Our BetterMost Community > Chez Tremblay
Ennis, Cassie and the Twists (revised title)
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: Front-Ranger on May 08, 2006, 10:07:49 am ---I agree with both of you. What makes the end of the movie so tragic for me is that Ennis was almost there, he had almost traveled all the way around the coffeepot to find the handle, the answer. And he was almost ready to agree to a life with Jack. That's why he broke off with Cassie. But I don't think Jack recognized it, because he was embittered.
--- End quote ---
And I agree with this, Front-Ranger. I think he was almost there, too. Whether he would have lived with Jack I don't know. But I think he had finally come to terms with the fact that he was always going to love Jack and shouldn't bother pretending otherwise. To me, that's what the pie scene is about. So sad ...
And David, I think you may be right that Jack was fishing. Too bad Ennis didn't respond more directly. And too bad Jack didn't read Ennis' "who cares" tone. Or Ennis' nonchallant acceptance of Jack's seeing another woman.
littleguitar:
--- Quote ---Well, many have said, and I agree, that Jacks spirit died the day he drove up when Ennis got his divorce. You never see him smile after that.
--- End quote ---
He smiles that last night by the lake, after Ennis says "you probably deserved it", though I have to say it is one of the saddest, most heartbreaking smiles I've ever seen, and it's followed by "Tell you what..." I definitely agree that Jack's spirit died that day.
ednbarby:
--- Quote from: littleguitar on May 08, 2006, 01:05:25 pm ---He smiles that last night by the lake, after Ennis says "you probably deserved it", though I have to say it is one of the saddest, most heartbreaking smiles I've ever seen, and it's followed by "Tell you what..." I definitely agree that Jack's spirit died that day.
--- End quote ---
As do I. And that's yet another beautiful piece of acting by our Jake. Well, all of it. But the day of the post-divorce trip, when Ennis starts pushing him away, and they look at that truck passing by together, and he *gets* right then and there that Ennis is never gonna be OK with the two of them being open about their relationship, the way he says, "Yeah. All right." and backs up that little bit and does that thing with his tongue - as if he's doing that in concentration - the concentration it takes to keep from breaking down in front of him - that just slays me every time.
As I've said before here, I've been there to a lesser extent. The one I was over the moon in love with had missed work all week due to a bad case of tonsilitis after we'd been what I believed was quite serious for several months, and I took that Friday off to make and bring him homemade chicken soup. I asked his housemate at the time if he thought it was a good idea, and he even said, "Sure. If that was me, I'd love it! He's pretty bummed about feeling so crappy, so I'm sure a visit from you would cheer him up." I took the soup over there early in the afternoon, just expecting to leave it by the front door in a cooler I had brought for it so as not to bother him, but he opened the door right away as if he was up watching TV and had heard me pull up. And he was *annoyed*. It was clear he was, from the moment I saw his face at the door. I got my heart broken that day, because I was sure it'd be sort of a turning point (towards the good) for us, especially after getting that vote of confidence from his housemate. I just remember that lump in my throat like it was yesterday. And I drove back home in tears, too. I didn't see or speak to him until the following Monday, when he'd returned to work and never bothered to let me know he was going to (we also worked closely together), nor to thank me for the soup which his housemate said was yummy. Grrrrrr... Things were never the same after that and by all accounts I should have just ended it. But we continued on at *his* pace for several more months. I don't remember smiling much during that time, either.
David:
A great big Hug for Barby! Us Pisces (March) are suckers sometimes aren't we?
David :-*
Brown Eyes:
--- Quote from: latjoreme on May 08, 2006, 09:22:09 am ---But it's hard to believe Jack doesn't pick up on how blase Ennis sounds.
And my opinion is that, yes, by this point Ennis has realized that he is gay and has partly come to terms with it. I know many people find this view debatable, to say the least. But he seems so unexcited and passive about Cassie -- far less so than he was about Alma, even. He gets dragged into the relationship because Cassie came on so strong and he figures that's what he's "supposed" to do. But when he breaks up with her, it's because he realizes there's no point in keeping up the pretense.
--- End quote ---
I think Jack does pick up on the blase tone about Cassie. I think he responds with his equally blase tone about his marriage to Lureen that could be done "over the phone" (slightly Off T: a little bit of ominous foreshadowing perhaps?).
Yes, I think the pie scene is a big moment for Ennis. I don't think he was ever interested in Cassie (even Alma Jr. gets this) and now, you're right he's decided to be honest about this and not pretend... I mean Ennis tried to keep her at arms length during their first dance, and he had to be dragged onto the dance floor then (and also when he danced with Cassie in front of Alma Jr.).
I wonder what Ennis is thinking when Cassie says "I don't get you..."? He looks at her in a thoughtful way. If he would allow himself to at that moment, would he even be capable of answering that question with "well, I'm already in love with a man"... or "I'm gay"? Has he come that far by the time of this conversation? I think most of the film while Jack is alive is like watching Ennis inch slowly towards the conscious conclusion that he's gay and should do something to "fix" his relationship with Jack. I think there's not doubt he's gay all along (but coming out to himself in a clear way in his head obviously is a long process for him). I wonder... in terms of the chronology of things... Are we supposed to think that Jack is already dead (un-beknownst to Ennis) by the time the pie scene comes?
Jack's death is like a sledge-hammer epiphany about a lot of this to Ennis. The fact that he actually takes it upon himself to do something awkward and bold for Jack following his death is an enormous sign I think. I mean not only does he pick up a phone and talk to Lureen, but he actually gets in his truck and drives all that way to visit Jack's parents (clearly an awkward situation for him in some ways). Throughout their 20 year love affair Jack couldn't drag Ennis up there. And, yet Ennis does this on his own (he's clearly anxious and wanting to do this) following the death. Those actions show how much Ennis feels responsible for Jack and how much he really does think of himself as Jack's partner.
:'( :(
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