Topic: Jack and Ennis description in the story

[jjeff]

I've read the story a few times. It is quite different from the movie. I can't remember the exact details, but Jack had a thick butt with buck teeth and a concave chest and Ennis was thin and wiry. Or maybe Ennis had the concave chest. Later on, Ennis had a growth on his eyelid. Neither one was very appealing. In fact, if you picked a couple of cowboys at random, they would certainly be way more attractive. Annie Proulx always revels in life's less savory aspects and often uses some literary license. She likes to inject a lot of ugliness and stupidity into the characters in her stories. I don't know if she is making a statement about Wyoming or life's underlying sordidness. Anyway, I have often wondered why the movie features Hollywood's biggest studs to play a couple of mostly unattractive characters.

This is my first post.

[pierralex]

You're right! Hollywood picks good looking characters because they are more appealing and easier to watch on a screen for the duration of the film. It just attracts more viewers, something which is important for any studio I guess.

[skyismental]

Trying to get BBM produced at the time was already difficult, and I think if they cast unattractive actors it would've been harder to market to audiences. While I love Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal in the roles I prefer the book descriptions of Jack and Ennis.

[FlwrChild]

Very good points.

For as many times as I've seen the movie (a LOT) and read the book (a few), the image in my head when I read or think about them is somewhat different from both descriptives. I think it falls somewhere in the middle. Which works for me, because I think they could be anyone and somehow my mildly blurred visual imagining reflects that.

[rampantlion]

The screenplay is based on the original story, so there are many Hollywood modifications. From what I read, the leading role was initially offered to the handsomest actors: Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio. To be honest, I fell in love with Ennis's character as a gay love story, and he could have won Best Actor if "Capote" had not been released that year. For your information, Heath Ledger is one of the youngest nominees for Best Actor, which showcases his talent as a great actor with good-looks.

[FlwrChild]

Yes. Many people were considered for both roles but I think they landed on the exact right people to bring those characters to life onscreen. Both deserved the Oscar, imo though I don't begrudge the winners as they also turned in stellar performances. I think Ledger and Gyllenhaal tapped perfectly into the heart of what Annie Proulx was trying to relay.