Brokeback Mountain Forum @ ennisjack.com
The Movie & Story => Characters, Quotes & Scenes => Topic started by: jackiswear326 on May 01, 2006, 08:45 PM
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You guys seriously have no idea how glad I am to have found this website! Finally, somewhere I can talk about this movie and read about it as much as I want !! :-)
Anyway, here's my question - the first time we see Jack he's driving up to Aguirre's trailer. Ennis is already there waiting. When Jack gets out of his car, he sees Ennis, starts walking up to him like he's going to say something, then stops, goes back, leans against his truck, puts his arm out and just stares at Ennis for a minute. The look on his face is almost mean . . . what do you suppose he's thinking? Is he sizing Ennis up as competition for a job? Is he being possessive of his "turf" (since he's already worked for Aguirre and Ennis is new) . . . I'm just curious what you guys think is going throuigh his head! Thanks!
See, Heath Ledger was right - in one of his interviews about this movie he said he hoped it would raise more questions than answers . . . not even five minutes into the movie I already have a question . . . :-)
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You guys seriously have no idea how glad I am to have found this website! Finally, somewhere I can talk about this movie and read about it as much as I want !! :-)
Anyway, here's my question - the first time we see Jack he's driving up to Aguirre's trailer. Ennis is already there waiting. When Jack gets out of his car, he sees Ennis, starts walking up to him like he's going to say something, then stops, goes back, leans against his truck, puts his arm out and just stares at Ennis for a minute. The look on his face is almost mean . . . what do you suppose he's thinking? Is he sizing Ennis up as competition for a job? Is he being possessive of his "turf" (since he's already worked for Aguirre and Ennis is new) . . . I'm just curious what you guys think is going throuigh his head! Thanks!
See, Heath Ledger was right - in one of his interviews about this movie he said he hoped it would raise more questions than answers . . . not even five minutes into the movie I already have a question . . . :-)
Well, considering the way he was "prancing" around and looking at Ennis and then cruising while pretending to shave, I would definitely say he was cruising Ennis.
Ennis on the other hand had his head down as if to say, don't bother me, so, Jack didn't go up to talk to him.
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You guys seriously have no idea how glad I am to have found this website! Finally, somewhere I can talk about this movie and read about it as much as I want !! :-)
Anyway, here's my question - the first time we see Jack he's driving up to Aguirre's trailer. Ennis is already there waiting. When Jack gets out of his car, he sees Ennis, starts walking up to him like he's going to say something, then stops, goes back, leans against his truck, puts his arm out and just stares at Ennis for a minute. The look on his face is almost mean . . . what do you suppose he's thinking? Is he sizing Ennis up as competition for a job? Is he being possessive of his "turf" (since he's already worked for Aguirre and Ennis is new) . . . I'm just curious what you guys think is going throuigh his head! Thanks!
See, Heath Ledger was right - in one of his interviews about this movie he said he hoped it would raise more questions than answers . . . not even five minutes into the movie I already have a question . . . :-)
Let me be the first to welcome you jackiswear326. Relax and enjoy the nicest forum on earth. IMO Jack drives into the parking lot, gets out of the car and sizes Ennis up as a potential work buddy for the summer. He has some experience with sex but I'mnot sure he has that well enough defined to be a predator at this point as Gene Shallit suggests. I think that both boys feel some kind of connection at this point but as ignorant, poor uneducated farm boys neither one of them is aware of what is going on.
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I love this scene just because we can't tell for sure what is going through Jack's mind. It is open to thought and questions. Is it love at first sight for Jack? Was he shocked that this hottie was standing outside waiting for him? Was he posing for Ennis against the truck? It looks like he was checkin out Ennis in the mirror while he was shaving. I love it that we all can interpret these early scenes different ways
Personally I think Jack was attracted right away.
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First of all jackiswear32 welcome on ennisjack.com
I'm quite sure you found your place ;)
Good question you ask. What I think is Jack was immediately appealed by Ennis, the glances he had at the very beginning, the pose he took when he leaned on his truck looking at Ennis and.. the shaving moment, the glance again he had at Ennis from the truck's mirror while shaving.
