Author Topic: eye contacts ! when the eyes do the talking (Read 11785 times)

haveacrush · « **on:** Mar 01, 2011, 01:33 PM »

A movie with limited dialogues and some mumblings (mumblings mostly by ennis .. here i am not in any way downplaying the mumblings which meant so much) its the body and the eyes which did most of the talking. there had already been topics on gestures, body languages.
here i would like to know which scene is the best eye-contact / eyes-doing-the-talking scene

rdx · « **Reply #1 on:** Mar 01, 2011, 01:43 PM »

haveacrush! I must 'repeat' your "Personal text".

My personal favourite is the scene with Ennis's "Whut?". Words don't say much but there's no need to...

Nevermore · « **Reply #2 on:** Mar 01, 2011, 06:16 PM »

So difficult to choose

There is so much ! My fav one is Jack "hypnotizing" Ennis in the FNIT because you can really "touch" the tension and you can really hear : "Please ! Please ! Please ! Don't reject me, see how mad I'm about you ! Don't you feel the same ? please let's do it !" Sorry if I went to far, and by the way, this is just "my" interpretion

myprivatejack · « **Reply #3 on:** Mar 02, 2011, 12:03 PM »

IMO,there's a lot of scenes where we can see that body language and glances speak much more than words can be said.As a matter of fact,the first scene when Ennis and Jack meet outside Aguirre's trailer is a game of looking for-rejecting each other's visual touch;maybe there's some attraction,maybe there's some curiosity,maybe,simply,a way of introducing each other(and to us)their respective way of being(Jack bolder,Ennis shier...).
But I agree with rdx in that the scene where we see them saying each other "I'm beginning to be crazy about you" is in the Whut? scene.Their smitten glances are really to be in the "waiting room" of what would happen that very night.

Dangerina · « **Reply #4 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 04:46 AM »

Quote from: Nevermore on Mar 01, 2011, 06:16 PM

My fav one is Jack "hypnotizing" Ennis in the FNIT because you can really "touch" the tension and you can really hear : "Please ! Please ! Please ! Don't reject me, see how mad I'm about you ! Don't you feel the same ? please let's do it !"

Oh, my God, that sounds terribly hot

I love the way you portrayed it

As for my favorite eye-scene... when Ennis looks at Jack in the reunion scene just a sec before he smashes him against the wall - that malicious smile of his

Nevermore · « **Reply #5 on:** Mar 03, 2011, 04:31 PM »

Quote from: Dangerina on Mar 03, 2011, 04:46 AM

Oh, my God, that sounds terribly hot I love the way you portrayed it
As for my favorite eye-scene... when Ennis looks at Jack in the reunion scene just a sec before he smashes him against the wall - that malicious smile of his

Thank you Dangerina

, happy you love it, and yes that's hot

wonder how I managed to write it

And by the way, the scene you quoted is the second on my list

jackster · « **Reply #6 on:** Mar 04, 2011, 12:55 PM »

dear haveacrush
Lots to choose from here. To me this movie is almost without dialogue in this sense, the "eyes" looking at each other, looking when a back is turned, or when the other isn't noticing, or doesn't see. The DE is the epitome of eyes talking, first Ennis, then Jack. Ang was a master at creating this wordless emotion. But if your talking eye-to-eye, looking the other in the eye, directly and with no hesitation, there's not a whole lot of scenes where this actually happens. But of course, and by design I feel, the scenes where this does happen are incredibly powerful.
Here are my favorites:

and

It don't get much better than this IMHO.

lancecowboy · « **Reply #7 on:** Mar 04, 2011, 02:10 PM »

I agree Jackster with everything you posted. And the two scenes...

But there are many other off-screen eye contact moments. I think Ang Lee filmed these two, and the Dozy Embrace with the characters in the same frame, eye-to-eye, or both visible together, to make the scenes more powerful than the other eye-contact moments in the movie.

