Topic: Surreptitious Glances

[tpe]

I believe we've met common ground with this. I can see a great similarity between Jack's response to Ennis' admission here, and Ennis' recoil to the kiss Jack gives him in SNIT. Ennis is overwhelmed with a good feeling, but surely it is still dissolving his fear..

Beautifully said.

Mmmm, great posts OT and tpe!      

I'll read again when I come back, and I'm in a hurry now...

Take your time, loreen! 

[vedrana]

Beautifully said.

Take your time, loreen! 

 

[jedibarrister]

I agree that the early glances were not sexual at all.  They were both there for a job.  Were they going to compete for the same job?  You check each other out.  They're in the trailer and find out they're going to work together.  Is he going to hold up his end?  You check each other out.  Then on the mountain, you look at the distance to see the other.  It's loneliness and wondering what the other guy is doing.  That Jack didn't even glance in Ennis direction while he was bathing or Ennis in Jack's direction while he was answering nature's call is important.  They respected each others' privacy.  To say it was immediate attraction detracts from the almost spiritual connection they had.  They first had to trust each other to become friends.  That trust and camaraderie made everything else possible.  That first night in the tent came as a surprise to both of them it seemed to me.  Yet it also seemed that Jack had been around that particular coffee pot before if you know what I mean.

[tpe]

I agree that the early glances were not sexual at all.  They were both there for a job.  Were they going to compete for the same job?  You check each other out.  They're in the trailer and find out they're going to work together.  Is he going to hold up his end?  You check each other out.  Then on the mountain, you look at the distance to see the other.  It's loneliness and wondering what the other guy is doing.  That Jack didn't even glance in Ennis direction while he was bathing or Ennis in Jack's direction while he was answering nature's call is important.  They respected each others' privacy.  To say it was immediate attraction detracts from the almost spiritual connection they had.  They first had to trust each other to become friends.  That trust and camaraderie made everything else possible.  That first night in the tent came as a surprise to both of them it seemed to me.  Yet it also seemed that Jack had been around that particular coffee pot before if you know what I mean.

In the movie, we see them each give meaningful glances while the other was not looking (while Aguirre was on the phone), and this was after they found out that they were both going to be working with each other.

I somehow feel that the glances exchanged when they first met already revealed an element of attraction, as well as curiosity and (perhaps) suspicion.  But this is just an opinion, of course...

[lancecowboy]

I agree that the early glances were not sexual at all.  They were both there for a job.  Were they going to compete for the same job?  You check each other out.  They're in the trailer and find out they're going to work together.  Is he going to hold up his end?  You check each other out.  Then on the mountain, you look at the distance to see the other.  It's loneliness and wondering what the other guy is doing.  That Jack didn't even glance in Ennis direction while he was bathing or Ennis in Jack's direction while he was answering nature's call is important.  They respected each others' privacy.  To say it was immediate attraction detracts from the almost spiritual connection they had.  They first had to trust each other to become friends.  That trust and camaraderie made everything else possible.  That first night in the tent came as a surprise to both of them it seemed to me.  Yet it also seemed that Jack had been around that particular coffee pot before if you know what I mean.

I know exactly what you mean and I love the way you put it all together. Checking out the competition, the co-worker, the camaraderie, building up to the moment when Ennis talked for more than he did in a year...

Although I agree with the way you interpret the glances, I also think there is some attraction or connection or whatever. Let's say they don't find each other repulsive. 

I don't think FNIT was a surprise to Jack. I think Jack was pretty darn sober, jumping up to grab a blanket for Ennis as soon as he asked for one. I also think Ennis wasn't used to drinking so much, and Jack was sure not above taking advantage of the situation, if you get my drift. He might have been surprised by how fast Ennis sobered and caught on...  so he was definitely surprised by something.

[tpe]

I know exactly what you mean and I love the way you put it all together. Checking out the competition, the co-worker, the camaraderie, building up to the moment when Ennis talked for more than he did in a year...

Although I agree with the way you interpret the glances, I also think there is some attraction or connection or whatever. Let's say they don't find each other repulsive. 

I don't think FNIT was a surprise to Jack. I think Jack was pretty darn sober, jumping up to grab a blanket for Ennis as soon as he asked for one. I also think Ennis wasn't used to drinking so much, and Jack was sure not above taking advantage of the situation, if you get my drift. He might have been surprised by how fast Ennis sobered and caught on...  so he was definitely surprised by something.

I also think that the FNIT was a calculated move on Jack's part.  Well, at least this is what I think because to me, he had been trying/mentioning to get them together in camp.   And yes, I think that for Jack, Ennis was a big question mark, and so his move that night was more than a calculated risk.  Perhaps one could even call it reckless...

[h0pef0r]

All this talk makes me want to go watch the DVD again.

[tpe]

All this talk makes me want to go watch the DVD again.

I myself am surprised that even after so many years watching it, I still disover details I have never noticed before...

[myprivatejack]

I myself am surprised that even after so many years watching it, I still disover details I have never noticed before...

I think this is what usually happens with all the great and gorgeous things; from a movie to a landscape.Even you have fallen for it,you are never able to discover all its greatness in a whole; only little by little,with every discovery,what adds more charm to it.

[tpe]

I think this is what usually happens with all the great and gorgeous things; from a movie to a landscape.Even you have fallen for it,you are never able to discover all its greatness in a whole; only little by little,with every discovery,what adds more charm to it.

And sometimes, it is a matter of discovering new layers of meaning underneath what is already perceived.  They layers of meaning may or may not have been intended -- to a certain extent, it doesn't matter...

The surreptitious glances in the beginning scenes would be one such example -- as to whether or not it indicates love early on...