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You guys seriously have no idea how glad I am to have found this website! Finally, somewhere I can talk about this movie and read about it as much as I want !! :-)
Anyway, here's my question - the first time we see Jack he's driving up to Aguirre's trailer. Ennis is already there waiting. When Jack gets out of his car, he sees Ennis, starts walking up to him like he's going to say something, then stops, goes back, leans against his truck, puts his arm out and just stares at Ennis for a minute. The look on his face is almost mean . . . what do you suppose he's thinking? Is he sizing Ennis up as competition for a job? Is he being possessive of his "turf" (since he's already worked for Aguirre and Ennis is new) . . . I'm just curious what you guys think is going throuigh his head! Thanks!
See, Heath Ledger was right - in one of his interviews about this movie he said he hoped it would raise more questions than answers . . . not even five minutes into the movie I already have a question . . . :-)
I felt for the most part he was sizing up the competition for the job. That certainly wouldn't be out of the norm for that time period.
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I love this scene just because we can't tell for sure what is going through Jack's mind. It is open to thought and questions. Is it love at first sight for Jack? Was he shocked that this hottie was standing outside waiting for him? Was he posing for Ennis against the truck? It looks like he was checkin out Ennis in the mirror while he was shaving. I love it that we all can interpret these early scenes different ways
Personally I think Jack was attracted right away.
I think they were both attracted from the get go. Hasn't it happened to you? Has to me. Lord seems like it was the only time I got decently laid.
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I love this scene just because we can't tell for sure what is going through Jack's mind. It is open to thought and questions. Is it love at first sight for Jack? Was he shocked that this hottie was standing outside waiting for him? Was he posing for Ennis against the truck? It looks like he was checkin out Ennis in the mirror while he was shaving. I love it that we all can interpret these early scenes different ways
Personally I think Jack was attracted right away.
I think they were both attracted from the get go. Hasn't it happened to you? Has to me. Lord seems like it was the only time I got decently laid.
Did I say that? Yes you did BBBOY.
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well we can say that he was checking ennis and he was also checking his competence for the vacancy. but i watched that they both looked at each other they were attracted to each other from the beggining not in that way but just maybe maybe amazed because both were handsome and young. but that parts show us that Jack shows interest on Ennis from the begining it focus mostly on Jack and we see that he watch at Ennis most of the time until Aguirre cames.
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I think mostly Jack was checking out the competition for the job, maybe thinking it was only one job going rather than two. But I also think he was attracted to Ennis right from the start - assuming that Jack had prior experience with men, it would be fairly logical for him to be "checking out" Ennis in other ways too. I reckon the bit where he's looking at Ennis through his mirror while he shaves confirms that.
Welcome to the BBM support group, jackiswear326!
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I think mostly Jack was checking out the competition for the job, maybe thinking it was only one job going rather than two.
Don't think so NoReins. Don't forget he worked the previous year so he would know there were two that went up onto the mountain.
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Welcome jackiswear326, enhoy and have fun and cry with the rest of us :)
I am not sure I think Jack was seeing competition for the job, he had done this last year and knew it was a two man job.
I think it was a mix between actually beeing a bit shy and then curious about someone he thought was handsome.
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Patriot1 and Esme - you're right, of course. Reckon it was too early in the morning for me getting my thoughts in order ;)
I think it was a mix between actually beeing a bit shy and then curious about someone he thought was handsome.
That's sweet Esme. Not that he got much chance to tell whether Enins was handsome or not, given that Ennis was hiding under his hat for most of that scene!
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I think Jack's *definitely* checking Ennis out, especially since we see him looking at Ennis again in the same mirror as he drives away from BBM at the end of the summer. The first time he looks at Ennis with admiration/lust, the second time with love, longing, sadness.
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Have to so totally disagree with the people who think that Jack/Ennis were checking each other out in a sexual sense. Grew up in that era, and that was not done unless you wanted to get physically hurt. Again, you are putting your own realm of experience on Jack and Ennis, and not considering the time period. There were few places, very few places where it was safe to check someone out, and then very caredully. Outside in a public area was not one of them. Do agree that they were sizing each other out as coworkers, but that was all.
