above the Laundry (then back to the first house but that doesn't count) and the trailer in the end.
Not to nitpick, but actually there are four.
You're forgetting the creepy shack Ennis was living in when Jack comes to find him after Ennis' divorce (although we only see the exterior).
"Jack, I swear..."
Re: Brokeback and the Number Three
by Jessica_Weasfoy (Fri Apr 7 2006 00:06:04 )
Well actually I said that. I said back to the first house. Because as I understood it, that was the first house him and Alma lived in. I said that doesn't count though. So...no nitpicking needed.
Do your FREAKIN Rounds or Ima bust a NUT!
Two sets of Three Trailers
by - CaseyCornelius (Fri Apr 7 2006 00:08:45 )
UPDATED Sat May 13 2006 06:48:55
1 The film opens at Aguirre's trailer
2 Closes at Ennis's trailer
3 The 'Surf Party' clip at the drive-in shows a young couple enamored of each other meeting outside an illegally parked trailer on the beach - the significance of which is explored in the 'The Choice of Surf Party' thread --
(reposted)
We see Ennis loading or unloading horses into trailers:
1 At the meagre ranch cabin he and Alma make their first home with the
two children, Ennis arrives and unloads a horse
2 The 'fishing trip' meeting back at the site of their naked jump into
the watering hole/river has him pulling up with two horses held
in a trailer
3 The Lake Scene and final meeting ends with him leaving Jack for
what will be the last time, having loaded up two horses and driven away.
TOoP/Bruce:
Re: Two sets of Three Trailers
by meryl_88 (Fri Apr 7 2006 07:33:31 )
Thanks for those examples, Casey. I read the "Surf Party" thread recently, and I love that there are some interesting associations that can be made regarding that particular choice of clip, the trailer being the most signficant. It's also a fun fact that the actress's character name in the film is "Junior."
The horses confined in a trailer, perhaps used as a symbol for Ennis's and Jack's constricted affairs, is a topic I hope you'll explore more.
Naun, the phone call denials and affirmations are also a great observation. It's hardly possible to know for sure whether Ossana/Murtry planned them, but they add yet another layer to this thousand-layer cake of a film.
Ennis's 3 fights are a good call, too. In trying to think of a parallel for Jack, I came up with the fact that he has 3 significant rejections: Jimbo's rejection of his overture in the bar; Aguirre's refusal to re-hire him; and Ennis's rejection of his company after the divorce. (Ennis's other rejections of Jack's hopes may blur that, though.)
Jessica and muscla, in the screenplay it notes that the house Ennis moved to after the divorce was "much like the one he and Alma had lived in when his daughters were young," so it most likely does count as a fourth residence for Ennis.
Here are a couple of small three's:
The license plate number on the truck that delivers Ennis to Signal is 33447, so it not only starts with a three, it adds up to a 3 as well.
In the phone call scene, Lureen is wearing 3 rings on her right hand.
Re: Two sets of Three Trailers
by naun (Fri Apr 7 2006 08:22:04 )
the phone call denials and affirmations are also a great observation. It's hardly possible to know for sure whether Ossana/Murtry planned them, but they add yet another layer to this thousand-layer cake of a film.
I think they must be deliberate, because they were a late addition. IIRC the 2003 version of the screenplay does not have the "buddy" and "good friends" lines that begin and end the call with Lureen.
Great thread, keep it going!
Horses
by naun (Sat Apr 8 2006 20:36:10 )
The horses confined in a trailer, perhaps used as a symbol for Ennis's and Jack's constricted affairs, is a topic I hope you'll explore more.
There were the beginnings of a discussion in Casey's "Surf Party" thread, starting about halfway down:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0388795/board/nest/37451771?d=37451771#37451771
I hope to see this idea explored further too. One detail I picked up on a recent viewing was that when Ennis unloads the horses at his ranch home, he backs them out of the trailer. This happens at the beginning of his domestic life after his honeymoon. This image prefigures the one of Jack backing his truck away from Ennis after the latter's divorce.
(In an effort to stay on topic, I'm trying to think if there's a third "reversing" scene somewhere in the movie, but am drawing a blank at the moment.)
I mention the horses now because I just saw another wonderful, piercingly memorable film with an equine theme, Bresson's "Au hasard Balthazar". I went eagerly looking for an old thread on this board called "Bressonian Brokeback", but sadly it's gone.
