Topic: Surreptitious Glances

[tpe]

This scene says so much to me by way of exactly where they're both coming from. Behind different personality gates, both boys were dealing with a foreign attachment from which they'd probably always been prematurely cut.

I get that it must have been a lot like school, perhaps a desolate round of detention where the 2 or 3 kids can't genuinely hide their attraction to the other's reason for being there. And then of course you have that other higher power that brought Ennis and Jack together from such a distance. I'll bet it was a job seeing one's reflection in the other cowboy.

Like one cowboy was the other's incomprehensible reason to be in that one trailer. Whether it be Aguirre's or Ennis' later. With the extent of art I can see Ennis and Jack struggling out of the black capacity of a small trailer, and their task wasn't to sleep on separate parts of the mountain; the chore was to let their love step outside and be.

Something strikes me about how they came down the stairs leading to their 'proper' introduction. "Jack Twist"

"Ennis"
Jack's persistence to know Ennis' full name vs Ennis content to look straight ahead - this could be a gauge of their own acknowledgments of the same absurd connection they had just made upstairs. 

orangetruck , I am struck by the analogy you draw between the trailer scene and school.  One seems to remind you of the other, correct?

It is also interesting that the proper introduction had to wait until they got out of the trailer -- by then, both must have sized each other up to some degree, and probably thought of the other: "he's alright..."  But you comment beutifully on Jack's persistence -- he was adamant to get to know Ennis more fully.  We note that in the beginning scene, we see that Ennis was the first one to shy away from Jack's intense gaze.  You could tell by Jack's glances that he was the more persistent of the two of them.

[tpe]

I completely agree Thomas with what u said about Jack's glance...its very true about Jack....With reference to my previous post on Ennis I felt that even though Ennis tried to be in control initially it became the most loudest and most painful glance as his true feelings overpowered everything else...that spoke volumes..it was a glance filled with hurt and anger..I think his heart reflected on his face at that moment when we see that glance...Jack was involved with others and that was so unacceptable to Ennis.....he loved Jack so very deeply and it was so pure...he held on to him for so long as it was genuine and nothing or no one could replace that for Ennis...he couldn't share Jack with anyone...whenever I even think about that glance Ennis gave Jack it gives me chills..I feel shattered by the thought that Ennis felt that his world was torn apart as he almost felt like he lost everything..so he wanted Jack to know what his love has done to him and how helpless he has become ...so eventually he said that he is nobody and nowhere :\'( :\'(

The interesting thing is that there is a pendant to Ennis's gaze in this exact scene -- the blank and very sad stare that Jack has initially:



This is not exactly a surreptitious glance, but we can read so much hidden emotions in their looks.  It is as if these looks are the opposite of the surreptitious galnces: they look without seeing/engaging who is right there, directly before them.

[myprivatejack]

Yes,I agree¡.With his glances,Jack managed to attract Ennis attention, and he got it; with his glances,he managed to make Ennis be interested in him in another way than a mere friendship; with his glances,he begun a task of seduction towards his friends; and with his glances he spoke volumes about his feelings and his fears during all these years by Ennis side.The look in his eyes was a good "weapon" to get and maintain what he wanted,and he was persistent in it both in glances and in intentions,indeed.

[tpe]

Yes,I agree¡.With his glances,Jack managed to attract Ennis attention, and he got it; with his glances,he managed to make Ennis be interested in him in another way than a mere friendship; with his glances,he begun a task of seduction towards his friends; and with his glances he spoke volumes about his feelings and his fears during all these years by Ennis side.The look in his eyes was a good "weapon" to get and maintain what he wanted,and he was persistent in it both in glances and in intentions,indeed.

It probably maddened Ennis all the more, in fact.  It was only after when Ennis had his say that we begin to see animation in jack's face -- and we hear his voice shaking at the start.  It was as if he was trying to hide the extent of the inner turmoil within him -- something surreptitious about this, to be sure.

[orangetruck]

orangetruck , I am struck by the analogy you draw between the trailer scene and school.  One seems to remind you of the other, correct?

It is also interesting that the proper introduction had to wait until they got out of the trailer -- by then, both must have sized each other up to some degree, and probably thought of the other: "he's alright..."  But you comment beutifully on Jack's persistence -- he was adamant to get to know Ennis more fully.  We note that in the beginning scene, we see that Ennis was the first one to shy away from Jack's intense gaze.  You could tell by Jack's glances that he was the more persistent of the two of them.

Sure enough, Jack was more advanced somehow. By way of love?

Regarding the analogy, yes..

[tpe]

Well, persistence need not imply "advanced".  But it does imply a greater certainly, in the midst of surreptitiousness. 

