Topic: What do you think about their aging?

[frances]

I didn't notice how much older they both looked until the flashback scene. I mean, they obviously looked older, but I didn't notice such a stark contrast

Same here.

[Rod]

After the "embrace from behind" scene and when Jack watched Ennis driving away, Jack looks terribly old - I would say at least over 40.

That's exactly the moment I thought something like "How old he looks!".




We must consider that having 40 years in the 60's - 70's it's not the same as having this age nowadays (have a look at our parents' pictures for istance), but mostly Jack looks "old" for all the frustration, resignation, disillusion, tiredness he expresses in this shot.


Looks damn old???  I think as they "aged" him he looked better and better....we was a pretty boy, but I muched preferred the handsome "man" he became!

[Sunflower79]

they defently did a good job aging him..just looking at the two pics of Jake..you defently see a huge difference..the first one Jack has a dreamy look about him, a hopeful look for what he hopes will happen with Ennis..the second picture shows his aging, his frustrations and that dreamy look is gone..the youthfull look of longing and hope is no longer there..his whole person changes..wow what a huge difference 20 years can make..they defently did a good job aging Jack..

[Patriot1]

Looks damn old???  I think as they "aged" him he looked better and better....we was a pretty boy, but I muched preferred the handsome "man" he became!

Absolutely Rod!  I agree 100%.  I can honestly say that this movie made me realize I am not a dirty old man.  I like mature men.  Of course the young ones aren't completely off my list.   

[donnaread]

Jake is GORGEOUS as young Jack AND older Jack.  I think Jake has the type of face that will age gracefully.  I am not so sure about Heath though.  He's a goodlooking guy now, but I hope he doesn't age like Frank Sinatra did     Donna

[xrdevl84]

I didn't consider the aging of the characters until after a few viewings when i got really analytical. personally i think the aging is the only flaw of this great film- not convincing at all. In fact, I saw the movie again with my sister 2 days ago and afterwards was saying how my favorite scene was the last time Ennis and Jack were together with the ensuing flashback. "Flashback?!" she said- she didn't even realize it cut to Ennis and Jack's time up on Brokeback 20 years earlier! PS. i suggested she see an eye doctor. Also how young did Jack look in the scene with Randall and himself on the bench?!- like a teenager!!!

[forbiddenlovers]

Ok, I think this is the closest thread I can find to kind of bring this up, which it does fit because of how they look and all, but more so the change in accents.

Alright, here goes.  Jack and Ennis on one of their meetings, it's where they are talking about Jack says Lureen is good at making deals and why make money because you pay it all out. His accent is so thick, his voice so much higher, totally different. Then you see their last meeting together, and while it's still there, it's not as pronounced. I don't know, it's hard to explain in words what I mean, lol. But Jack just all of a sudden got a much thicker accent with a higher voice.  Has anyone touched on this or thought about it or noticed it.

And, in my opinion, Ennis aged much more gracefully than Jack. I didn't like the moustache very much. But that's only cuz I don't like them in real life, lol!!

But anyway, I think their aging was pretty right on target. They showed their age well, and right about what I think they would look like in their late 30's

Ann

[rushg8rwes]

I had a bit of a prob with the aging initially; the muttonchops were a leeetle overdone I thought, but I guess they were pretty prevalent in the mid-2-late '60's ( I myself was then in the mid-2-late single digits age range, so I cant definitively say)...

Ledger was certainly the more difficult of the 2 to age (natural blondes being such ); they did a prett good job on Gyllenhaal throughout; the salt-n-pepper thing he had goin on in the brief scene when they were sleeping 2gether in the tent was very attractive...by the end of the movie, they pretty much had Ledger up to speed; the laff lines around his eyes looked good, and even the little bit of jowliness they had him sporting seemed appropriate...

I find as I watch the movie again, the overall aging on both was okay, just not Oscar-calibre...but who really cares? I'd gladly trade that for the music, cinematography, and direction awards the movie got instead...but don't EVEN get me started on BBM losing to Traffic...I'm gonna go to that discussion to vent...and vent I most CERTAINLY shall...

Oh...one last aging thought...Gyllenhaal is a bit rough-around-the-edges lookin anyway; Ledger is more of a "pretty boi"...when you consider that, one would presumably have an even better appreciation for the job they did on Ledger...

[Toadily]

But Jake has a more youthful look, I think it must have actually been harder to age him.

[City Slickin' Cowboy]

But Jake has a more youthful look, I think it must have actually been harder to age him.

I think you are right.  I was most impressed with his make up for the profile when he said "sometimes I miss you so much..."  He really did look 40ish in that scene.