I posted "Why the Rush" some time ago, it gives you a little look at the contrasts of the time periods.
Not to be argumentative, if you are near the age of 30, your life experience is much different than Jack/Ennis...you had probably experienced by age 10, what they had not yet by age 20... your "sophistication"(for lack of a better word) outshadows theirs
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Have to add that teh thread "Surrptitious Glances" goes through much the same material as this thread.
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Not that he got much chance to tell whether Enins was handsome or not, given that Ennis was hiding under his hat for most of that scene!
He might not have seen Ennis in full..so to speak, but I think he saw a handsome/ swxy man. Yes Ennis was looking down, but how many of us haven't googeld at men, nad often cowboys striking that kind of pose in commercials etc?
Noo need to see the face, the man is sexy. :) thats my opinion
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Have to add that teh thread "Surrptitious Glances" goes through much the same material as this thread.
Thanks jerasjr for noting this.
The other thread started off initially with the glances both exchanged inside the trailer during Agguire's phone call.
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Have to so totally disagree with the people who think that Jack/Ennis were checking each other out in a sexual sense. Grew up in that era, and that was not done unless you wanted to get physically hurt. Again, you are putting your own realm of experience on Jack and Ennis, and not considering the time period. There were few places, very few places where it was safe to check someone out, and then very caredully. Outside in a public area was not one of them. Do agree that they were sizing each other out as coworkers, but that was all.
I posted "Why the Rush" some time ago, it gives you a little look at the contrasts of the time periods.
Yah but jerasjr, Jack was the exception to the rule. He walked right up to the rodeo clown and openly flirted with him. The clown recognized it, the bartender recognized it. So I suggest you are wrong in this case.
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I'd say "flirted" is an overexaggeration - he approached the man, held his gaze too long, and the man backed off. Again the wrong setting, though it might have been known as a place where you could expect to find others "of a certain persuasion."
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I'd say "flirted" is an overexaggeration - he approached the man, held his gaze too long, and the man backed off. Again the wrong setting, though it might have been known as a place where you could expect to find others "of a certain persuasion."
I agree. And I also agree that Jack did risk getting the c*** kicked out of him by Ennis that first meeting, but I def think he was looking at him more out of interest for the man and not the competition, I think had it been the latter he would have looked "harder" and not shyed his eyes away so fast as he did... he woulda tried to psyche the other guy out by having a sort of staring contest.
:) IMO
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I'd say "flirted" is an overexaggeration - he approached the man, held his gaze too long, and the man backed off. Again the wrong setting, though it might have been known as a place where you could expect to find others "of a certain persuasion."
You make it sound like an accident. He saw the clown come in, he liked the looks of the clown, he walked over to the clown and flirted with him. And, when I say flirted I mean try to make the guy feel good by praising him above what he deserved. Then too, he held his gaze too long telling the clown exactly what Jack wanted him to know and the clown backed off. Jack wanted something from him and went after it. Just as he did Ennis at Aguirre's. I surely won't deny there was also a little "sizing up" going on also at Aguirre's.
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A lot of what I say stems from experience and then the thought "okay where was the spark of interest?" at that first meeting - according to studies, there are definite signs of "interest" - and don't ask me to quote those studies, am dredging up long ago knowledge... there should be a widening of the eyes, the pupils should expand, there might even be slight flaring of the nostrils and some other things I don't remember. So now that gives everyone an excuse to watch again...
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It's just a matter of semantics and point of view... doesn't constitute flirting to me - it does to you. Just as "sizing up" I mean in a nonsexual manner, and maybe you don't.
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Peace friends. We can all agree to disagree in a number of things. That is why these threads are so wonderful.
Thank you, all. :)
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A lot of what I say stems from experience and then the thought "okay where was the spark of interest?" at that first meeting - according to studies, there are definite signs of "interest" - and don't ask me to quote those studies, am dredging up long ago knowledge... there should be a widening of the eyes, the pupils should expand, there might even be slight flaring of the nostrils and some other things I don't remember. So now that gives everyone an excuse to watch again...
