But Randall is a human being with feelings, too (listen to me, rhapsodizing like this over FICTIONAL characters!), and making his way through existence hoping to snatch little moments of happiness like any of us.
Well, sure. Randall seems like a nice guy. So does Monroe. (Not Jimbo, though.)
Tell you what, I think they could have found somebody better looking, or with a hunkier body, for Jimbo (ref. the various "Hot Guys" threads over at "Anything Goes" ). I've always figured Monroe's attractiveness to Alma was his attentiveness, at least mainly.
I was too busy disliking Jimbo to notice whether his body was hunky or not. But I think he's supposed to look somewhat like Ennis from across a bar (white hat, light-colored shirt) and not at alll like Ennis up close. I don't think he's supposed to be hot. His appearance helps suggest that Jack would be "settling" -- and in fact, didn't even get the opportunity to settle (illustrating the frustrations of being gay and single in his millieu and helping explain why he went for Lureen)!
As for Randall, I agree that he's supposed to be at least a viable possibility for Jack, but not so hot that he represents serious competition for Ennis, outside of his apparent availability. Of course appearance would be just part of his potential appeal, but it's the attribute that's easiest to convey in the little time we have to spend with Randall, so the filmmakers have to rely heavily on it.
And yeah, I think Monroe's attractiveness to Alma was probably some combination of attentiveness, financial stability, reliability and heterosexuality.
I thought that Jake had been miscast as he too much of a pretty boy to be a cowboy, Heath to a lesser extent.
But surely SOME men in the West happen to be born good-looking. Setting aside whatever cosmetic enhancements Jake and Heath may have at their disposal, couldn't they as easily have come from Wyoming?
Anyway, Annie Proulx obviously had in mind a far more realistically gritty appearance for her two cowboys. Oddly enough, in all the debates I've seen on this board about the pros and cons of changes made by the filmmakers, I don't see too many complaints about that one ...