Topic: Silences, glances and faces

[WildCatIsle]

I thought that BBM is a film with little dialogue more of silences, glances and faces.

I suggest how we realized those silences, glances and faces.




I begin with a so easy. What thought Jack?

[Tony]

  That was a very perceptive insight, WildcatIsle.  I had forgotten how much the facial expressions (and lack of them) told the story, often more so than the dialogue.
  This would be an interesting place to give examples, by words or photos.  Kind of an offset to the photocaps, where they add humor, or whatever, to screencaps.
  There is a thread for pictures of Ennis and Jack together, but this could be a place for studying any of the cast and what was conveyed.  That's work, however, and we Brokies can be lazy  .  I hope, though, that people do rummage through their favorite scenes, and post them, with interpretations.

[chameau]

Thanks for starting this thread WildcatIsle... this is one of my pic.



Ennis talking on the phone with Lureen about Jack's death.  But he didn't knew the truth about it and we don't now neither for sure, huh?  

I'm out of here!  

[Tony]

  Wonderful choice!  This was a cinematic triumph of "less is more".  The minimalist approach, which might have been Ang Lee's prompting.  Heath's lack of expression, told us all the more, a sword had pierced Ennis' heart.
  But then, Cham, you were the one who said Heath could bring tears from a stone.

[jackster]

My two favorite silent looks:


The raised eyebrow twitch here gets me every time -
Jack just made his "Let's git unless you wanta' sit around tyin' knots all day"


later as Jack's philly bucks and jumps
Ennis thinkin' - "I'll teach that guy what ridin' is all about"

FYI - There's a tpe thread called "Surreptitious Glances" which covers looks between the boys.  

[Tony]

  Good choices, Jackster.  In the second photo you chose, we also see the added element of posture.  Ennis was showing a goofy stiffness. Jack was always semi-glamorous or completely so, but not Ennis.  Your choice also calls to mind the huffy walk out of Monroe's house, after the quarrel with Alma.  It may be that Heath Ledger broke new ground not only in minimalist expressions, but also in posture and gait.
  The only other time I can recall that combination of skills was in the character "Ratso" played by Dustin Hoffman in "Midnight Cowboy".  Not a very flattering comparison, for the characters portrayed, but very much so, for the acting skills.

[WildCatIsle]

Wha'ta ya doin'?

Ennis surprised Jack

[jackster]

Good choices, Jackster.  In the second photo you chose, we also see the added element of posture. Ennis was showing a goofy stiffness.

Tony- Interesting comment. I've always really loved this stance and movement of Heath's in this scene. Maybe Ennis was overcompensating 'cause he was still camp tender i.e. doin' womens work at this point. But it seems to this fan that this is one of the most hunky and masculine views of the early Ennis we get. Shirt fitting wonderfully tight across his broad chest, square jaw, eye's slightly squinting, hat sitting firmly on turned head, whew! And don't forget he's watching another man, brilliant Heath. Don't know exactly how Jack managed to ride away from that on this evening.
Stiffness indeed!!   

[Tony]

  Ouch.  That's an "ouch" in advance of being clobbered, maybe for saying the following:  in the reunion scene above (WildcatIsle's post), Heath's acting was grade B; Jake carried it, visually.  In fact, I always thought the grin on Heath's face was a cop-out, sort of saying "we're only play-acting".  Jake played it real.  Sorry if that offends anybody   .

ETA:  Jackster, just caught your post before doing this one.  We both agree that the posture scenes by Heath were fantastic.  But I didn't find it as hunky as you did.  Thought it was goofy   , but then, each person has a different take on that stuff.
  You did point out what I had missed: he is looking at another man.  And it is an unusual look, so there is some significance.  Some might say it's his repressed gay showing up.  I see it more like he's going "what's up with that guy, and why do I even care?"

[Tony]

 Well, stole this one from another thread.....but couldn't delete the stuff beneath.  Sorry.

   Here is a great example of silence AND posture!  Ennis is straightlaced and off-handedly western.....but, whoa....look at the slinky way Jack is laying on the ground.  How many guys, gay or straight, could do this?
  
 Anyway, it is not only the silences, glances and faces that make the film what it is, but also the unusual postures.  Those actors were incredible in taking risks, and they pulled it off.  Consider Michelle Williams, playing the frumpy Alma, waddle-walking off in a huff when going to work and Ennis said for her not to.  These people risked their images to convey their characters.  

[WildCatIsle]

 Well, stole this one from another thread.....but couldn't delete the stuff beneath.  Sorry.

Here is a great example of silence AND posture!  Ennis is straightlaced and off-handedly western.....but, whoa....look at the slinky way Jack is laying on the ground.  How many guys, gay or straight, could do this?
  
 Anyway, it is not only the silences, glances and faces that make the film what it is, but also the unusual postures.  Those actors were incredible in taking risks, and they pulled it off.  Consider Michelle Williams, playing the frumpy Alma, waddle-walking off in a huff when going to work and Ennis said for her not to.  These people risked their images to convey their characters.  

It's right Tony, body language it's so amazing in BBM

[WildCatIsle]

Not even watched "or avoided  watched" by Ennis, Jack showing this posture, I would say provocative -even in sexual sense-

[myprivatejack]

Not even watched "or avoided  watched" by Ennis, Jack showing this posture, I would say provocative -even in sexual sense-

I think Jack is showing here a double provocation,both in sexual sense-you're right here...-and in a wish of demonstrate who is at command in that moment and place.I think someone said once in this forum that Jack,as a man who had worked for Aguirre before,needed also to "mark his territory",to call it somehow.Surely he sees in Ennis not only a handsome man he could feel attracted to,but also a rival,someone who could easily take the job place away from him.So,he adopted a provocative posture as a way to show the other boy-shier,more close in himself-who was the boss,who was surely going to have the job for skills,antiquity and Aguirre's preferences,in sum.Of course,in both cases,he had to exhibit himself,as a peacock shows to the other males that he is the strongest and the most capable for fighting, but also to the females(here,Ennis... ) who are the strongest and the most capable in another sense