The "spark of interest" comes in after he kicks his truck, turns and sees Ennis standing there. He walks closer, stops and staires at Ennis (eye contact) (oh and by the way, he had his tongue out also like Jack does :D ) Ennis brushes him off by looking down so Jack turns away and leans against the side of his truck and poses for Ennis and looks at him again trying to make the eye contact. As you know, back in those days eye contact was half the battle. Make eye contact and get a little smile and you were half way home.
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Interest comes in many forms, yes maybe there was interest right from the beginning. Do not see the sexual interest in that scene, see a stare, no spark.
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So now that gives everyone an excuse to watch again...
Now theres a thought ;)
had I been of the recieving end of this behaviour I would definatly have taken it as flirting, I don't think Ennis did because
a) he had no thoughts in his head at that time that this was something a man could or would indeed do to him
b) My son just asked me to look at something he is playing with soI completly forgot what my b) was :-[
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well we can say that he was checking ennis and he was also checking his competence for the vacancy. but i watched that they both looked at each other they were attracted to each other from the beggining not in that way but just maybe maybe amazed because both were handsome and young. but that parts show us that Jack shows interest on Ennis from the begining it focus mostly on Jack and we see that he watch at Ennis most of the time until Aguirre cames.
Hi Carlos,
I don't know how "attracted" they were to each other right off the bat, but they were certainly curious, and I think Jack was strutting like a rooster. But Ennis doesn't look at him until Jack turns away, lol. INSIDE the trailer while Aguirre is on the phone, Ennis sneaks a quick look over his shoulder at Jack. When Ennis turns back toward Aguirre, Jack looks at Ennis. I have to smile every time I see this. I think it MUST have been the "competition" for the job that caused Jack not to speak to Ennis right off. Because once outside the trailer again, BOTH having landed the job, Jack introduces himself to Ennis.
They're so cute! ;D
Donna
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You guys seriously have no idea how glad I am to have found this website! Finally, somewhere I can talk about this movie and read about it as much as I want !! :-)
[..]
See, Heath Ledger was right - in one of his interviews about this movie he said he hoped it would raise more questions than answers . . . not even five minutes into the movie I already have a question . . . :-)
welcome to ennisjack.com
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I'd say "flirted" is an overexaggeration - he approached the man, held his gaze too long, and the man backed off. Again the wrong setting, though it might have been known as a place where you could expect to find others "of a certain persuasion."
I agree. And I also agree that Jack did risk getting the c*** kicked out of him by Ennis that first meeting, but I def think he was looking at him more out of interest for the man and not the competition, I think had it been the latter he would have looked "harder" and not shyed his eyes away so fast as he did... he woulda tried to psyche the other guy out by having a sort of staring contest.
:) IMO
here is my take...for what it's worth
I think this may actually be one of the "flaws" in the movie.....because I do agree with jer that in the 60s a guy would NOT openly flirt with another guy BUT
What else was Jack doing here? he was definitely trying to get Ennis' attention and IMHO was trying to see whether there might have been any interest on Ennis' part.....If I recall correctly (and I may be wrong) didn't the short story imply that Jack had already been with a guy?? Or was that only after the summer....
In any event the flaw to me is that as jer said this was SO unlikely to have happened so openly in the 60s.....But I Do believe that the movie has Jack flirting alright!
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I just think that had he NOT been flirting he woulda gone over to Ennis, reached out his hand and sayd "Jack Twist" :)
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I just think that had he NOT been flirting he woulda gone over to Ennis, reached out his hand and sayd "Jack Twist" :)
And the shaving scene says a lot, the glance from the mirror is not an innocent look IMO
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I thought Jack was just being Jack- he's a talkative guy. I thought he was going to go up & talk to Ennis but Ennis looked down. Jack might've felt uncomfortable then and decided to just sit back & watch how Ennis would act towards him.
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I just think that had he NOT been flirting he woulda gone over to Ennis, reached out his hand and sayd "Jack Twist" :)
And the shaving scene says a lot, the glance from the mirror is not an innocent look IMO
Yep, I'm with you on that one chameau. No other reason for Jack to be looking at Ennis in his car mirror.
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boo boo, just what should have been said right away, Jack was being Jack. Many times I think we are overanalyzing...
with the rodeo clown, Jack was being Jack. with Randall, Jack was being Jack. at the first meeting, Jack was being Jack.
