You did touch on one of the issues I had in mind, though. I had a much harder time, to say the least, empathizing with the story's characters. I'd be interested to hear other people's views on that, too, while waiting for Mel to indulge her strange little habit of getting work done.
Nearly all of the characterizations are softened somewhat from the short story, I think, too. (That is, it's possible to empathize with most of the characters in the movie. In the story... well, it takes a re-read to seriously empathize with even Ennis and Jack.) And some of that is accomplished by moving a few lines or scenes around. (And a heck of a lot of it is accomplished by the fantastic acting. Heath in particular. Wow.)
Mel – I completely agree that the film softened and/or delicately changed many of the characters and scenes as compared to the story. Movie Ennis
and Jack are quite different than story Ennis and Jack. And, IMO, the Twist home scene is
much stronger in the film versus the story. The story has Ennis reacting to OMT’s news about the other “ranch fella” as, “OMG! It’s true! They caught Jack with a guy and he was murdered!” The film has Ennis reacting to the news as if he was completely socked in the gut.
As for empathizing …. you all probably know my answer. It would be Jack. I understand him
very well. (Scarily well). I would say his psyche is similar to mine. He has a lot of hopes and dreams and he is not particularly a realist. He is sensitive towards what others are thinking/ feeling (I am not saying his responses are always “caring” … I am saying he is intuitive). Because of all of that, he sets himself up for disappointment and hurt. He exists in a life that is not his own. No matter how hard Jack may try (and yes, Jack tries) to find a “replacement” for Ennis … he can’t do it. The
one person Jack loves and desires to have a life with is the
one person who is unavailable and unwilling.