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Ennis/Jack/both; book/movie/both?
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: ednbarby on July 06, 2006, 10:55:51 am ---Wow. I couldn't agree with you more, here, Jeff. I over-simplified my answer because I thought my reasons for liking both characters equally were too complicated to explain. And then you came along and nailed it. Thanks! :) Story Ennis is less uptight than Movie Ennis, for sure. And Movie Jack (thanks to Mr. Gyllenhaal primarily) is more vulnerable than Story Jack, who I find almost unnervingly aggressive. Still, I enjoy the story just as much, but sometimes for different reasons than I enjoy the movie.
--- End quote ---
Thanks, Barb! Ver' kind of you, ma'am! And "almost unnervingly aggressive" is a great way to describe Story Jack!
Actually, what I had in mind specifically about the difference between the Jacks is that Annie tells us, in the motel scene (as I interpret the text, anyway) that Jack has been having sex with other guys during the four years that he and Ennis were apart--and lies about it to Ennis. In the film we only see Jack's failed attempt to pick up Jimbo--and that leaves me free to believe that Movie Jack has not been having sex with other guys--and to believe that he doesn't "cheat" on Ennis until after the post-Del Mar divorce fiasco.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: ednbarby on July 06, 2006, 10:55:51 am --- Story Ennis is less uptight than Movie Ennis, for sure.
--- End quote ---
That's interesting, Barb (and Jeff!). That's exactly why I prefer Movie Ennis!
Not that I'm generally drawn to uptight people in "real life." I just find Movie Ennis more complex and vulnerable and emotionally screwed up in a fascinating way.
I also prefer Movie Jack, for the record. Actually, I find the characters of Story Ennis and Story Jack less interesting, and less distinguishable from each other. Sure, they behave in different ways, make different choices, but the story characters aren't nearly as ying and yangy as their movie counterparts. Even their dialogue is more interchangable.
ednbarby:
I agree, Katherine. It's interesting - usually characters are fleshed out far better in the original text than in the movie, but this one was the exception. I love the story so much because I love Annie's prose and the way she describes the landscape so vividly that you can see it, hear it and smell it. But Ang Lee's direction is so lyrical, he (and Rodrigo) found the way to describe it perfectly, too.
Ah. It's all good.
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: ednbarby on July 06, 2006, 04:28:44 pm ---Ah. It's all good.
--- End quote ---
To that, I can add nothing but a humble "Amen." :)
delalluvia:
Ennis in the short story was a lot less likeable than he was in the movie. In the short story, while he is more expressive of his desire for Jack, he's otherwise self-absorbed, his fear makes him very selfish and he's a poor father. In the movie, he's a lot better father, but his fear keeps him selfish in regards to Jack.
Jack I like in both the movie and the story. He's still the one who suffers the most, opens up the most, is willing to risk the most, is the one who is still concerned for his son, regardless of the fact that he didn't want any kids in the first place.
I understand and can feel for Ennis, but Jack breaks my heart.
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