Re: Horses
by meryl_88 (Sat Apr 8 2006 21:33:52 )
UPDATED Sat Apr 8 2006 21:37:23
Incidentally, apropos of Casey's "Ennis/Aeneas" theory, the best-known number from Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas is Dido's lament, "When I am laid in earth".
So sad!
When I am laid, am laid in earth
May my wrongs create no trouble, no trouble in thy breast.
Remember me! Remember me! But ah, forget my fate.
Remember me! But ah, forget my fate.
In an effort to stay on topic, I'm trying to think if there's a third "reversing" scene somewhere in the movie, but am drawing a blank at the moment.
Here's one thought: When Jack drives away from Signal, Ennis is following him in the same direction on foot, and there's a horse trailer to Ennis's left. But when Jack looks back at him in the mirror, the image is reversed, and the horse trailer appears to be on Ennis's right.
The only other backing up images that occur to me are Jack dragging that hapless sheep out of the Chilean herd and Ennis having to reverse directions when the horse and mules run away from the bear at the creek.
I mention the horses now because I just saw another wonderful, piercingly memorable film with an equine theme, Bresson's "Au hasard Balthazar". I went eagerly looking for an old thread on this board called "Bressonian Brokeback", but sadly it's gone.
I remember that thread, too. It was short, but very perceptive. I wish I had saved it.
Re: Horses
by naun (Sun Apr 9 2006 13:02:32 )
The only other backing up images that occur to me are Jack dragging that hapless sheep out of the Chilean herd
That's the one! And like the other two "backing up" images, it occurs soon after a signal (pardon the pun) event in the story, in this case, the beginning of their sexual relationship -- the "loss of innocence" that leads to their expulsion, as one poster described it, from their Garden of Eden.
The same poster (I don't recall who it was, unfortunately) noted that there is a second expulsion when Jack returns to Aguirre's trailer the following year. And there's a third expulsion when Ennis is ejected from Monroe's house after the Thanksgiving dinner. So there's another threesome for you.
Re: Horses
by meryl_88 (Sun Apr 9 2006 21:02:24 )
And there's a third expulsion when Ennis is ejected from Monroe's house after the Thanksgiving dinner.
Well, that does make for three expulsions, but I have to say, as a Garden of Eden stand-in, Brokeback beats the heck out of Monroe's house.
Naun, I noticed on your Lightning Flat thread that you mentioned Ennis being seen afar as a point of light. This makes for another Three: The headlights of the truck carrying Ennis at the top of the movie, the distant campfire that Jack sees on the mountain, and the headlights of Ennis's truck as he returns from Lightning Flat.
Jlilya, the three rejections sound right to me. Good catch.
Points of light
by naun (Mon Apr 10 2006 03:58:58 )
UPDATED Mon Apr 10 2006 04:05:03
I noticed on your Lightning Flat thread that you mentioned Ennis being seen afar as a point of light. This makes for another Three: The headlights of the truck carrying Ennis at the top of the movie, the distant campfire that Jack sees on the mountain, and the headlights of Ennis's truck as he returns from Lightning Flat.
This one may be more than three if you include associated images. For example, there's a scene where Ennis rides a black horse with a white flash on its forehead. And when he leaves Monroe's house, he drives a truck with one working headlight. I mentioned a couple of other analogous images in another thread, but don't remember which one OTTOMH.
TOoP/Bruce:
Re: Points of light
by meryl_88 (Mon Apr 10 2006 15:22:42 )
This one may be more than three if you include associated images. For example, there's a scene where Ennis rides a black horse with a white flash on its forehead. And when he leaves Monroe's house, he drives a truck with one working headlight.
Hmm, I wonder if you could add to those two the image of Ennis lighting a cigarette while looking out the window for Jack to arrive for the reunion. That would make three "closeup" shots with Ennis and a light, and the other three could be "from afar."
When will Casey mention the 3 mountain pictures, I wonder?
Three idealized Mountain 'paintings'
by - CaseyCornelius (Mon Apr 10 2006 18:36:21 )
UPDATED Sat May 13 2006 07:07:30
meryl:
Thanks for the prod.
I'm cautious about being redundant, but, you're right, no one has mentioned the appearances of three idealized mountain paintings at key points in the film. And in each appearance, the nature of the paintings reveals suggest an increasing dominance of the mountain itself within the painting as a suggestion of Brokeback's increasingly heghtened emotional significiance.
