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When did Jack's "gaydar" go off?

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Brown Eyes:
I do think that the "opportunity" discussion is one of the first possible indications of mutual "flirting" that might be perceptible to some viewers (but probably not to some).  The way Ennis looks directly at Jack when he says he hasn't yet had the opportunity... whether or not he means it... by body language alone, he's indicating interest in Jack.

I think there are moments of clear attraction between the two of them much earlier (the "most I've spoke in a year" conversation is probably the best earlier example)... but this seems to be the most overt gesture towards something resembling flirting or trying to really figure each other out.

On their own too, both Jack and Ennis reveal their attraction to one another to the audience (when the other cowboy might now be aware).  Ennis seems to steal glances at Jack (when Jack's on his horse, etc.) in ways that look like he's "checking Jack out."  And, I think Jack reveals his interest in Ennis immediately upon entering the movie (in front of Aguirre's trailer).

myprivatejack:
From the very moment they met in the beginning of the movie,there's a kind of flirting with their exchanging glances.The difference between them-as in so many questions along the movie...-is that meanwhile Jack is looking at Ennis directly,this one takes a look indirectly,almost hidding himself,when Jack is not aware...It's just like a hint of what their relationship will be from this moment onwards: Jack wanting all directly,without fears,looking always for Ennis,waiting for him to commit;and Ennis escaping from Jack's look,the same than he will always "escapes" from this commitment,running to him,running from him...

Mandy21:

--- Quote from: optom3 on March 12, 2008, 06:57:41 pm ---

Also in both the book and film in TS1 it is Ennis who takes control.It is not as if he is the passive one.Ditto the reunion scene.
 However reluctant Ennis may be to accept the truth,he knows it somewhere,very deep inside and Jack recognises that almost from the word go.




--- End quote ---

I love the way you worded that, Fiona.  This is a great and very interesting thread.  My personal belief is that the "gaydar", so to speak, went off, like Fiona said, "from the word go".  Jack gets out of his truck, kicks it, turns, sees the glory of Ennis, takes two steps forward as if he's going to introduce himself, Ennis lowers his hat/head, shielding his eyes from expressing/revealing any interest whatsoever, and then the camera goes back to a close-up of Jack's face, and there's a look that comes over him, when he sort of nods his head just a little, blinks his eyes knowingly.  From the second time, and every one of the 30 times since then, that I've watched the film, that 4 or 5 second look that he's actually giving to himself, cause Ennis isn't looking -- that look, to me, meant "Ahhh, I see, you're not ready to admit to yourself who you are yet.  Okay, I get it, fine, I can play that game."  I don't know, those were the exact words that have always come to my mind that Jack was thinking to himself when he first laid his eyes on Ennis.  And then he returns to the truck and poses himself there, just ready, able, and willing to start this game, at whatever cost.

Even though I think the interest was there from Ennis's perspective from the start, from the sideways glances in the trailer and the borrowing of the lighter and the revealing of the personal history at the bar, I think he dismissed the possibility as outrageous and improbable, if not impossible.  But he kept it in the back of his mind that day/night.  (Sidebar:  wonder where they spent the night that first night???)  The first time the average viewer gets to actually be privy to any admiration whatsoever between the two is when they're loading up the horses the next morning, and Ennis warns Jack that the horse he's on has a low startle point, and Jack, cockily (is that a word?  if not, it should be.), states that he doubts there's a mare that could throw him, then we see Ennis's face, smiling to himself.  To me, that look meant "man, this is gonna be fun...".

So, those are the two moments IMHO when I think Jack's and Ennis's respective "gaydars" went off about the other.

Brown Eyes:
I love, love, love the first silent minutes of BBM.  It's like a contemporary demonstration of the best effects possible with silent film. It's just so beautifully filmed too.

So much goes on between Ennis and Jack in that silence.  And, it will always remain totally ambiguous because of the silence.  It makes for really interesting interpretations.

Mandy21, I think your interpretation here is great! 8)

BlissC:
I agree. I've just checked out that opening scene again, and on reflection I think you're spot on Mandy21 (gonna wear the damned DVD out at this rate the amount of times over the last few days I've replayed scenes to check out some detail or other  lol!)


--- Quote from: Mandy21 on March 13, 2008, 02:09:50 pm ---and there's a look that comes over him, when he sort of nods his head just a little, blinks his eyes knowingly.  From the second time, and every one of the 30 times since then, that I've watched the film, that 4 or 5 second look that he's actually giving to himself, cause Ennis isn't looking -- that look, to me, meant "Ahhh, I see, you're not ready to admit to yourself who you are yet.  Okay, I get it, fine, I can play that game."  I don't know, those were the exact words that have always come to my mind that Jack was thinking to himself when he first laid his eyes on Ennis.  And then he returns to the truck and poses himself there, just ready, able, and willing to start this game, at whatever cost.
--- End quote ---

Again, yep, I've always though that Jack was posing there for effect, but I'd missed that look/subtle lowering of his head from Ennis. Now you've pointed it out though I can definitely see it.


--- Quote ---(Sidebar:  wonder where they spent the night that first night???)
--- End quote ---

I've wondered that too.


--- Quote ---The first time the average viewer gets to actually be privy to any admiration whatsoever between the two is when they're loading up the horses the next morning, and Ennis warns Jack that the horse he's on has a low startle point, and Jack, cockily (is that a word?  if not, it should be.), states that he doubts there's a mare that could throw him, then we see Ennis's face, smiling to himself.  To me, that look meant "man, this is gonna be fun...".
--- End quote ---

Again, yep, I think you're spot on. Throughout the early part of the film, the clues are very subtle, but right at the start they're very very subtle. (Oh, and yep, I think "cockily" is a word - I certainly remember my mum using it anyhow)


--- Quote from: myprivatejack on March 13, 2008, 12:14:31 pm ---From the very moment they met in the beginning of the movie,there's a kind of flirting with their exchanging glances.The difference between them-as in so many questions along the movie...-is that meanwhile Jack is looking at Ennis directly,this one takes a look indirectly,almost hidding himself,when Jack is not aware...It's just like a hint of what their relationship will be from this moment onwards: Jack wanting all directly,without fears,looking always for Ennis,waiting for him to commit;and Ennis escaping from Jack's look,the same than he will always "escapes" from this commitment,running to him,running from him...

--- End quote ---

I think that's true also, and I think you're right - the way their whole relationship goes is reflected in the subtle looks they exchange.

I know I've already said this once today, but the more and more you delve deeper into the story and the film, the more you realise the genius of both the directing and the screenplay, and Jake and Heath's acting.

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