TOTW 05/07: Should Ang Lee have showed more affection between Ennis and Jack?

[Brown Eyes]

I think Ang has given us the same frustrating feeling that Jack felt, of there never being enough, and once Jack was gone, the feeling that probably Ennis felt, that we would never see them together again.

I think this is a great observation and probably very accurate.  It's interesting to think about how the film itself and the strategies employed to make the film actually function to strengthen the narrative or mood of the film... or theme of the film even (frustration, lack of time, etc.).

[Ellemeno]

Like y'all are saying - I want more, but that's Ang's plan - to leave us wanting more, and feel that never enoughness.

[belbbmfan]

I think this is a great observation and probably very accurate.  It's interesting to think about how the film itself and the strategies employed to make the film actually function to strengthen the narrative or mood of the film... or theme of the film even (frustration, lack of time, etc.).

Yes, I agree. That is, i've now reached a point where I can agree. My sense of sadness and frustration after seeing the film was so intense that I would have said 'no' to this question. I wanted to see more. I would have loved to hear Jack say that line from the story 'that's one of the two things I need right now' during one of their later camping trips.

But I understand and accept why there isn't more affection shown. It's one of the brilliant aspects of this movie, in not showing us what we wanted to see, we ended up feeling exactly like the characters in the movie. And crying over the sad and difficult lives of two ranch hands in Wyoming...

[jstephens9]

The appeal to the “general audience” is partially a flaw in the movie especially since I’m not even sure that the “general audience” even got it. I would say that the “general audience” were more likely to get Jake’s appearance on SNL which was shown for at least the third time this past Saturday. I’m sorry to those who like this, but I still don’t get that and I certainly do not like it. There was nothing funny about BBM and there certainly wasn’t anything funny about Jake’s drag performance or the gay cowboys. Sorry I will get off my soapbox.

I also feel there was an overemphasis on family as many of you have already expressed. We certainly did not need the scenes between Jack and Laureen, none of them. She could have just as easily been only the voice on the phone as she was in the book. We definitely did not need any of Cassie. The only point of her even being in the movie that I can see is to show how much Ennis is basically turned off by her. The dumping part by Ennis was the only good part of any of those scenes with the "throw my feet in your lap for a foot rub" being the worst. She was probably the worst and most disgusting character in the entire movie. We also did not need Randall and his talkative wife either. I think it would have been much better to show more of Jack and Ennis on the trips to Brokeback. This in itself would have possibly shown the general population the amount of love that was shared between them. The best scenes of the movie for me are the ones where they are talking to each other. The movie was not about sex so I definitely do not think more was needed in that area. The second tent scene and the motel scene of the reunion obviously pointed out that there were sexual relations, but the main thrust here was the affection and compassion Ennis and Jack showed to each other. Believe it or not, the first tent scene is not one of my favorite parts of the movie although it was needed to get from where they were to where they ended up. To me that scene showed no love or affection and I think a lot of people judge the movie from that scene.

As far as chemistry, I also felt that develop in the first bar scene after they left Aguirre’s trailer. I never felt there was any lack of chemistry and that came through strong each and every time they talked. I felt that Ennis had a very difficult time showing his feelings and fought them rather than giving into them. I feel that this was part of his character. I feel that this made it even harder for Jack to ever know what was completely going on between them. He knew and felt the chemistry, but what he did not and never knew was how far Ennis would truly go for him. We, of course, never knew that either. It seemed obvious after Jack’s death and the final feelings we see from Ennis that if it were possible for Ennis to do it over again things would have been much different, but what would have happened if Jack had not of died? Would they have continued the occasional meetings on Brokeback with the same outcome forever? Would Ennis have ever recognized what he truly had and wanted from Jack?

And one final point, I agree with all of you who have mentioned the closeness between Heath and Jake in real life. I think this movie would have been very difficult had they not have been as close as they are. I have always said that these two have a lot of feelings for each other and to me it came through in the movie.

[huntinbuddy]

As far as chemistry, I also felt that develop in the first bar scene after they left Aguirre’s trailer. I never felt there was any lack of chemistry and that came through strong each and every time they talked. I felt that Ennis had a very difficult time showing his feelings and fought them rather than giving into them. I feel that this was part of his character. I feel that this made it even harder for Jack to ever know what was completely going on between them. He knew and felt the chemistry, but what he did not and never knew was how far Ennis would truly go for him. We, of course, never knew that either.

