Topic: Greatest assets.

[aintfoolin]

Each one of the boys, and other characters in the film had their assets  about them that touched or appealed to each one of us as indiviuals.  What's the real attraction?

Wether physical, sexual, or just in your mental psyche. What was your fav character's best asset? and why?

 Whew, there are so many about Jack , it's hard to pick just one but I'd pick his charm. He Is so charming in the film, I was riveted to him and found it unbelievable that this guy had  problems finding dates of either sex,  but it's Ennis that gets me the most. His best asset to me his the quiet, shy and unspoiled manner that  he exudes. ( gave Cassie a foot rub?. *sigh*. He tends to be neat and orderly  which goes with his ability to see things just as they are . which is also an asset for me about em.  There is a down to earth realness to him that  I just adore.Yeah he can be ornery , but I luv em anyway.

[lightnin flat]

 

   Aintfoolin you are so right jack had so many assets lovely looking, loving ,kind, caring, gentle, had a lot of love to give. 
             
         But i do think to jack his greatest asset has to be ennis,weather on a full term basis or just seeing him 2 or3 times a year ennis was jacks greatest asset to him.


           but to me jacks greatest assets was just being jack the way he looks, the way he stands, the way he talks,the way he smiles,the way he laughs, the way he kisses, his loving gentle manner , his eyes.his black cowboy hat, well thats about it really but i am sure to think of something else.

[aintfoolin]

Jack does have a long list of assets, and I'm glad you included Ennis as a part of it. He had a big influence on Jack's pysche. Those wonderful blue eyes are almost hypnotizingly sexy. A definite asset. Thanks, all his assets you stated are so true about em especially his black cowboy hat. It's so...him.

[myprivatejack]

I denitively agree with both of you,LF and aintfoolin,I can´t add anything else to what you´ve said. Maybe only that Jack knows perfectly well what are his assets,both physically and mentally,and how to use them to get what he wants-except his GREATEST WISH,unfortunately to him-.

[tpe]

For Jack, I think it is his willingness to take risks and, most especially, to dream.

For Ennis, it is his faithfulness.



 

[lamusica]

I love Ennis, but sometimes think it is Heath I love.  This is a bit confusing.  I love Ennis as a piece of 1960's Americana.  He resonates with me as a typical young man, born in the west, orphaned early, grown up pretty much on his own, cast out into adult life early and with minimal skills, alone, without a lot of hope for the future, and hungry for human companionship.  Given this, I think his greatest asset was his ability to survive.  Through all his troubles, he survived -- not happily, maybe, but alive in the end.  It's this survival instinct that makes Ennis so real to me. He's the kind of man who, whether he knows it or not, needs someone.  He could have had Jack, but refused, so all he had was memories.

[aintfoolin]

These are all beautifully expressed posts. Thanks to each and every one.

Ennis is a true survivor. Maybe not being " out there in it" contributes to this, preferring to stay behind the scene, out of the limelight though certainly he can ,and does play this to a fault at times in the film, but that's just him. Always seeking  truth or consequences.  He can't change what's part of his make-up where this is concerned, but he was the last man standing in the end though still  wounded, and seeking redemption. but....

Jack is also a survivor. Maybe he did'nt survive the film , but left his mark on so many people, even after death in the end , but just look at what he put up with ,as just a small boy via SS.
Rejection from his father, the abuse, and isolation growing up. Similar to Ennis, he was poor, and as you say *cast out* at an early age to fend for himself.  Hit the rodeo circuit without his father's advice. His competitive nature (another asset)  was essential in his survival. Stuck it out 20 years with Ennis,  while juggling a sham marriage, a long time to wait and hope. His patience is one of his major assets imo. He had guts. Thanks.

[babytammy7]

These are all beautifully expressed posts. Thanks to each and every one.

Ennis is a true survivor. Maybe not being " out there in it" contributes to this, preferring to stay behind the scene, out of the limelight though certainly he can ,and does play this to a fault at times in the film, but that's just him. Always seeking  truth or consequences.  He can't change what's part of his make-up where this is concerned, but he was the last man standing in the end though still  wounded, and seeking redemption. but....

Jack is also a survivor. Maybe he did'nt survive the film , but left his mark on so many people, even after death in the end , but just look at what he put up with ,as just a small boy via SS.
Rejection from his father, the abuse, and isolation growing up. Similar to Ennis, he was poor, and as you say *cast out* at an early age to fend for himself.  Hit the rodeo circuit without his father's advice. His competitive nature (another asset)  was essential in his survival. Stuck it out 20 years with Ennis,  while juggling a sham marriage, a long time to wait and hope. His patience is one of his major assets imo. He had guts. Thanks.