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I sit back and watch for the physical evidence that indicates more than casual interest, and to me they are not there.
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I sit back and watch for the physical evidence that indicates more than casual interest, and to me they are not there.
Like I said, if I was Ennis, then Ennis would be a 31 yr old woman who loves handsome men, I would have taken that behaviour as flirting :) And I have thought so since the first time I saw the film :) But I'm ok with disagreeing with ya ;)
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That's just it, we're each applying it in our realm of experience, and since our experiences vary greatly, so do our opinions. I can only see it through my own eyes at that time - to me, if jack were that openly flirting, he would have been dead much earlier in the film. Not that my view is any more valid than yours, because they both have validity from our realm of experience. We can agree to disagree, without any hard feelings. That is what is so great about this forum, every person's view has value.
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Welcome jackiswear326, enhoy and have fun and cry with the rest of us :)
I am not sure I think Jack was seeing competition for the job, he had done this last year and knew it was a two man job.
I think it was a mix between actually beeing a bit shy and then curious about someone he thought was handsome.
Now this makes complete, right on sense. Shy but curious. What kind of guy was this stranger gonna be like if they ended up on the mountain together? Good looking enough to take a peek at in the mirror while shaving and I'm sure by that time Jack must have had some limited experience with another young kid. That is what they both were at this time, kids. IMHO I think his posing by the truck was nothing more than what any young man does when shy and unsure of himself when confronting someone similar to himself for the first time.
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That's just it, we're each applying it in our realm of experience, and since our experiences vary greatly, so do our opinions. I can only see it through my own eyes at that time - to me, if jack were that openly flirting, he would have been dead much earlier in the film. Not that my view is any more valid than yours, because they both have validity from our realm of experience. We can agree to disagree, without any hard feelings. That is what is so great about this forum, every person's view has value.
I agree that in context Jack should NOT have been flirting when he first met Ennis because that was not done in 63....BUT ...the way he looked at Ennis , pranced over there , leaned against the truck and watched Ennis as he shaved indicated he was flirting! That's why I believe in this scene the movie was flawed...too unbelieveable for 63 in Wyomimg
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That's just it, we're each applying it in our realm of experience, and since our experiences vary greatly, so do our opinions. I can only see it through my own eyes at that time - to me, if jack were that openly flirting, he would have been dead much earlier in the film. Not that my view is any more valid than yours, because they both have validity from our realm of experience. We can agree to disagree, without any hard feelings. That is what is so great about this forum, every person's view has value.
i agree with you about Jack
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I agree that in context Jack should NOT have been flirting when he first met Ennis because that was not done in 63....BUT ...the way he looked at Ennis , pranced over there , leaned against the truck and watched Ennis as he shaved indicated he was flirting! That's why I believe in this scene the movie was flawed...too unbelieveable for 63 in Wyomimg
No, I don't see a flaw, I see an exception to the rule of the time and place. Jack certainly was an extrovert. Ennis, the total opposite. When I was a kid growing up in a small town in the 50's and 60's I saw the Jacks around town. In fact, my mother and I were on a bus riding through the center of town one day when I was 7 or 8 and she points to this guy standing in front of the luncheonette and says, "You see that man?" "Yes, I replied" "Well you keep away from him. He is a queer."
Oh great I think, he must be like me then because that is what the kids in school call me, queer. What the hell is a queer?
So, there were Jacks around back then. I am not even sure Jack realized that his behavior could have gotten him into trouble. He never had the experience that Ennis did and had no reason to have any fears.
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So then I have to pose the question or questions - why would they make this exception? and what other exceptions do you see in the movie?
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Yes there were queers around then, but in this instance in Wyoming? Please, grew up less isolated than Jack and Ennis, and don't remember seeing overt behavior - I might have wondered and hoped, but could not have identifed another gay person by the actions we see Jack take at the first meeting. Maybe I'm just dense.
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So then I have to pose the question or questions - why would they make this exception? and what other exceptions do you see in the movie?
