Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
"I figured you were sore from that punch"
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: atz75 on July 05, 2006, 09:16:25 pm --- And, yes, I totally agree that by the time this comment came around in the argument Ennis is terrified of losing Jack. I think we get our first flashes of this worry in the post-divorce fiasco scene. When Jack turns to leave Ennis looks at Jack in a really concerned/ intense way and says "Jack" in a way that makes it seem like he's finally switched his attention away from the guy in the truck/ his awkwardness, etc. and is not noticing how upset Jack is.
--- End quote ---
Amanda, judging from the context I'm assuming the "not noticing how upset Jack is" in your last sentence is meant to read "NOW noticing"?
Anyway, I agree. He does tend to lash out in anger, but he still feels bad -- certainly with Jack and Cassie, possibly even Alma. And he clearly feels really bad in the divorce scene. Not only the concerned look and the way he says Jack, but the way he hangs his head as Jack drives away. It's the same pose he assumes when listening to Jack's "all we got left is Brokeback Mountain" speech by the lake.
And in a milder, less traumatic way, the post-divorce scene echoes the scene where he turns down Alma Jr.'s request to live together. He doesn't look as guilty (and he needn't -- it's not as devastating), but clearly he feels bad about having to turn her down and tries to make sure she's all right with it.
As for the other part of your post, I agree that Ennis' "I'm stuck" remark probably encourages Jack, especially after the divorce, to think that's something that could be fixed. Still, later there was the Earl story as a tipoff that Ennis' reluctance isn't all about family responsibility (though family responsibility genuinely does always play a part, too, such as in the post-divorce scene and the "why don't you move to Texas?" scene).
mlewisusc:
Post to index and easily find later.
dly64:
--- Quote from: latjoreme on July 06, 2006, 02:07:13 am ---Anyway, I agree. He does tend to lash out in anger, but he still feels bad -- certainly with Jack and Cassie, possibly even Alma. And he clearly feels really bad in the divorce scene. Not only the concerned look and the way he says Jack, but the way he hangs his head as Jack drives away. It's the same pose he assumes when listening to Jack's "all we got left is Brokeback Mountain" speech by the lake.
--- End quote ---
I completely agree with this.!!!
--- Quote ---As for the other part of your post, I agree that Ennis' "I'm stuck" remark probably encourages Jack, especially after the divorce, to think that's something that could be fixed. Still, later there was the Earl story as a tipoff that Ennis' reluctance isn't all about family responsibility (though family responsibility genuinely does always play a part, too, such as in the post-divorce scene and the "why don't you move to Texas?" scene).
--- End quote ---
The "I'm stuck ..." comment may have encouraged Jack, but the idea of living together came before that. After having been away from Ennis for four years and then reuniting with even passion and intensity, Jack did not want to let Ennis go. It's not Jack trying to "fix" anything. It is because the two of them love each other and, in Jack’s mind, the next step would be having a life together (which, of course, Ennis will not do because of his fears). Jack keeps trying to encourage Ennis, but is eventually resigned to the fact that the life he had hoped for would never happen.
Daphne7661:
Hey Diane, Littlewing and any other IMdB friends...
I've been on vacation and out of circulation for about a week and a half, but I'm back now...
Poor Ennis, so stunted and repressed on so many levels. He just can't seem to get out of his own way.
I find myself shaking my head at Ennis whenever he can't respond to Jack or give back to Jack what they BOTH need so desperately - their love with and for each other! But, at the same time, I guess part of me does understand him, if not be totally frustrated with him, too.
These two characters have made us SOOO believe in their love and passion for each other, that we, the viewers, get all crazy and defeated in their inability to be truly together. It is the genious of this film, isn't it? We are HOOKED, totally and utterly HOOKED...
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: dly64 on July 06, 2006, 10:59:22 am ---The "I'm stuck ..." comment may have encouraged Jack, but the idea of living together came before that. After having been away from Ennis for four years and then reuniting with even passion and intensity, Jack did not want to let Ennis go. It's not Jack trying to "fix" anything. It is because the two of them love each other and, in Jack’s mind, the next step would be having a life together (which, of course, Ennis will not do because of his fears). Jack keeps trying to encourage Ennis, but is eventually resigned to the fact that the life he had hoped for would never happen.
--- End quote ---
Just to clarify, Diane, when I say Jack is trying to "fix" something, I think I mean exactly what I think you're saying -- he realizes they love each other, the next step is to have a life together -- i.e., Jack wants to "fix" the problem of them being apart, rather than "stand" the situation, as Ennis believes they must do.
Do you think the idea of living together came before Ennis made his "I'm stuck" comment? But they'd been reunited only, I don't know, maybe an hour or two by then. Or do you think Jack got the idea as he was redlining it up to Wyoming? My feeling is that, while it may have crossed Jack's mind before then, he couldn't have really thinking about it seriously before the reunion, because he couldn't have been sure about how Ennis would respond when he got there.
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