[orangetruck]

Well, persistence need not imply "advanced".  But it does imply a greater certainly, in the midst of surreptitiousness. 

Jack did have a better idea than Ennis, didn't he?

A much better idea. I have that scene in my head, of Jack watching Ennis' silhouette close in on him through the truck window, '63. 

[pattyjean]

Well, persistence need not imply "advanced".  But it does imply a greater certainly, in the midst of surreptitiousness. 

Long word, Thomas!    The first time I saw Brokeback I was totally enthralled with Jack's seductive glances and stances as he sized up Ennis outside Aguirre's trailer.  He was sooo brash and blatant! 
If this had been your usual sheep-herding "western", I would have thought, "What the hell is going on here?!"
The sexual tension was palpable from the git-go...that was Jake's gift to us!

 ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (

[orangetruck]

Long word, Thomas!    The first time I saw Brokeback I was totally enthralled with Jack's seductive glances and stances as he sized up Ennis outside Aguirre's trailer.  He was sooo brash and blatant! 
If this had been your usual sheep-herding "western", I would have thought, "What the hell is going on here?!"
The sexual tension was palpable from the git-go...that was Jake's gift to us!

 ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (

Mmm, you're speaking my language, pj!      

[pattyjean]

Mmm, you're speaking my language, pj!      

I meant to thank you previously for your most provocative posts, Orange! 

I recall that Thomas once mentioned that he was quite tongue-tied when he was standing right in front of Jake!  I may have misinterpreted his meaning--but I'm hoping that when TPE returns Monday that he will set us straight on this issue...

Even though I am female I find myself imitating Jack's take-the-camera-by-storm gazes:  Do you guys do this after watching Brokeback?  That "look" is such a dynamic acting tool--or is it just Jake being his sensual sexy self?

 

[tpe]

Jack did have a better idea than Ennis, didn't he?

A much better idea. I have that scene in my head, of Jack watching Ennis' silhouette close in on him through the truck window, '63. 

I think so.  A much better idea, indeed. 

In Ennis's glances, you see more uncertainty and a great deal of shyness.  It is as if he was unaware of what intrigued/attracted him to Jack. 

Were all these glances initially physical, I wonder? 

[tpe]

Long word, Thomas!    The first time I saw Brokeback I was totally enthralled with Jack's seductive glances and stances as he sized up Ennis outside Aguirre's trailer.  He was sooo brash and blatant! 
If this had been your usual sheep-herding "western", I would have thought, "What the hell is going on here?!"
The sexual tension was palpable from the git-go...that was Jake's gift to us!

 ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (

There is certainly a strong element of seduction in Jack's surreptitious glances.  I think all of us here can agree to this.  There is a certain boldness in that look, in contrast to Ennis's shyness...

[orangetruck]

I meant to thank you previously for your most provocative posts, Orange! 

I recall that Thomas once mentioned that he was quite tongue-tied when he was standing right in front of Jake!  I may have misinterpreted his meaning--but I'm hoping that when TPE returns Monday that he will set us straight on this issue...

Even though I am female I find myself imitating Jack's take-the-camera-by-storm gazes:  Do you guys do this after watching Brokeback?  That "look" is such a dynamic acting tool--or is it just Jake being his sensual sexy self?

 

Heck if I know, but one thing's for sure. He gets me all sorts of randy   

[tpe]

Heck if I know, but one thing's for sure. He gets me all sorts of randy   

   And why not?  His gazes were meant to be provocative, IMO.

[myprivatejack]

  And why not?  His gazes were meant to be provocative, IMO.

Oh,yes,totally¡ The strangest woul be not to feel them as provocative...It's what he wanted them to be and what he give to us.

[orangetruck]

  And why not?  His gazes were meant to be provocative, IMO.

From a cinematographic standpoint, or did Jack intend to provoke Ennis like he provoked me?

Part of me thinks the glances weren't primarily physical. Each cowboy instead had a subconscious layer of society/fear/anxiety to burn through before he could crave the object of his attraction... yet, I think this sort of unspoken, primitive language is what carried them to the truth the way speaking precisely couldn't. I don't quite think an immediate physical attraction was out of character to either young man, but they must have had deeper insights. Like when someone gauges the whitewater ahead with their eyes before rafting, or the depth of a river with their feet before diving face first into its surface. Maybe then, it's more like they were looking at each other's auras.

I have the idea that they were partially physical, but initially psychological or other. Thoughts?

[tpe]

Oh,yes,totally¡ The strangest woul be not to feel them as provocative...It's what he wanted them to be and what he give to us.

Exactly.  We are made to look at in as if through Ennis's eyes, no?  So you do get this feeling that it is a personal provocation. 

