Topic: Wanting to see more

[chrissy323]

Is there anything you would have liked to have seen more of or expanded without changing the overall story?

I saw the movie for the 8th time tonight. I've thought about it before but this time I really came away thinking about how I would have liked to have seen more of couple things:

I would have liked to have seen more of how Jack interacted with Bobby. We saw Ennis with his girls and that he really cares about and loves them. The only thing we really see that shows that Jack cares for Bobby is when Jack and Bobby are riding around in the piece of machinery (which could have been with any kid) and when he is concerned about getting Bobby a tutor.

The other thing is that I would have liked to have seen more intimate-type scenes between Ennis and Jack. I don't mean sex scenes, but more like the flashback scene or the playful scene that Aguirre sees through his binocluars; something more obvious that a glance or look.

And maybe a little more general conversation or comments about things, like when Ennis is thankful for Jack forgetting the harmonica. They really don't seem to talk about much and while they're camping, other than the one scene from their last night that shows them sleeping together, they do act pretty much like they're just fishing/hunting buddies. They don't even seem to sit near each other.

Chrissy

[ethan]

chrissy323,

I definitely want to see more especially the intimacy between Ennis and Jack during their BBM time. But I think the movie is just perfect.

[chrissy323]

chrissy323,

I definitely want to see more especially the intimacy between Ennis and Jack during their BBM time. But I think the movie is just perfect.

I didn't mean to imply that I found anything lacking or that I wanted to change anything, I love it just the way it is. I wouldn't have seen it so many times if I hadn't.

Chrissy

[ethan]

I didn't mean to imply that I found anything lacking or that I wanted to change anything, I love it just the way it is. I wouldn't have seen it so many times if I hadn't.

Chrissy

Chrissy..no you didn't imply anything lacking and I understand your post. Many scenes are short - like the tent scenes and even the embracing from behind. I wish they were longer and we could see more.

[guajillo55]

Chrissy..no you didn't imply anything lacking and I understand your post. Many scenes are short - like the tent scenes and even the embracing from behind. I wish they were longer and we could see more.

This was no doubt the very reason why Ang Lee kept those scenes short, and why he didn't give us any more intimate scenes: he's shrewdly following the ultimate showbiz dictum -- Leave 'em wanting more. And there's also a reason why we didn't see more of Jack and his son together--at least according to the the AP story--because Jack's passion wasn't as bound up with his offspring as Ennis was:

"I used to want a boy for a kid," said Ennis, undoing buttons, "but just got little girls."
"I didn't want none a either kind," said Jack.

I think Jack truly loved his son, but their attitudes toward children are as different as their views of two men living together as a couple. For Ennis, that was never a possibility, so children were a solace. For Jack, having a child reminded him of the life he longed for but would never attain: that "sweet life" with his man by his side every day.

[sweetlilg]

more Ennis and Jack!!!!

couldn't get enough of their time on the Mountain together!  :-\

[scruffy]

Of course I want to see more.  More more more.  But the movie itself was just right.  Ang Lee could have easily added scenes and tied up some loose ends but that would have defeated the purpose of the story.  We are left to wonder what Jack and Ennis were doing during those lonely times apart.  Did Jack look across the windswept prarie longing for Ennis?  The answer is obvious without showing it.  We know excatly how much it hurt.

I heard somewhere that Ang Lee was going to have some kind of montage of Jack crying in the truck remembering times past and times that could have been all to the "Love that will never grow old" song.  In a way it would have worked but it would be bowing down to all those romantic movie traditions.  I'm glad he didn't do it.  I can think of two scenes in "Ghost" that are supposed to show true love but the scenes are just so long it became overkill.  The audience doesn't need to see a three minute kiss with one camera shot to get the point.

What Ang Lee gave us after Jack and Ennis leave Brokeback are snipits of their seperate lives.  All the scenes are tight.  They tell us all we need to know if we know where to look.  In many ways the story is as complete as it can be.  Adding more would simply be filler for what we already know.

[rod1960]

I thought of this the other day and I think it would have been so romantic.  There are numerous scenes where Jack and Ennis are riding together down trails and across streams.  Wouldn't it been great to have a scene where Ennis and Jack are on the same horse. Ennis on back of Jacks horse with his arms wrapped round. Ennis's horse trailing with its reins tied to the others saddle. Maybe in the later years where they are alone far up in the mountains. (I admit I'm hopeless.) 

[Sunflower79]

aw..thats a nice idea..with a nice sunset in the background.. hehehe..It would have been sweet..but there's nothing wrong with imagining it he he  and coming to stop at a wonderful view of mountains and rivers with a beautiful sunset...a very nice though

[ethan]

I am going to merge this topic with the other one. hope you don't mind. 

[shieldmaid]

The other thing is that I would have liked to have seen more intimate-type scenes between Ennis and Jack. I don't mean sex scenes, but more like the flashback scene or the playful scene that Aguirre sees through his binocluars; something more obvious that a glance or look.

And maybe a little more general conversation or comments about things, like when Ennis is thankful for Jack forgetting the harmonica. They really don't seem to talk about much and while they're camping, other than the one scene from their last night that shows them sleeping together, they do act pretty much like they're just fishing/hunting buddies. They don't even seem to sit near each other.

Chrissy

chrissy--I agree.  I would have loved to have seen more of their day-to-day interactions, the reasons why Jack thought they really could have a "sweet life" together.  Couldn't have just been their gut-level emotional and physical attraction to one another.  We know from watching the opening montage (working, setting up camp, etc.) that they both work steadily, can handle themselves outdoors, like to drink, and are rough-and-tumble guys.  And we get some precious glimpses of their past lives, when they're unwinding with a bottle of whiskey.  I am curious about how they wake up in the morning, how they divide up chores when spending their vacations together, etc., etc. 

Yes, I won't deny it: this movie is pretty much perfect to me, and I know it'll remain one of my very favorites.  But I guess Ang Lee has accomplished the ultimate goal in making us want to be flies on the wall of their everyday lives.

[Uptown_Gal]

Yes, I agree.  Like after drinking salt water, I kept wanting more, more, more...

Sigh!  It's like that saying.  "Less is more."  It does leave more to the imagination.

I read in an interview w. Jake Gyllenhaal that he was surprised that some of the scenes that the actors "worked really hard" failed to make the final cut.  However, he respected Ang Lee's decisions.  I'm really praying that those deleted scenes make it to the DVD.  Please, please, please!

[lennytunia]

More of Jack's relationship with his son and wife like Ennis had with his wife and girls.  Also, more intimate and affectionate scenes between Jack and Ennis.  I hope those deleted scenes are included in the DVD! 

[christie wood]

The film is pretty much perfect, as I'm sure we'd agree, but having seen it so many times and discussed it here and with friends, I find myself really wishing that, in the motel scene, that either we could see Ennis's face alot more while Jack is talking, to get more of Ennis's reactions, or that they were actually facing each other the whole time.  This scene in both the story and screenplay are different from the film scene, which is kind of confusing, but hey we really shouldn't complain....we have an amazing film to keep in our hearts forever!  I'm just being a selfish BBM obsessive!!