Scene Discussion: Ennis Shaving

[Front-Ranger]

Here is another very interesting scene that I'd like to hear discussion on. Ennis is shaving after coming down from the sheep pastures and Jack is opening cans of beans.

[Penthesilea]

First random thoughts:

Jack literally spills the beans. And with that, he also figuratively spills the beans that it makes him nervous (?, distracted?, agitated?) to have Ennis half naked so nearby, additionally talking about balls the size a apples.

I love that Ennis puts his hat back on as soon as he finishes shaving, and leaves it on later, when he warshes everything he can reach.

When Jack spills the beans, Ennis notices (of course, Jack curses), but ignores it. No mischievous remarks, no teasing about it. Love him for that  .

The coffeepot makes another appearance.

Is Jake left-handed? It's difficult to open a can a beans in that position. But even with this in mind, Jack seems pretty clumsy here, even before he spills them. It's the way he holds the can opener (which he is pretty good with - at least he said so  ). Reminds me of my own difficulties to use some kinds of can openders (and I'm left-handed). Could be on purpose, to show Jack's lack of handy skills, could also be because Jake being left-handed (if he is).

[Mikaela]

Yes, I too consider the clumsiness as showing us several things: Jack's agitated, reacting to Ennis being so close by. And it's a direct follow-up of his "pretty good with a can opener" - once more showing us that Jack's plans and ideas too often don't quite match up with real life.    Also therefore one more instance where Jack goofs up but doesn't let it get him (much) down.

But mostly I've always loved how Jack answers Ennis's "You want some a this hot water?" Jack answers "It's all yours" - though at that point he really could have needed a bit of it to clean up the bean sauce that got splattered on his hands and clothes and that he's trying to shake off. They do show each other kindness in lots of things. And it's not all Ennis doing it, elks and soup notwithstanding. (Though of course, considering what Ennis was planning to warsh, in this instance Jack might be suspected of having some certain ulterior motive in addition to being kind and considerate....)

Like Chrissi I've always also loved how Ennis puts the hat back on and keeps it on.

[Front-Ranger]

LOL, about the hat. As you see, Ennis has the hat perched on the knee furthest from the fire (as we all noticed way back when in the Cowboy Etiquette thread!) while warshing/shaving, and then where to put it while warshing the rest of the body? You just don't put a cowboy hat on the ground, that would be like the flag touching the ground! (Notice how Jack ran to pick up Lureen's hat when it fell on the ground) This also reminds me of the scene at the Childress Fundraising Dinner where all the gents were eating with their hats on because there was no place to put all those hats! So, I always have a hat hanger handy in my house, made from mounted antlers.

[Front-Ranger]

One thing I like about this scene is all the round things to be seen in it. There is the coffeepot, the bean cans, and the hat, but even more importantly, the sieve with all its small round circles within a large circle, and the canteen on Ennis's horse along with the lasso, all neatly coiled up. There is also the round "horn" on the horse's saddle. All of these things seem to remind me of other ideas or echoes in other parts of the movie or in the story or in other stories.

 

[Front-Ranger]

Here is another scene of the camp. Oh, what I wouldn't give to be in that camp!!

[LauraGigs]

A poster on IMDB once pointed out that the moment Ennis asks about the hot water (so he can bathe) — Jack spills the beans.  Jack gets clumsy at that moment because he knows what's coming.
 

This scene also illustrates the almost comical difference in each character's diligence.  In an earlier breakfast scene, Ennis had the food cooked in perfect timing with Jack's arrival at camp.  Here, Ennis has been at camp long enough to dismount, strip down a bit, and wash/shave his face — and Jack is just now opening the cans.  (I find this scene about as funny as Jack's rodeo dance!)

[Front-Ranger]

That is a great point you make, my dear LauraGigs. And here, for your pleasure, is Jack in his rodeo dance!!



Notice how he keeps his ciggie elegantly clutched between two fingers!

[Jeff Wrangler]

Notice how he keeps his ciggie elegantly clutched between two fingers!

If that's not a sign that he's gay, nothing is.     

[Delmardeb]

Thanks Front Ranger for that info. about hat ettiquette.