You know, it just occurred to me that what Jack did (the way he acted) might not have meant a thing to anyone in Wyoming at the time. I mean he didn't go flitting about like the stereotypical "fairy." We are looking at his actions through our own eyes. We know what things mean, the straight people back then might not have even noticed. Ennis sure didn't.
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Yes there were queers around then, but in this instance in Wyoming?
Honey, there are queers everywhere, even in countries where they kill them if they are discovered. I am one of those people who believe you are born that way. If that is true, then where you are born has nothing to do with anything.
Please, grew up less isolated than Jack and Ennis, and don't remember seeing overt behavior - I might have wondered and hoped, but could not have identifed another gay person by the actions we see Jack take at the first meeting. Maybe I'm just dense.
No, not dense. We have to remember, as much as I don't want to most times, Jack and Ennis are the product of writers, actors and a director. What we see on the screen is them acting like what they think Ennis and Jack would act like. That is not the reality of the 1960's.
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boo boo, just what should have been said right away, Jack was being Jack. Many times I think we are overanalyzing...
with the rodeo clown, Jack was being Jack. with Randall, Jack was being Jack. at the first meeting, Jack was being Jack.
I agree with you....Jack is Jack...I don't understand the nitpicking here. Who cares if Jack was flirting or not? I personally don't think he was CONSCIOUSLY flirting. He was just being himself. We don't know what was going on in his head. I just don't think it is all that important in the grand scheme of the plot that unfolds. I mean I have been in situations where I am in a place with a stranger...I mean what do you do...you LOOK at them...is that flirting? And as far as the clown goes....i think Jack was just being friendly...if you say he was flirting...again...WHO CARES? The topic is just moot to me.
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WHO CARES? The topic is just moot to me.
well...you're right..who cares :) It just makes it such a better movie to me personally if he was flirting, subcon or not.... and I just thought of it when I first saw it
OT Moot point...made me think of Joey :) Moo point, like a cows opinion, don't matter lol
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WHO CARES? The topic is just moot to me.
well...you're right..who cares :) It just makes it such a better movie to me personally if he was flirting, subcon or not.... and I just thought of it when I first saw it
OT Moot point...made me think of Joey :) Moo point, like a cows opinion, don't matter lol
yeah esme...i guess it is fun to speculate...no harm in that. And I always think of joey when i hear or use that word too. And speaking of Joey....do you think that he and chandler ever had a FNIT (friends night in tent)? hee hee.
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irving, I think the point of a discussion like this, or any discussion on the forum, is to better understand and share your personal
view...whether you agree or not is not necessary. Having grown up in that time period, I think that it was unlikely Jack was flirting. Others don't see that. But the discussion opens up many perspectives. Evidently it wasn't a moot point to the person who cared enough about this point to start the thread, otherwise they would not have posted their thoughts, and this chat enhances their understanding.
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BTW, irving at times do believe we become too nitpicky, but in this instance, think that since this scene sets up the rest of the film, then we should explore it.
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You know after reading all this I am beginning to think maybe I was wrong. Maybe Jack was "checking out" Ennis at the beginning and had hoped that he could start a conversation but when he saw Ennis put his head down he retreated. Looking at someone and wanting them isn't flirting.
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You know after reading all this I am beginning to think maybe I was wrong. Maybe Jack was "checking out" Ennis at the beginning and had hoped that he could start a conversation but when he saw Ennis put his head down he retreated. Looking at someone and wanting them isn't flirting.
Okay, that is a possibility. What is it called when you pretend to shave an already clean shaven face while looking at the guy in your mirror? ??? ;D
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You know after reading all this I am beginning to think maybe I was wrong. Maybe Jack was "checking out" Ennis at the beginning and had hoped that he could start a conversation but when he saw Ennis put his head down he retreated. Looking at someone and wanting them isn't flirting.
Okay, that is a possibility. What is it called when you pretend to shave an already clean shaven face while looking at the guy in your mirror? ??? ;D
again that is looking.....even lusting if you will...but that's not flirting
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You know after reading all this I am beginning to think maybe I was wrong. Maybe Jack was "checking out" Ennis at the beginning and had hoped that he could start a conversation but when he saw Ennis put his head down he retreated. Looking at someone and wanting them isn't flirting.