A very nice post!! You've made cry and I don't know why. Jack was a fighter, that's for sure!!! I adore his charming, loving, tender and sweet character, but also I love so much his patience, his capacity to fight, to hope, to dream and to love in spite of all handicaps and problems. His is caring but also passionate; he is understanding but also demanding; he is everthing for me, for Ennis, for so many people....
He has a very nice voice, an incredible eyes, an amazing and so beautiful kissing way....., but I really prefer his way to pursue his dreams and make them come true.

And yeah....I love soooo much his black hat.   

[aintfoolin]

Thank you, I'm sorry, did 'nt mean to make you cry,  but now I'm crying.  It's 830 a:m: and I'm crying over Jack! When I think of Jack and his story is told I am always saddened at what could have been. The impact of his being will last in my heart forever. I assume his compassion was also an asset of his mother. She was so understanding to Ennis. I suspect she was a big influence in his life.

[FlwrChild]

For Jack, I think it is his willingness to take risks and, most especially, to dream.

For Ennis, it is his faithfulness.



 

I like this, and I guess my answer is similar.

For Jack, it is his constant love, and the willingness to hold it in check all those years because it's what Ennis needed.

For Ennis, it is his enduring love for Jack, in spite of what it costs him in personal turmoil.

What makes me love them so much is that they each put the other first in his heart and his life, despite all of the difficulties and pain it brought with it. Love really is a force of nature.

[tpe]

I like this, and I guess my answer is similar.

For Jack, it is his constant love, and the willingness to hold it in check all those years because it's what Ennis needed.

For Ennis, it is his enduring love for Jack, in spite of what it costs him in personal turmoil.

What makes me love them so much is that they each put the other first in his heart and his life, despite all of the difficulties and pain it brought with it. Love really is a force of nature.

Thanks FlwrChild.

I think what you say here combines what we think of as their greatest asset into one:  their ability to put the other before himself.  That is at the root of true love, no?

[FlwrChild]

Its essential element, imo.

[myprivatejack]

Their ability to put the other before himself.That´s right¡ And ,above all,that´s LOVE.In this case we could add,more specially Jack,the ability to know when he mustn´t not speak about his wishes when he saw he could overwhelm Ennis;in this sense,Jack,the great salesman-I think Lance called him so-,who could perfectly sell everything,beguinning for himself,knew how to "sell" these wishes,this dream of a "swet life",only when the "market" was more disposed.This is another of his assets.The problem is that his tactice failled-perhaps from the after divorce scene and his journey to Mexico-and it never recovered the same way.Sometimes I´ve wondered why Jack didin´t take avantage of some situations as the conversation near the river.Lack of proper communication after summer´63;this is their greatest no-asset,IMO.

[tpe]

Their ability to put the other before himself.That´s right¡ And ,above all,that´s LOVE.In this case we could add,more specially Jack,the ability to know when he mustn´t not speak about his wishes when he saw he could overwhelm Ennis;in this sense,Jack,the great salesman-I think Lance called him so-,who could perfectly sell everything,beguinning for himself,knew how to "sell" these wishes,this dream of a "swet life",only when the "market" was more disposed.This is another of his assets.The problem is that his tactice failled-perhaps from the after divorce scene and his journey to Mexico-and it never recovered the same way.Sometimes I´ve wondered why Jack didin´t take avantage of some situations as the conversation near the river.Lack of proper communication after summer´63;this is their greatest no-asset,IMO.

I do think Jack indeed had a vision that Ennis could not comprehend while Jack was alive.  As for "selling" that vision, I do think he tried his best, never forcing it, never pushing it.    But unlike a good salesman, he put all his eggs in one basket -- that's because he was in love.

[aintfoolin]

Communication was not their best asset I agree. They did have the ability to put the other before themself.  This is good, a good thing, but it can be taken to a fault. Especially, in Jack's case.
 Ennis was giving no sign that he was going to  suddenly change his mind and  live with him. His pursuit of a commitment shot down on more than one occasion.  In fact , Ennis said it out loud to him. " I told you, it aint gonna be that way" though at times I think Ennis did send mixed signals like his reception of Jack back into his life n the reunion scenes. How could Jack not expect a permanent set-up after that?  Perhaps Ennis gave him false hope? Yes, they gave much to each other of themselves , even at the expense of their  sacrificed families, jobs,etc... and themselves, but in the end, lack of communucation and evolving frustration won out. Perhaps Jack should have backed off the relationship sooner, as his dream started to fade, made a life for himself, make  Ennis come find him again, and  put Ennis's love to the test.

 Nothing tests love like time and Ennis had almost 20 years to "adjust".  He  loved Jack deeply, but was Jack strong enough to chance backing off? Or was his  greatest fear of loosing Ennis forever too much for him to chance? It's risky,  If he finally let Ennis go , Ennis did come back.  Pine Creek anyone? Question is , what was Ennis saying or thinking when he wrote that final postcard?, his intentions towards Jack. Sadly Jack was no longer alive to meet him.IMO if he could've, he would've. Sorry, a little   Thanks.

