You know, I think what you said summed up Ennis and his response to Jack's sweet life pretty well completely. It was Tony and Jackster who first stated that Ennis is an introvert while Jack is an extrovert. Jack needed people while Ennis needed only his own little world in the middle of no where. I agree with you 100% that whatever shaped and moulded Ennis in his youth, he remained that way, even after Lightning Flat and finding the two shirts. At least, by that time, he moved closer to his daughters, with a mail box in a trailer park that has at least 16 other neighbours. He is no longer afraid, or perhaps more accurately averse to people. He simply preferred the peace and quiet of his own company, his own memories. In the short story, Ennis confessed to thinking about Jack hundreds of times while wringing out (..ahem) sausages.
And what you said makes perfect sense of Jack's frustration at the last scene...I ain't you...After twenty years, Jack finally realized that Ennis needed his own world more than he needed Jack. Jack needed and hungered for Ennis, but Ennis did not know how to get out of the old routine, and step out to a whole new world with Jack, until too late. He preferred to having his apple pie alone in a diner, than putting up with Cassie or risking everything with Jack.
Having said all this, I think what makes Heath's performance special, is that while he portrayed what we said of Ennis above, he also made clear, in his brooding over beer after beer alone in the bar, that first time Cassie went up to dance with him, or his anxious anticipation of Jack that first time in the reunion, or his little kid excitement over their first camping trip, ... and the many scenes of Ennis loving Jack's company. The poor soul just didn't know how to go about changing himself, until too late. That was the tragedy of Brokeback Mountain...Ennis changed too slowly and fate had different ideas for Jack and Ennis.
Exactly Lance , he was the ultimate introvert, .. thank you, just the word I was looking for.. He was content to be left alone to make choices or not make choices.,and it may explain Ennis's silence after Jack's confession of not being able to stand it. Maybe to Ennis, it's understood after so many yrs. that words are simply not needed. It's 20 yrs. later and he's still meeting Jack. He can't say he misses Jack too, not out loud, but it does'nt mean he's not thinking them, but he'll keep that to himself knowing he can hardly stand it either. He's not that great with words and probably did'nt want to make an ass out of himself, even in front of Jack, ...especially not in front of Jack, but I think that's what Jack wanted ,liked and loved, Ennis..uncensored .
I suppose Ennis fears the expectations that Jack's confession poses, He knows the statement begs a reply, but he's some one who grew up hard. he will stifle his emotions when it comes to romantic notions and declarations and on the hand this man cried in front of Jack, He also has a sensitive side. .showed how emotionally vulnerable he was to Jack when he thought Jack was gonna quit him.
He's deep, and I guess Jack just had to understand that, but Jack needed so bad to hear it verbally. so deserved it. He had put his own vulnerabilities out front for Ennis to hear. So I think he wanted a sign, some word that Ennis give his proposal a second thought. It was only when Jack reminded him that he once had a better idea, did it really don on Ennis in the confrontation that Jack held steady about .his dream of ranching up with him. . after so many yrs. ago. That Jack had been holding on to this and never waverd from it.
. His father's homophobic teachings come back to haunt him and he finds it hard to trust anybody, but this "thing" had him by the short hairs. There was nothing he could do with it, it just was. Nothing needed changing about it and he did'nt wanna change it. Two men really could feel they belonged together. he knew his daddy was wrong about that. Jack was both devil and angel and he was in love with both of them.
What could he say to Jack's confession? I love you? ,I need You? ,I miss you?... Could Ennis ever look Jack in the eye and tell him these things verbally? Don't think so, it's not his way, not even with Alma. He never said he loved her.....did'nt mean he did'nt want to though, but in this case, he just silently let Jack speak for both of them,
And I think your right he was transformed when he met Mrs. Twist. She instilled in Jack the qualities he loved so much in Jack, the perfect and most logical companion to his *enlightenment* at LF. In her eyes he saw acceptance of what he thought no one could accept. Love between him and her son. No reins?, for as long as he could ride it.? Sweet-talker? Yeah, Think he meant that. But that's the real , uncensored Ennis Jack loved so much. Ennis , the perfect combination of unspoiled chrisma, and quiet vulnerability, so simple, and so complex. imo, very attractive and tempting qualities in that cowboy, . Jack, Alma and Cassie fell for him, so did I. A few more rambling thoughts. Thanx.