[ande_nem]

I think the ageing worked really well. Pretty believable IMO. Loved the tash lol, it was great!!! Prefer him when he was 19/20 though - more attainable ha ha ha! 

[welshwitch]

I wish we'd seen more of the "Jack with hair grey at the temples" look shown briefly when they were asleep with Ennis curled round behind Jack, because I thought Jake looked older there, rather than with the moustache, which I tend to associate with San Francisco and the eighties thing.

Whereas Heath acted withhis voice, I thinkl Jake acted with his face - Heath's changing voice does work, but Jake's face expresses exhaustion and near-hopelessness - it's in his eyes.

Incidentlaly, as far as the speech about inflation is concerned, Jack was talking about his Texas life and therefore reverted to a Texas way of speaking - plenty of people - I'm one - have more than one accent. One of my Scottish friends grew up speaking Doric ( weird lingo form NE Scotland)  - sometimes when he wasn't thinkiong he reverted to it and became totally incomprehensible. I reckon in Texas Jack tried to match the register of LD and his friends/customers, as he does in the "selling the tractor " sequence. Using Texas speak when with ennis is another sign of his aging; Texas is starting to dominate because that's where he's spent so long.

[donnaread]

I don't like the way they aged Ennis, although it was probably pretty realistic...dry looking around the eyes, because he was supposed to have spent a lot of time out of doors in all weather.  Jack on the other hand, I think they did a marvelous job.  I think he is his most handsome in the black leather when he's dancing with LaShawn.  Gawd, but that man is gorgeous :o!  And, yes, after the flashback scene when they show "older" Jack, he is so disillusioned, no longer with hope of ever having a life with Ennis.  I call it his "beat down" look.  I can see Jake Gyllenhaal ageing beautifully.  I've heard two different people say they can see him as James Bond in a few years.  I think he will age gracefully, like Sean Connery.  What a man!

Donna 

[edgar]

I don't have much to add about the Ennis and Jack. I wish the makeup flaws hadn't been pointed out upthread; that made me notice Heath's makeup in the latter scenes... Not pleasant.

However, I did notice one very odd moment. During the terrible phone call, Lureen looks much much much too young. Her hair is fine, and her eyes are pained... but her skin on her face is that of a young woman. No way she's 35 or 38. (When they meet she doesn't seem that much younger than Jack).

I could also see Lureen growing a tiny bit of a mustache by her mid thirties.

Alma seemed okay, to me. Of course, we don't see her after 1977.

And Jr... wow! she *really* looked older every time we saw her... incredible!!

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[ksxks]

I love the older Ennis and Jack, and I don't care to critique the make-up jobs too closely.  I think they did a good job, for the most part. Ennis's aging was really good, especially considering a life outdoors and his health habits and such, which showed on his skin.  And the frustration of their love and their lives.  Jack, too -- in this pic, I think he looks so incredibly sexy I can hardly stand it.  I'm older than they were when they were "older."  39-40 is but a babe, excuse me.  Not quite reaching your prime.  Also, because of growing up in that era, I love the moustache.  The men in my family and other men in my life all had moustaches.  Very suitable for Jack.

Anyway, these are my favorite pics of them older.  They certainly did an excellent job on their parts, as far as acting older.  Both of the men, Heath and Jake, really got absorbed into the characters, didn't they?  This Jack (in pic below) -- there is not one hint of Jake in him.  And I think he's exquisite.  And exquisitely sad...

Though I also totally adore the young Ennis and Jack (and Heath and Jake).

kathy

[City Slickin' Cowboy]

I love your post Kathy!!  As one who appreciates the "mature" man, I must say that both characters were incredibly attractive in the latter parts of the film.  I'd pounce on both of them!

[BBBOY]

I love your post Kathy!!  As one who appreciates the "mature" man, I must say that both characters were incredibly attractive in the latter parts of the film.  I'd pounce on both of them!

I think the aging thing was probably the hardest part of the movie and they didn't have the best makeup artist but I just overlook that aspect. Those two boys age in their heads and but it on the screen and that's enough for me.

[ksxks]

I love your post Kathy!!  As one who appreciates the "mature" man, I must say that both characters were incredibly attractive in the latter parts of the film.  I'd pounce on both of them!

Okay -- you pounce, I'll watch!

kathy

[City Slickin' Cowboy]

I love your post Kathy!!  As one who appreciates the "mature" man, I must say that both characters were incredibly attractive in the latter parts of the film.  I'd pounce on both of them!

Okay -- you pounce, I'll watch!

kathy

You bet!