Agreed,  but I think the one thing that could have been included if not at the laundry apartment reunion scene, but perhaps somewhere else, is from the original short story.......and Ennis, not big on endearments, said what he said to his horses and daughters, little darlin.

There is no question in my mind that Ennis and Jack have very strong feelings for each other.  The reunion scene proves that.  But I think using the line above from the original story would have sealed it for many viewers. After all, Ennis is the one who doesn't use many words to begin with

[jstephens9]

That is a great idea huntinbuddy. I too think that would have been a line that should have been included. I know that line in the book definitely had an effect on me. Like you say Ennis doesn't say many words or express many endearments anyway, and the "little darlin" line would have fit in so perfectly with his character towards someone that he loved which was obviously Jack.

[Fran]

The appeal to the “general audience” is partially a flaw in the movie especially since I’m not even sure that the “general audience” even got it. I would say that the “general audience” were more likely to get Jake’s appearance on SNL which was shown for at least the third time this past Saturday. I’m sorry to those who like this, but I still don’t get that and I certainly do not like it. There was nothing funny about BBM and there certainly wasn’t anything funny about Jake’s drag performance or the gay cowboys. Sorry I will get off my soapbox.

Jstephens, I agree with you totally re Jake's appearance on SNL, although we're probably the minority opinion here.

To answer the topic question, yes, I think Ang Lee should have included more affection between Ennis and Jack, especially the little acts of verbal and physical affection included in the story.  The "little darlin'" line definitely should have been included (multiple times), with Ennis saying it to his horses, his daughters, and Jack but never to Alma.  The shared cigarette at the Motel Fiesta also would have been a nice touch as well as the later scene in the story when the horses are nickering in the darkness and Ennis puts his arm around Jack, pulling him close, and Jack puts his cold hand between Ennis's legs while they talk about their children.

That said, I think more interaction of any kind between Ennis and Jack would have been nice.

BTW, my least favorite characters were Randall and Lashawn, especially the latter.  We didn't need to hear Lashawn's endless chatter; let's face it, we're not particularly interested in anything she has to say.  It's almost as if the screenwriters are giving Randall a reason not to want to be with her when Randall doesn't need another reason.  The inclusion of Cassie doesn't bother me as much because BBM is mostly Ennis's story and she's part of that.  I also didn't like the "foot rub, dummy" scene -- probably because I wouldn't stick my smelly feet in the lap of a guy I was trying to attract. 

[BBM-Cat]

So many wonderful insights....just wanted to add that I would have liked movie Ennis to state the line from the story at the reunion, about 'not letting Jack out of his sights' referring to the day they parted in Signal.

Overall, yes, I would like to have seen a few more moments of affection and intimacy between Jack and Ennis. Although, I never stopped believing it was there despite how difficult their lives became.

Fabienne (and others) have described the phenomenon so well - "in not showing us what we wanted to see, we ended up feeling exactly like the characters in the movie". I wonder if the impact of the movie would have been nearly the same if we weren't left with a sense of longing at the end of it. Look at the proliferation of wonderful fan stories that help to fill in some of the gaps. The repression of emotion has allowed for some very creative and imaginative scenarios.

[Toycoon]

Fabienne (and others) have described the phenomenon so well - "in not showing us what we wanted to see, we ended up feeling exactly like the characters in the movie". I wonder if the impact of the movie would have been nearly the same if we weren't left with a sense of longing at the end of it. Look at the proliferation of wonderful fan stories that help to fill in some of the gaps. The repression of emotion has allowed for some very creative and imaginative scenarios.

This is exactly what I've come to realize about the film, we end up feeling like there 'ain't never enough time'. We want so much more for these characters but we never get it. Wanting to see more affection between the fellas is exactly what spurred the fanfic thread, Jack with Ennis/The Fanfic Game. Now, we 'get' to see plenty of action. Yeehaw!

[BBM-Cat]

This is exactly what I've come to realize about the film, we end up feeling like there 'ain't never enough time'. We want so much more for these characters but we never get it. Wanting to see more affection between the fellas is exactly what spurred the fanfic thread, Jack with Ennis/The Fanfic Game. Now, we 'get' to see plenty of action. Yeehaw!

Yes, and especially, thank goodness for that thread!