Some of the ones that come to mind right the way are, in no particular order:

1. Ennis, "What....?" Just before Jack blushed and said he talked more than he did for a month.
2. Jack, "Heehaw..." Just after Ennis shot the elk, and gave Jack a push..., "...your dumbass shooting."
3. A very brief moment, when Jack's hand touched Ennis's, just before Ennis grabbed his handkerchief after the bear incident.
4. Ennis and Alma in the store, when Ennis got a call to get back to the ranch, and Alma said, "What about me?"
5. Ennis arriving at the Twist Ranch, and Jack's Ma stood outside to greet him, wiping her hands on her apron.
6. Ennis came down the stairs, circled round the old man, guarding the two shirts under his arm, and Jack's Ma smiled, and got him a paper bag.
7. Ennis asked his daughter, "This Kurt, does he love you?" And Alma Jr with tears in her eyes, looked for a moment at her father's soul, and said, "Yes, Dad, he loves me."
8. Ennis looked up from his apple pie, and stared at Cassie, tears running down her face, "Girls don't fall in love for fun, Ennis."

There's no reins on this one.

jackster · « **Reply #8 on:** Mar 04, 2011, 02:50 PM »

Quote from: lancecowboy on Mar 04, 2011, 02:10 PM

Some of the ones that come to mind right the way are, in no particular order:
1. Ennis, "What....?" Just before Jack blushed and said he talked more than he did for a month.
2. Jack, "Heehaw..." Just after Ennis shot the elk, and gave Jack a push..., "...your dumbass shooting."
3 . . . . .
There's no reins on this one.

You're so right, and a great list too LC.

Dangerina · « **Reply #9 on:** Mar 05, 2011, 04:01 AM »

What about the look Jack gives to Ennis in SNIT a moment before saying "Come here" and pressing his lips against Ennis's? I do love it!!!

lancecowboy · « **Reply #10 on:** Mar 05, 2011, 09:49 AM »

Yes, or the one in FNIT, just after Ennis said "What the..." got up, followed by Jack grabbing his jacket, and the two locked eyes for a looooong pause...then the sparks flew and the action got...ahem x-rated.

How could I have forgotten these two other on-screen eye contact moments?

Significant that Ang Lee placed only these few moments the two actors in eye-contact in the same frame, making the communication more clear and powerful.

Nevermore · « **Reply #11 on:** Mar 05, 2011, 11:27 AM »

Quote from: lancecowboy on Mar 05, 2011, 09:49 AM

Significant that Ang Lee placed only these few moments the two actors in eye-contact in the same frame, making the communication more clear and powerful.

Yes, sooooo powerful !

haveacrush · « **Reply #12 on:** Mar 06, 2011, 01:55 AM »

even the confrontation scene had a lot of eye contacts ( and perhaps the most audible conversation ..er.. exchanges) .. not of a romantic kind though

Forever · « **Reply #13 on:** May 05, 2012, 05:30 PM »

Quote from: jackster on Mar 04, 2011, 12:55 PM

dear haveacrush
Lots to choose from here. To me this movie is almost without dialogue in this sense, the "eyes" looking at each other, looking when a back is turned, or when the other isn't noticing, or doesn't see. The DE is the epitome of eyes talking, first Ennis, then Jack. Ang was a master at creating this wordless emotion. But if your talking eye-to-eye, looking the other in the eye, directly and with no hesitation, there's not a whole lot of scenes where this actually happens. But of course, and by design I feel, the scenes where this does happen are incredibly powerful.
Here are my favorites:

and

It don't get much better than this IMHO.

The eyes of Jack express so much sadness and frustration too, it says: So you love me too s*of b* and you didn't tell me!, damn I should have contact you earlier my beautiful love! $:-\\$

brokebacksoul · « **Reply #14 on:** May 06, 2012, 04:10 AM »

   The eye contacts - in some scenes even one-sided - are one of the reasons I fell in love with BBM, that's for sure.

   I've never seen a movie where looks said and did that much !!

