Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - starboardlight (Tue Feb 14 2006 10:55:08 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
i didn't interpret his state in the same way you did. there was something fatalistic about how he said it. to me, it felt like the moment Jack and Ennis couldn't be together (whether they knew it or not) Jack's fate was sealed. Annie Proulx had said, she tried so many ways, but in the end Jack had to die. I felt that's what Jake meant. The thing is, in regards to the debate of how Jack died, both Jake and Diana confirmed that neither of them could make up their minds even last night. Diana said that for her, the ambiguity is also part of the pain that eats at Ennis. He gets no closure from knowing. And that is also poignant and real. Jake said that we as a culture want absolute certainly but that's not going to always be possible, and this is a case in point.
Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - newyearsday (Tue Feb 14 2006 10:57:24 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
his final words to this question just blew me away. Jake said "Jack died the moment they couldn't be together." I remember hearing the entire audience gasp at this. You could really feel the pain in Jake's voice. It felt honest. I was struck by the fact that he'd never said this before in any interviews prior to this. It didn't feel like a line that he'd rehearsed or have said too often. It felt like he gave the question thought and really felt what he said. God. This just silenced me...made me feel more than any thing else the immediacy of their connection to the movie and characters. Of course these characters are in these actors' souls. And very, very few interviewers are going to get to this kind of depth with them, when it is so often such a superficial, skimming-the-surface atmosphere. Thank god for moments like this. I think Jake probably gets some healing and maybe some needed connection to the world of people who love the film in moments like this. At least I hope he does. But it's rare, sadly. And to the poster above, I don't know really when in the relationship Jake is referring to...it could certainly be after the divorce...because that was a real death for him, it was obvious. But it could also be true that Jake is referring to the very end of the movie, when Jack has seen Ennis refuse to see him in August, and that this is the point where he truly gives up and dies. I would stand by what ever Jake says about this character, whom he embodied and lived so thoroughly that he is like a real person to all of us.
Re: eric_yen, you may have answered my question, but
by - dog_lover-1 (Tue Feb 14 2006 11:03:18 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
It really was a terrific night! I was just thrilled to see Jake, Heath, Michelle, and getting Diana Ossana, Gustavo, and the cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto were just amazing. I hadn't realized that Rodrigo had played the Mexican prostitute Jack picks up. Rodrigo and Jake apparently had to take 10 tries to get the scene right as Jake kept cracking up!!! Diana gave some very interesting insights into getting the film made. I also got the feeling that Jake and Heath are quite good friends (did anyone else get that?)They kept cracking each other up and looking at one another and filling in each others sentences. I got a chuckle when they introduced them all, they first brought out Michelle, and then Jake (who took a place right next to Michelle), and then Heath. Jake sort of moved over for Heath to be next to Michelle (what a gentleman!). I forget who moderated the discussion, but it was a very good looking young man who introduced himself as "Senior Editor" at Newsweek Magazine. He got a little choked up introducing all the actors saying that the movie just meant so much to him (saying, "Not only is it nominated for Best Picture of the Year, it IS the best picture of the year!") It really was a love fest for everyone there. They asked at the beginning how many people had seen Brokeback. I couldn't see the hands behind me, but certainly it seemed like every hand in front of me went up as having seen the movie before. The actors spent about 40 minutes answering questions. My one complaint was that the moderator should have repeated the questions asked so everyone could know what the actors were addressing. While you could assume what the question was, sometimes I thought, "Huh? What did they ask?". Still it was a magical night, and for only $9--that for the movie, the panel discussion, AND an incredibly beautiful souvenir program.
Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - opinionista (Tue Feb 14 2006 11:10:52 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
UPDATED Tue Feb 14 2006 11:23:29
his heart did die upon losing any chance of having Ennis for himself. Why else would he want his ashes scattered on Brokeback Mountain? Good point. But I didn't say the fact that he decides to move on with another man meant he stopped loving Ennis. You're probably right, his heart died upon losing the chance of being with Ennis, but I think that inspite of that Jack came to a point when he decided to love himself a bit more, no matter how much he loved Ennis or how emotionally drawn he was to him. I think Ennis will always be the love of his life even though Jack knew they couldn't be together. But that didn't mean he would give up his own happiness.
Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - dog_lover-1 (Tue Feb 14 2006 11:12:37 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
Yeah, I hadn't realized Rodrigo, the Cinematographer, was the one playing the Mexican prostitute. Rodrigo mentioned how he thought of the scene as his "big chance", and how nervous he was. He was nervous about the lighting, being outside, etc. etc., and just as he was about to give his line ("...senior?"), Jake comes around the corner and busts out laughing. Jake and Rodrigo exchanged laughs about it, and Jake chimed in about it taking "about 10 takes").
Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - marjorie9 (Tue Feb 14 2006 11:20:27 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
btw. i just have to say, despite what you may all think about how he looks in the film, Rodrigo Prieto is a gorgeous man. He looked amazing last night, tall, olive skinned, with soft wavy hair, very classic features. Very sexy when he walked out onto the stage. Oh my God, I thought the same thing! I leaned over to Maribel when he walked out and said..."(gasp) He is gorgeous!" "I was just sending up a prayer of thanks."
Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - opinionista (Tue Feb 14 2006 11:27:49 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
Jack's fate was sealed. Annie Proulx had said, she tried so many ways, but in the end Jack had to die. I felt that's what Jake meant Thank you for the explanation. Now, I understand what Jake said.
Re: eric_yen, you may have answered my question, but
by - johntracytb5 (Tue Feb 14 2006 11:29:58 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
UPDATED Tue Feb 14 2006 12:05:47
re: [Yeah, I hadn't realized Rodrigo, the Cinematographer, was the one playing the Mexican prostitute. Rodrigo mentioned how he thought of the scene as his "big chance", and how nervous he was. He was nervous about the lighting, being outside, etc. etc., and just as he was about to give his line ("...senior?"), Jake comes around the corner and busts out laughing. Jake and Rodrigo exchanged laughs about it, and Jake chimed in about it taking "about 10 takes").] Oh gosh---yes, yes, yes, that was a cute story! (There's SO much to remember from last night and everyone is doing a great job at reporting what they recall of it, thank you)! But what Jake mentioned as a close to this is that the take that's seen in the film (of him walking up to and leaving with Rodrigo) is the only one of around a dozen of them that he didn't ruin by giggling, so that's why it made it! Poor baby---he couldn't even stop giggling right there on the stage, so I can only imagine how hard it was for him to get through the scene during the filming! re: [but--HOW WAS THE CROWD AS A MOVIE AUDIENCE? You say they asked some really dumb questions--but I've read other reports of good questions asked--so I was wondering, did they shut up most of the time, laugh in the right places, were they crying at the end? I know my experience with seeing the film many times is always a little dependent onbthe people I see it with... ] That crowd was wonderful---a dream audience in this day of idiots either talking with each other, to the screen or on their cel phones during films. (Oh yeah---whose cel phone's silent buzzer kept going off during the interview portion, huh?! Come on---'fess up! Funny that those things aren't really "silent")! Almost everyone there had seen the film at least once (with a couple newbies, including my sis), so they were all very respectful and seemed to view the film with the same sort of reverence we'd all expect. Most people giggled when Jake showed surprise at one person mentioning that he'd seen the film ten times. (He'd probably faint if he'd heard that some folks have seen it 20 or 30 times)! The audience certainly showed that they loved what's funny in the film, judging from the laughter, and were as deeply affected by what's sorrowful in it as they probably were on their first viewing. I love it that everyone felt so liberated to the point of cheering when Jack finally tells off that awful father-in-law of his; it's just such a relief and a life-affirming moment, and that seems to be a universal emotion with viewers, especially with last night's audience. Also, I recall that someone had asked how it was that a straight woman could write this script and how she and all the straight men involved could have so perfectly presented the story of these two gay men in such a sensitive, sympathetic and realistic manner. I can't recall her total answer, but Diana mentioned that it shouldn't be too surprising, given that Larry McMurtry had developed or helped to develop such well-rounded female characters in projects such as "Terms Of Endearment" and "Lonesome Dove," which, by inference, should indicate that you don't necessarily have to be gay to understand these characters. (Obviously not, since many members of the film's loyal viewing audience aren't gay either). Jake mentioned also that both of his godparents are gay and he felt that this had helped him in his portrayal of Jack. (And if anyone else remembers more of their responses on this, please fill in)...!
Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - stephend01 (Tue Feb 14 2006 11:41:57 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
opinionista But that didn't mean he would give up his own happiness. Agreed!
Re: eric_yen, you may have answered my question, but
by - lcalee (Tue Feb 14 2006 11:42:18 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
Thank you to everyone who attended for posting your observations! I know I am enjoying reading them. If you remember more, please keep posting.
"The root of all unhappiness is unmet expectation."
Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - monimm18 (Tue Feb 14 2006 11:52:48 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
You're probably right, his heart died upon losing the chance of being with Ennis, but I think that inspite of that Jack came to a point when he decided to love himself a bit more, no matter how much he loved Ennis or how emotionally drawn he was to him. I saw his decision to move on with another man as a survival thing. At the point he had reached emotionally, it was either that or giving up on living. No one can uphold the idealism of such love forever, in spite of reality destroying any chance of that love being actualized, and go on as a whole human being. I think Ennis will always be the love of his life even though Jack knew they couldn't be together. But that didn't mean he would give up his own happiness. Dunno... I think Jack already reached the point where he had no happiness to give up anymore. In my opinion, his decision to move on was not an attempt to cling to happiness, more of a quest for some peace, to keep some interest in life. "There ain't never enough time, never enough..."
Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - cmr107 (Tue Feb 14 2006 12:11:20 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
Bump to find later! Courtney
Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - muscla_1 (Tue Feb 14 2006 12:18:53 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
The person who asked about "the kiss" the second time was our very own Henrypie from IMDB, please don't criticize her too much, because I was actually there (she was sitting right behind me), and what she asked them was what they thought was the subtext of all the questions about the kissing, like *why* did they think people couldn't get past it and want to keep asking about it, and it actually stirred some deep thought and answers on both Jake and Heath's part, but mostly Jake, it was an excellent question actually, if you were up front (we were in the second and third rows, just feet away from the boys) and could hear everything. Yes, I was behind you guys, and it was difficult to hear the question. I thought she was asking about the SUBTEXT of the kissing itself, rather than the subtext of people continually asking about it. It was kind of confusing; Jake and Heath appeared confused to me about the question. P.S. I am the person who made the final statement to the boys and Diana, Rodrigo and Gustavo about them not just doing their jobs when they made this film, but that they had given me a gift, and I also specifically spotlighted Gustavo for his score during that as well. That was one of the highlights of the evening for me, and you could tell that all six of them were moved by it. I didn't get to ask my question, I had two. "Jack, I swear..."
Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - lucise (Tue Feb 14 2006 12:27:48 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
johntracytb5 - Thanks so much for your post, and thanks to all the other posters who were at the event! Sounds like it was a blast indeed! Wow! I really enjoyed reading your posts on the event and the questions asked. THANKS!! 'If you sleep through life, you wake up dead.'
Re: eric_yen, you may have answered my question, but
by - Shuggy (Tue Feb 14 2006 12:38:18 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
Rodrigo, the Cinematographer, was the one playing the Mexican prostitute So THAT'S why he's not credited. I was looking for him. NICE. "If you can't stand it, you gotta fix it."
Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - starboardlight (Tue Feb 14 2006 12:53:27 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
Everyone has their own interpretation, there is no one definitive answer, or at least that would make things incredibly boring. If you see something the way it is then that is your point of view. Asking a question in hopes of the cast agreeing with you just like that question from a guy asking if Diana and the cast ever thought about the people who actually lived through those experiences during that time? It felt like he was looking for approval. I didn't think that herypie was doing that though. i thought she was genuinely curious to know what the actors thought of those types of questions.
Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - starboardlight (Tue Feb 14 2006 12:56:32 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
Jake's response was a train of thoughts, really. He began talking about growing up in LA and being pretty used to seeing gay people in his life. So when first confronted with the question, he didn't really think much of it. but as time went on and other people projected their fears into the role, the film and as more of these questions show up, he became more award of those subtext. He said something to the effect that it took some growing on his part to understand those subtextes. I thought it was honest and wonderful to hear that from him.
Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - zeprules (Tue Feb 14 2006 13:07:43 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
I really can't add much to the wonderful comments already made about last night but I was absolutely blown away by the reaction of the audience when the credits were rolling both at the beginning and the end of the film. There was a lot of love in the audience last night. I don't know if this was mentioned but Heath was asked about what he thought Ennis did with the rest of his life. I can't remember what he said exactly...something like "he lived it," which got a laugh. Then Jake piped in with Ennis meeting Bobby and said it could be "Brokeback Mountain, the sequel." Big laugh. It was a night I won't forget for a long time. Pam
Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - iluvmovies2000 (Tue Feb 14 2006 13:12:22 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
Wow, such a great thread! Thanks to everyone for sharing their experience as accurately and vividly as you can manage. Interesting to learn that the Mexican prostitute is the cinematographer, and how many takes it took to get it done, lol. Then Jake piped in with Ennis meeting Bobby and said it could be "Brokeback Mountain, the sequel." Big laugh. LOL, that's so wrong, but I confess to imagining the same thing while posting in the "Lines you'd never hear in the movie" thread.
Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - BannerHill (Tue Feb 14 2006 13:36:25 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
Not Exactly When Heath was asked what happens to Ennis. His response was "not much." Heath was relaxed and comfortable, a big relief after Jay Leno. "I suppose they'd appreciate it if his wishes were carried out.....about the ashes I mean."
Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - muscla_1 (Tue Feb 14 2006 13:37:22 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
I really can't add much to the wonderful comments already made about last night but I was absolutely blown away by the reaction of the audience when the credits were rolling both at the beginning and the end of the film. There was a lot of love in the audience last night. There was nearly continuous applause during both the opening and closing credits. It was quite moving. My friend and I went to La Cabana, but I couldn't tell who was a "Brokie," so we just had dinner. :-( I loved Jake's response that Jack died when he realized that he couldn't be with Ennis. It was so heartfelt, particularly coming from Jake, who was very "up" and animated and funny throughout the Q&A. Both actors have amazing depth for being so young (I know they're not young to many on the board, but they're young to me). My question, which I didn't get to ask, would have been to address the other beautiful ambiguity in the story/film...the final line. I would have loved to have gotten Jake's, Diana's and especially Heath's take on it. "Jack, I swear..."
Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - johntracytb5 (Tue Feb 14 2006 13:48:48 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
UPDATED Tue Feb 14 2006 14:11:49
re: [johntracytb5 - Thanks so much for your post, and thanks to all the other posters who were at the event! Sounds like it was a blast indeed! Wow! ] Oh no--thank you for reading all of that! Glad to be of service, honestly. I've read every post in this thread because every comment helped to remind me of one comment or another. I so wanted to sneak in my Handycam and at least record the comments, even if I couldn't get the visuals, but they were really strict about it and those security guys looked serious about grabbing cameras, just as we were told that they would. It sure would have been great to have a record of that event, though. re: [When Heath was asked what happens to Ennis. His response was "not much."] That's exactly right, but I noted that when he said it, he actually *sounded* like Ennis---very soto vocce and mumbling into the microphone---and not as he usually sounds. That was quite funny, especially because he said exactly what I was thinking when the question was asked!!! And I really wish that someone had asked them about the Academy luncheon they'd attended earlier in the day; I sure wanted to hear about it! I also wanted to ask about who or what they'd expected the audience for this film to be as they were making it, but I didn't get called on.
Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - BannerHill (Tue Feb 14 2006 13:56:31 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
We were the rowdy table of ten on the patio...very sorry we didn't connect "I suppose they'd appreciate it if his wishes were carried out.....about the ashes I mean."
Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - BannerHill (Tue Feb 14 2006 13:59:23 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
Ellemmenno is relaxing at the beach here in Santa Monica after last night's activities. She said to tell everyone that she will be posting later tonight.
"I suppose they'd appreciate it if his wishes were carried out.....about the ashes I mean."
Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - mlewisusc (Tue Feb 14 2006 14:50:42 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
Jake made another comment that interested me very much. He pointed out that although making the film was an emotional experience AND he had to carry around for three months the emotion of his character, thus making watching parts of the film difficult for him, he also mentioned the obvious point that for he, Heath, and Michelle there is no objectivity regarding the emotional impact of the film on an audience because they were involved in the creative process. However, he looked at Gustavo and said that for him (Jake), listening to the soundtrack brings him that emotional response as a listener, or an audience member, that he can't get from watching the film - I took it as his tribute to Gustavo's score, and his illumination of the actors' difficulty in putting themselves in our shoes. Really good statement by him, IMO. ". . . the single moment of artless, charmed happiness. . ."
Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - jmmgallagher (Tue Feb 14 2006 15:01:15 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
Lovely comment, mlewisusc--I'm so sorry I missed this special evening, but with all of these terrific posts, well-- Thanks so much!
Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - opinionista (Tue Feb 14 2006 15:40:59 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
Any chance anybody filmed the event or caught it on audio tape? Someone in this board said cameras weren't allowed.
johntracytb5--that' s the sort of stuff i love to hear!
by - Julie01 (Tue Feb 14 2006 15:46:42 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
In the 15 times I've seen It, nobody ever cheered when Jack tells his father-in-law off! The movie must have been nearely as much fun as the Q and A. Jake and his giggles: Didn't he KNOW Prieto was playing the prostitute? Gee, maybe they're good frineds, or something. Anyway, 1 out of 12 or 15 ain't bad. "Jake showed surprise" when someone said he/she'd seen it ten times. I wonder if over twenty would warrent a look of..concern... "You come back and see us again"--Jack's mother "Ennis dies of lung cancer in his early 60s. Jack comes for him at the end. They are together, forever, on Brokeback mountain, and it's a sweet life. (What can I say? I'm a romantic.)+--JLScheib
Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - Jassy (Tue Feb 14 2006 15:54:14 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
"Another great moment was when the two actors were talking about Ang Lee's style. As mentioned previously, they talked about his love of silence, and how they got a lot of preparation before shooting, but when they arrived, Ang gave them little to no direction. Jake then talked about how Ang's silence can be misinterpreted as "sensitive," but then Heath talked about the "violence with the silence," and Jake said something about their being a sword to Ang's silence." What did Heath mean by "violence with the silence"? or Jake's "being a sword to Ang's silence"? Thanks for all the reports. I didn't get a ticket because I decided too late. Knowing Ang Lee wasn't there makes me feel better since he would have been the reason I wanted to attend.
Re: johntracytb5--that' s the sort of stuff i love to hear!
by - jmmgallagher (Tue Feb 14 2006 16:06:11 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
Audiences have varied, but I've been witness to some pretty appreciatively loud and raucus reactions to the Jack'n'L.D. Newsome Thanksgiving scene over the last two and a half months-- (uhm--if I had been at the Santa Monica Q + A and had volunteered the number of times I'VE seen the movie, security would probably moved in with tasers drawn! But really, I'm harmless!)
Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - starboardlight (Tue Feb 14 2006 17:02:08 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
Me too. My friend has poor circulation and gets cold easily, so we ate inside. there were several heat lamp where we were. i don't think any of us thought it was cold. we were just out there talking and laughing. wish you would have connected with us.
Re: Great screening tonight at the Aero!
by - starboardlight (Tue Feb 14 2006 17:04:10 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse
yep, there was a bit announcement threatening that undercover security would confiscate our phone or camera. I think we all took it pretty seriously, when the panelist came out and there were 6-8 guys in black suits, very serious Secret Service looking.
