Brokeback Mountain Forum @ ennisjack.com
The Movie & Story => Characters, Quotes & Scenes => Topic started by: greenfrog on Aug 17, 2006, 10:10 PM
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In many of the key scenes, the camera only shows Ennis from behind his shoulder . . .
-The "You know I ain't queer" scene.
-When he breaks down during Jack's "could've had a life together" speech.
-When he reads DECEASED on the postcard.
-When he shuts the closet door at the end of the movie.
What does everyone think ?
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[i
]In many of the key scenes, the camera only shows Ennis from behind his shoulder . . .[/i]
-The "You know I ain't queer" scene.
-When he breaks down during Jack's "could've had a life together" speech.
-When he reads DECEASED on the postcard.
-When he shuts the closet door at the end of the movie.
What does everyone think ?
WOW! That is an interesting observation! I am not sure there is any meaning in it but it sure is interesting.
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It almost seems (to me) that he is turning his back on the truth about himself.
He doesn't want to admit he's "queer".
He can't bring himself to have a life with Jack.
He ends up turning his back on the the most important place and person to him when closes the closet door and leaves.
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It almost seems (to me) that he is turning his back on the truth about himself.
He doesn't want to admit he's "queer".
He can't bring himself to have a life with Jack.
He ends up turning his back on the the most important place and person to him when closes the closet door and leaves.
Very good observations Greenfrog!
I also think that it's movie Ennis' way of not even letting us see him fully. Always hiding himself away.
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It may also indicate his desire not to face up to things, eg his own nature and his relationship with Jack. He's filmed full-on to the camera at the end both times he holds the shirts - dos that indicate that he's at last being open with himslef?
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Yes, this is an interesting observation. Could it have been intentional? They certainly seem to mirror each other.
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Yes, ww, I think we definitely have some symbolism going on here....
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I love a nice bit of symbolism - even see symbolism in symbols....
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I love a nice bit of symbolism - even see symbolism in symbols....
;D ;D ;D ;D
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It almost seems (to me) that he is turning his back on the truth about himself.
He doesn't want to admit he's "queer".
He can't bring himself to have a life with Jack.
He ends up turning his back on the the most important place and person to him when closes the closet door and leaves.
Very good observations Greenfrog!
I also think that it's movie Ennis' way of not even letting us see him fully. Always hiding himself away.
oh, a very good observation! and I agree with you on this Rosie!
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It's a physical representation of the way Ennis is shut away - considering that he works in the great outdoors we see a lot of him confined - in the alley, in the chapel, in the cabin, in the apartment, in th etrailer, even in the courthouse.
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In fact now that I think of it, he's a living representation of the "Macbeth" quotation -
"I am cabinn'd, cribb'd, confin'd, bound in
To saucy doubts and fears."
That's Ennis.
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This a great observation, greenfrog. I always thought the "over the shoulder" view was Ang Lee's way of keeping us (the viewer) guessing on Ennis' true feelings.
When someone turns their back on me I think they're cutting me off, but in Ennis' case, I think he uses it to protect himself. I think his feelings sometimes overwhelm him and that's how he protects his feelings.
This is most powerful to me during the argument between Jack and Ennis. Ennis has his back turned to Jack and Jack cannot see that Ennis is CRYING and tells Ennis "You're too much for me Ennis, you son of a whoreson b**ch." He doesn't seem to think that Ennis is really listening to him. It's only later in the scene that Jack realizes he had really gotten through to Ennis.
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This is most powerful to me during the argument between Jack and Ennis. Ennis has his back turned to Jack and Jack cannot see that Ennis is CRYING and tells Ennis "You're too much for me Ennis, you son of a whoreson b**ch." He doesn't seem to think that Ennis is really listening to him. It's only later in the scene that Jack realizes he had really gotten through to Ennis.
I also had this scene in mind. Thanks jesseanne21, for sharing this.
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This is most powerful to me during the argument between Jack and Ennis. Ennis has his back turned to Jack and Jack cannot see that Ennis is CRYING and tells Ennis "You're too much for me Ennis, you son of a whoreson b**ch." He doesn't seem to think that Ennis is really listening to him. It's only later in the scene that Jack realizes he had really gotten through to Ennis.
OMG, you're right....I mean, I always sort of 'knew' that, but this is the very first time I see it put down in words.....wow! %)
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Great thread Greenfrog! O0 I love these observations!
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I love how the filming was so expressive of emotional and mood and personality. Amazing and beautiful (and geared to keep us discussing for a long time to come...). A wonderful topic/thread, Greenfrog. But anyway, this post isn't only about Ennis, about the many times we don't see him straight on but from behind his shoulder. it's about both of them. In the thread about the "I ain't queer" talk on the hillside, this was talked about -- quotes below.
kathy
When Ennis says his "one shot thing" and "I ain't queer" lines, he is facing away from the camera he's effectively rendering himself "faceless" by maintaining this straight facade.This suggests to me he's in deep denial. Jack, in contrast, is shown full-face when he replies "nobody's business but ours" and "me neither" . His little facials tics suggest he's lying to keep in Ennis' good graces, but also suggesting that even in "dishonesty", Jack is more "open" than Ennis
and
Yes, the more I think about it, the more I'm impressed that Ang Lee chose to shoot this scene in this way. It really tells us a lot about their relationship to one another: they can't yet face each other (or their growing love for one another), and they certainly can't make it public (as perhaps facing the camera would suggest), so they sit side-by-side, backs to the camera, barely able to look at one another. They don't touch and speak only 25 words total. Yet we understand--and share--the tension of their unexpressed longing. As the sun goes down across from their mountain, so their attraction for one another grows.
kathy
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In fact now that I think of it, he's a living representation of the "Macbeth" quotation -
"I am cabinn'd, cribb'd, confin'd, bound in
To saucy doubts and fears."
That's Ennis.
Definately sounds like Ennis. :\'(