BBMsheep · « **Reply #15 on:** May 06, 2012, 09:53 AM »

Quote from: brokebacksoul on May 06, 2012, 04:10 AM

   The eye contacts - in some scenes even one-sided - are one of the reasons I fell in love with BBM, that's for sure.

   I've never seen a movie where looks said and did that much !!

This pic breaks my heart.

It's the "I might be back" look... Jack is full of hope, and then, when he understand that their paths diverge here, he feels powerless and he doesn't know how to show to Ennis that he wants to see him again. His eyes say all. I remember one of Jack's look at the end of that scene : when Ennis says "see you around" (or something like that), Jack says "right" and he lowers his head and then look up rapidly : his look at that moment is heart-wrenching $:-\\$ He looks so disapointed and sad and desperate. I can hardly stand it

brokebacksoul · « **Reply #16 on:** May 06, 2012, 10:28 AM »

Quote from: BBMsheep on May 06, 2012, 09:53 AM

This pic breaks my heart. It's the "I might be back" look... Jack is full of hope, and then, when he understand that their paths diverge here, he feels powerless and he doesn't know how to show to Ennis that he wants to see him again. His eyes say all. I remember one of Jack's look at the end of that scene : when Ennis says "see you around" (or something like that), Jack says "right" and he lowers his head and then look up rapidly : his look at that moment is heart-wrenching $:-\\$ He looks so disapointed and sad and desperate. I can hardly stand it

Tell me about it. $:-\\$ Definitely one of the ,looks' with which the movie got me !!!!

BBMsheep · « **Reply #17 on:** May 08, 2012, 07:31 AM »

Quote from: brokebacksoul on May 06, 2012, 10:28 AM

Tell me about it. $:-\\$ Definitely one of the ,looks' with which the movie got me !!!!

Me too... Look at those eyes...

My heart is into pieces.

Forever · « **Reply #18 on:** May 08, 2012, 09:18 AM »

Quote from: Dangerina on Mar 05, 2011, 04:01 AM

What about the look Jack gives to Ennis in SNIT a moment before saying "Come here" and pressing his lips against Ennis's? I do love it!!!

Woua! It was something this big, poignant look, the look of the beginning of a great love, after this look, Ennis was HOOKED, it was impossible for him to run away!

haveacrush · « **Reply #19 on:** Jun 15, 2012, 01:29 PM »

Quote from: BBMsheep on May 06, 2012, 09:53 AM

This pic breaks my heart. It's the "I might be back" look... Jack is full of hope, and then, when he understand that their paths diverge here, he feels powerless and he doesn't know how to show to Ennis that he wants to see him again. His eyes say all. I remember one of Jack's look at the end of that scene : when Ennis says "see you around" (or something like that), Jack says "right" and he lowers his head and then look up rapidly : his look at that moment is heart-wrenching $:-\\$ He looks so disapointed and sad and desperate. I can hardly stand it

awwwwwwwwwwwe look at those eyes , damn ennis u didnt see

yuddy · « **Reply #20 on:** Jun 16, 2012, 11:22 AM »

Quote from: Forever on May 08, 2012, 09:18 AM

Woua! It was something this big, poignant look, the look of the beginning of a great love, after this look, Ennis was HOOKED, it was impossible for him to run away!

I remember reading a crazy website showing "gayness" meters for different actors, and Heath's was low. The reason? if Jake Gyllenhaal didn't turn him on, no man will.

And how can anything better illustrate this point than this look of Jack?

haveacrush · « **Reply #21 on:** Jun 20, 2012, 11:55 AM »

Quote from: yuddy on Jun 16, 2012, 11:22 AM

I remember reading a crazy website showing "gayness" meters for different actors, and Heath's was low. The reason? if Jake Gyllenhaal didn't turn him on, no man will.

And how can anything better illustrate this point than this look of Jack?

ha ha ha

.hmm jack's eyes were telling "man you are so impossible .. or are you pretending to be one ? huh ?"