From a cinematographic standpoint, or did Jack intend to provoke Ennis like he provoked me?

Both, I think.  Cinematographically speaking, we are made to look at Jack as if therough Enni's eyes...

Part of me thinks the glances weren't primarily physical. Each cowboy instead had a subconscious layer of society/fear/anxiety to burn through before he could crave the object of his attraction... yet, I think this sort of unspoken, primitive language is what carried them to the truth the way speaking precisely couldn't. I don't quite think an immediate physical attraction was out of character to either young man, but they must have had deeper insights. Like when someone gauges the whitewater ahead with their eyes before rafting, or the depth of a river with their feet before diving face first into its surface. Maybe then, it's more like they were looking at each other's auras.

I have the idea that they were partially physical, but initially psychological or other. Thoughts?

I think that the eyes also show fascination, aside from physical desire.  And you are right, it is a primitive language of sorts that can be very visceral as well as physical.  This is why you responded to it, I think.  They physical aspect of the body language mirrors a phychological state of mind.  Both points to the image of desire.  Desire is both physical and deep within.

[orangetruck]

Exactly.  We are made to look at in as if through Ennis's eyes, no?  So you do get this feeling that it is a personal provocation. 

Both, I think.  Cinematographically speaking, we are made to look at Jack as if therough Enni's eyes...

I think that the eyes also show fascination, aside from physical desire.  And you are right, it is a primitive language of sorts that can be very visceral as well as physical.  This is why you responded to it, I think.  They physical aspect of the body language mirrors a phychological state of mind.  Both points to the image of desire.  Desire is both physical and deep within.

Sure 'nuff 

[tpe]

Sure 'nuff 

There is so much to talk about with regards to the dynamics of desire in these surreptitious glances. 

[orangetruck]

There is so much to talk about with regards to the dynamics of desire in these surreptitious glances. 

I love Jack's look as he's smoking and looking down into Ennis' little fire away from camp. I remember feeling like Jack was taking the distance as confirmation to his attraction to his friend; he felt this small without him.

It didn't take him long to find his impulse..

[myprivatejack]

I love Jack's look as he's smoking and looking down into Ennis' little fire away from camp. I remember feeling like Jack was taking the distance as confirmation to his attraction to his friend; he felt this small without him.

It didn't take him long to find his impulse..

Yes,it's true.Jack is seeing Ennis just like a little light from the bonfire,an I guess he realises that this is how he feels when he's away from his friend;little,but not a little light too,but as a little shadow.

[orangetruck]

Yes,it's true.Jack is seeing Ennis just like a little light from the bonfire,an I guess he realises that this is how he feels when he's away from his friend;little,but not a little light too,but as a little shadow.

Hell I wanted to step in and put my arms around him..

[myprivatejack]

Hell I wanted to step in and put my arms around him..

I wanted to put my arms and whatever around him...

[tpe]

I love Jack's look as he's smoking and looking down into Ennis' little fire away from camp. I remember feeling like Jack was taking the distance as confirmation to his attraction to his friend; he felt this small without him.

It didn't take him long to find his impulse..

I think the distance made him feel secure enough to express his true feelings externally -- through his face.  In that look, you see that he was reassured by the thought that Ennis was in the world -- the distance didn't matter at all, although he must have been reassured that the distance was not that great...

[tpe]

Yes,it's true.Jack is seeing Ennis just like a little light from the bonfire,an I guess he realises that this is how he feels when he's away from his friend;little,but not a little light too,but as a little shadow.

Beautifully said.

[tpe]

I wanted to put my arms and whatever around him...

Legs?     

[orangetruck]

I think the distance made him feel secure enough to express his true feelings externally -- through his face.  In that look, you see that he was reassured by the thought that Ennis was in the world -- the distance didn't matter at all, although he must have been reassured that the distance was not that great...

Yes, I think the little fire wasn't just something from a distance; Jack had a little fire inside. This indeed must have been somewhat reassuring.

[tpe]

Yes, I think the little fire wasn't just something from a distance; Jack had a little fire inside. This indeed must have been somewhat reassuring.

Very beautifully said, orangetruck.  It is true -- he did have that little fire inside of him also.  We see it in his smile. 

[myprivatejack]

I wanted to put my arms and whatever around him...

Legs?     

Eeeeerrrr....well,this too¡ 

[tpe]

Eeeeerrrr....well,this too¡ 

   Well, I do love that glance he gave in the darkness.  His eyes shine in the night and have a soft glow when he spies Ennis's campfire down below.  A large part of that glance is in the eyes.  They speak a great deal when nothing is voiced out.