[FlwrChild]

I'm with you, aintfoolin - I think they both would've been there in November, though how that trip would have gone, I couldn't say.

Perhaps for Jack, one of his greatest assets was also his greatest undoing - unending hope.

[lightnin flat]

Communication was not their best asset I agree. They did have the ability to put the other before themself.  This is good, a good thing, but it can be taken to a fault. Especially, in Jack's case.
 Ennis was giving no sign that he was going to  suddenly change his mind and  live with him. His pursuit of a commitment shot down on more than one occasion.  In fact , Ennis said it out loud to him. " I told you, it aint gonna be that way" though at times I think Ennis did send mixed signals like his reception of Jack back into his life n the reunion scenes. How could Jack not expect a permanent set-up after that?  Perhaps Ennis gave him false hope? Yes, they gave much to each other of themselves , even at the expense of their  sacrificed families, jobs,etc... and themselves, but in the end, lack of communucation and evolving frustration won out. Perhaps Jack should have backed off the relationship sooner, as his dream started to fade, made a life for himself, make  Ennis come find him again, and  put Ennis's love to the test.

 Nothing tests love like time and Ennis had almost 20 years to "adjust".  He  loved Jack deeply, but was Jack strong enough to chance backing off? Or was his  greatest fear of loosing Ennis forever too much for him to chance? It's risky,  If he finally let Ennis go , Ennis did come back.  Pine Creek anyone? Question is , what was Ennis saying or thinking when he wrote that final postcard?, his intentions towards Jack. Sadly Jack was no longer alive to meet him.IMO if he could've, he would've. Sorry, a little   Thanks.

   

   Aintfoolin  i think you could be right that perhaps ennis did give jack false hope at times who maybe would,nt expect a permanent set up after the reunion scene ennis could ,nt get his hands on jack fast enough could he, he was the one that made the first move after all.I think jack was expecting something to come out of it from when he said what we gonna do now .Was jack strong enough to back off i would certainly say no he wasnt . Wild horses would,nt have kept jack away from pine creek in november he would be there.Probaly ennis wasnt thinking any different when he wrote that card as to when he wrote the others he could just maybe have been a little apprehensive because the way the last meeting between them ended.But come rain or shine they would of both been there ,unfortunately it didnt work out that way

[tpe]

Communication was not their best asset I agree. They did have the ability to put the other before themself.  This is good, a good thing, but it can be taken to a fault. Especially, in Jack's case.
 Ennis was giving no sign that he was going to  suddenly change his mind and  live with him. His pursuit of a commitment shot down on more than one occasion.  In fact , Ennis said it out loud to him. " I told you, it aint gonna be that way" though at times I think Ennis did send mixed signals like his reception of Jack back into his life n the reunion scenes. How could Jack not expect a permanent set-up after that?  Perhaps Ennis gave him false hope? Yes, they gave much to each other of themselves , even at the expense of their  sacrificed families, jobs,etc... and themselves, but in the end, lack of communucation and evolving frustration won out. Perhaps Jack should have backed off the relationship sooner, as his dream started to fade, made a life for himself, make  Ennis come find him again, and  put Ennis's love to the test.

 Nothing tests love like time and Ennis had almost 20 years to "adjust".  He  loved Jack deeply, but was Jack strong enough to chance backing off? Or was his  greatest fear of loosing Ennis forever too much for him to chance? It's risky,  If he finally let Ennis go , Ennis did come back.  Pine Creek anyone? Question is , what was Ennis saying or thinking when he wrote that final postcard?, his intentions towards Jack. Sadly Jack was no longer alive to meet him.IMO if he could've, he would've. Sorry, a little   Thanks.

Thank you, aintfoolin.  There are as many questions posed as there are answers offered in what you wrote. 

I think their greatest weaknesses are sometimes their greatest assets.  And so it is with a double-edged sword: it cuts both ways.

[aintfoolin]

I'm with you, aintfoolin - I think they both would've been there in November, though how that trip would have gone, I couldn't say.

Perhaps for Jack, one of his greatest assets was also his greatest undoing - unending hope.

 Thanks FlwrChild,

 This is the part of Jack that so touches me deeply. His will, his, as you say " unending hope" patiently waiting all those years, only to have his hopes fade. ( oh  boy here come the tears !).

 This had to be the hardest thing he  ever had to accomplish. Riding the bulls took courage, but this, having to give up  one he loved so deeply? He was trying to give him up but did'nt know how. Through it all as a dreamer, he always had Ennis's best interest at heart.  Had he lived, I don't think he was capable of totally giving up on Ennis,imo though had he moved on with someone else, He would never forget what they had, for this neverending hope would often have him wondering, Whatever became of Ennis? He loved him just that much. Stole my heart ,no doubt.