1 In the meagre little ranch cabin in which Alma, Ennis and the two toddlers make their home Ennis brushes past a mountain painting - the first of the many souvenirs or reminsicences which the boys have of each other during the hiatus.
The painting here reveals a mountain viewed in the distance through trees which border the painting on both sides, almost hiding the mountain.
2 A different painting is seen centered in the frame on the living room wall as Ennis passes out of the kitchen scene in Riverton, captivated by the postcard from Jack, following the line "We was fishin' buddies" - the significance of the moment is signalled by the return of the desolate, lonely theme music with which the film opens.
So there is a striking link between the idealized mountain scene on the postcard which Jack has sent and its telegraphed appearance on the wall in the painting which Ennis has had at the centre of his quotidian existence.
Here this second painting shows a brilliantly lit, full mountain-scape closer to the viewer, visually reflecting the memories of Brokeback bursting into the open in the mind of Ennis with the surprise postcard from Jack.
3 Yet another third and much more imposing mountain-scape is seen beside the door as Ennis hurriedly exits the Monroe household following the Thanksgiving blow-up by Alma. Here the painting is almost a mocking touch and pendant to the "Jack Nasty" line as it is a frigid scene with the mountain completely wrapped in snow overwhelming the frame - almost a reminder of the frigid, snow-bound scene which signalled the end of Ennis's idyll on Brokeback with Jack.
It is hugely significant that we see that the Monroe/Alma family home have a mountain painting in so prominent a location given the venomous scene prior in which Alma castigates Ennis for lying to her about the true nature of his relationship with Jack for so many years. For me, in the way the painting is placed close to the main entrance of the house, its an indication of how overwhelming, at an unconscious level, is impact of the Brokeback summer on the lives and the marriage of all of Ennis, Alma, and their daughters.
I am astounded as the care in which Ang Lee and production designer Judy Becker took in designing this immensely subtle detail, one which the viewer is bound to miss upon a first viewing of the film. It's additional proof of Ang Lee's attention to minute detail throughout the film; an indication that this miracle of a film demands multiple viewings in order to fully appreciate its technical artistry; and the reason why it holds any viewer sensitive to its beauty in an almost hypnotic thrall in delivering an overwhelming emotional 'punch'.
Re: Three idealized Mountain 'paintings'
by meryl_88 (Mon Apr 10 2006 19:26:59 )
Thanks, Casey! I'm really glad to have that description on the Three Thread. It's such a great little detail to ponder and enjoy.
Three Full Moons
by - CaseyCornelius (Wed Apr 5 2006 23:57:05 )
UPDATED Sat May 13 2006 06:47:07
As stated in numerous previous threads regarding the Chinese symbols in Brokeback, the full moon is indicative of friends or lovers united in either physical proximity or in spirit from a great distance [in that they both view the same moon].
1 Jack up on Brokeback tending the sheep underneath a full moon looks down to the dark face of the mountain to seek out Ennis as night fire in the far distance. I see this as the first distinct visual cue of a desire of one of them for the other - ie. Jack begins to 'fall in love'.
2 The night of the first tent scene - 'nuff said.
3 Following the Riverton reunion Ennis gazes up into the sky lit by stars and the full moon and prompts Jack's query as to whether there is anything interesting up there in heaven. Aside from Ennis's wisecrack about sending up a prayer of thanks for Jack forgetting to bring his harmonica, it is SO touching that the reality is that heaven is not above - the two of them have found it in each other's company and embrace. The stars above are ratifying the holiness of their union.
Re: Brokeback and the Number Three
by naun (Fri Apr 7 2006 05:10:34 )
Ennis gets into three physical fights: with Jack, with the bikers, and with the driver outside the "Black and Blue Eagle"(!) bar. He does lash out, or come close to doing so, a couple of other times, though.
I've previously also mentioned the telephone calls. In the first of them Aguirre makes three denials ("No. No. Not on your f uckin' life!") and in the second Ennis three times affirms his connection with Jack.