Okay, that is a possibility. What is it called when you pretend to shave an already clean shaven face while looking at the guy in your mirror? ??? ;D
again that is looking.....even lusting if you will...but that's not flirting
Okay. I'll give you that one. The only way that could be considered flirting is if the other person knows you are doing it. There is no evidence Ennis knew what Jack was doing.
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I was looking for a word the other day when I responded to this thread. The word is posture and I think Jack was posturing when he leaned against the truck and stared at Ennis. I think it is a way young men of that age define themselves to others. It was done in 1963 and is still done today. Probably most alpha males do it in one form or another. Is it flirting as well? Probably but I doubt that the poser is even consciously aware of it, at least not a young fairly innocent 19 year old boy from rural Wyoming.
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I was looking for a word the other day when I responded to this thread. The word is posture and I think Jack was posturing when he leaned against the truck and stared at Ennis. I think it is a way young men of that age define themselves to others. It was done in 1963 and is still done today. Probably most alpha males do it in one form or another. Is it flirting as well? Probably but I doubt that the poser is even consciously aware of it, at least not a young fairly innocent 19 year old boy from rural Wyoming.
Good word.....I agree!!
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Welcome jackiswear326, enhoy and have fun and cry with the rest of us :)
I am not sure I think Jack was seeing competition for the job, he had done this last year and knew it was a two man job.
I think it was a mix between actually beeing a bit shy and then curious about someone he thought was handsome.
Now this makes complete, right on sense. Shy but curious. What kind of guy was this stranger gonna be like if they ended up on the mountain together? Good looking enough to take a peek at in the mirror while shaving and I'm sure by that time Jack must have had some limited experience with another young kid. That is what they both were at this time, kids. IMHO I think his posing by the truck was nothing more than what any young man does when shy and unsure of himself when confronting someone similar to himself for the first time.
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I am not sure I think Jack was seeing competition for the job, he had done this last year and knew it was a two man job.
I'm not really sure it WAS a two-man job the year before. Jack says to Ennis about the sheep being struck by lightning "Aguirre got all over my ass like I was supposed to control the weather." It was my impression that this is why Aguirre decided to make it a two-man job this year. PLUS, the short story says they were "glad to have a companion where none was expected." JMO
Donna
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I am not sure I think Jack was seeing competition for the job, he had done this last year and knew it was a two man job.
I'm not really sure it WAS a two-man job the year before. Jack says to Ennis about the sheep being struck by lightning "Aguirre got all over my ass like I was supposed to control the weather." It was my impression that this is why Aguirre decided to make it a two-man job this year. PLUS, the short story says they were "glad to have a companion where none was expected." JMO
Donna
Yes, good point, but I think Jack was the one that stayed with the sheep no firebullshit ;) last year, and that he just didn't have much in common with the person in the main camp. So he didn't expect a companion cause that was not the case last year. Ennis didn't expect it cause he hadn't done the job and I honestly dont' think Ennis has had any friends outside his Brother before.
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I am not sure I think Jack was seeing competition for the job, he had done this last year and knew it was a two man job.
I'm not really sure it WAS a two-man job the year before. Jack says to Ennis about the sheep being struck by lightning "Aguirre got all over my ass like I was supposed to control the weather." It was my impression that this is why Aguirre decided to make it a two-man job this year. PLUS, the short story says they were "glad to have a companion where none was expected." JMO
Donna
That's a really good point, Donna - I never really paid too much attention to that comment from Jack, but since he didn't say "our asses", it would suggest that he was alone up there the previous year. I had noticed the "glad to have a companion..." bit in the book, but for some reason I'd always translated that as "glad to have a friend where only a fellow worker (i.e. a person to work with but not ever really talk to) had been expected". Your interpretation of this passage makes much more sense, though.
So maybe Jack and Ennis really were just sizing each other up as competition for what each thought was ONE job. Or, at least, maybe that's why Ennis was sizing Jack up - as I still believe that Jack was eying up Ennis for other reasons ;)
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PLUS, the short story says they were "glad to have a companion where none was expected." JMO
And I thought that meant that with one hurding the sheep and only coming back to camp for meals there wouldn't be much companionship. Okay, time to start a new thread? :D