TOoP/Bruce:
Re: Brokeback and the Number Three
by - (name removed by request) (Thu Apr 13 2006 15:39:16 )
UPDATED Thu Apr 27 2006 11:47:01
Some of these are probably stretching things a bit, but here goes anyway…
Words and phrases said 3 times:
• “C’mere” and “It’s all right” by Jack to Ennis: during the second tent scene (where he says “it’s all right” 3 times (with respect to those in the “sorry” camp)), after giving Ennis a bloody nose, and at the end of the final lake scene
• “C’mon” by Ennis to the cattle 3 times, while throwing hay off the back of the truck during the montage (out of sequence because Ennis has sideburns before and after this scene, but not during)
• “I’m sorry” by Ennis: to Jack (“I’m sure as hell sorry”), to Cassie (“I’m sorry”) and to Lureen (“I sure am sorry”)
• “Kurt” by Alma Jr. (3 times) and Ennis (3 times); 3 times outside Ennis’s trailer, 3 times inside
• “Lightnin’ Flat” (by Jack, rodeo announcer, and Ennis)
• “Troy”
• “Here I am” by Aguirre, Jack, LaShawn
• “Roundup”
• “Bronc”
• “my old man” (by Jack)
• “please” (by Alma to Ennis twice, to Alma Jr. once)
Other appearances and incidents of 3:
• Alma sits at the Riverton apartment kitchen table.
• Bobby’s scenes
• C&H sugar on the shelf (brown, blue, pink)
• Cross scenes: 3 telephone poles at the beginning, cross in church at Ennis & Alma’s wedding, cross in Twists’ kitchen
• Ennis handles postcards he intends for Jack (the first, the last, and the one in his wardrobe).
• Ennis sends postcards to Jack (although we see just 2--because we only hear about the divorce card)
• Ennis holds his empty palms up to Jack: when rejecting Jack’s offer of money (“I don’t need your money”), at the reunion (“Jack * Twist”), and during the final lake scene (“Jack, I gotta work”).
• Ennis introduces himself to Jack, Cassie, Lureen.
• Ennis mixes it up with roughnecks.
• Ennis punches the wall when throwing up (the fourth time, after the cowboy passes, he merely presses his fist into the wall).
• Ennis pushes his tongue into the side of his mouth (“…nothin’ but $24 dollars in a coffee can”).
• Ennis keeps 3 buttons fastened on his jackets (visible on Brokeback and grey jackets)
• File cabinets behind Aguirre's desk
• If Mr. Lee had included the filmed-but-cut night in Signal, there would be 3 shots of the guys sleeping (although it’s said that Ennis didn’t actually sleep during that scene).
• Ennis tucks his shirt in (once on Brokeback, twice at the reunion).
• Intertwined shirts (in the closet, kitchen, and wardrobe)
• Each rides off alone to the sheep: Jack on the first night, when his horse crowhops, and after “No more beans.”; Ennis after offering to switch, after the first tent scene, and after the dozy embrace.
• Jack is addressed as “cowboy” by Ennis, Jimbo, Lureen.
• Jack blinks after Aguirre mentions “the rose.”
• Jack drives up to Ennis (at the beginning, at the reunion, after the divorce).
• Jack exhales before saying, “Sometimes I miss you so much…”
• Jack has his hat knocked off by Ennis (during the happy tussle and reunion scenes) and snatched off by Lureen (during their car scene).
• Monroe & Alma’s porch is shown.
• Mrs. Twist affirms her regard for Ennis 3 times by inviting him to: have coffee and cake (it won’t be a short visit), go up to Jack's room (roam pretty much freely in their home), and come back again (she doesn't want Ennis's visit to be “a one-shot thing”).
• Pinball games in the bar where Cassie works
• Rings on Lureen’s left hand during the dance
• Snaps on the cuffs of Jack’s Brokeback and Thanksgiving shirts
• The guys are inside the Brokeback Mountain tent together (third time is during the hailstorm).
• “Them camps can be 3, 4 miles from where we pasture the woolies.”
• “Then I pledged Tri Delt at SMU.”
• TV at Jack & Lureen’s switched on/off during dinner
• TV shows (Kojak, football game, ice skating)
• Whiskey bottle in Brokeback scenes
• “…you goin’ up there 2, 3 times a year…”
• “…you gotta stand it.” “…I can hardly stand it.” “I just can’t stand this anymore, Jack.”
• “…and he’s gonna sleep there.” “…but you sleep with the sheep, hunderd percent.” “…your 30-30, you sleep there.”
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