Topic: Ennis's last words "Jack, I swear . . . "

[Angelove]

Hi everyone,

My name is Ryan.  Nice to meet everyone.  ^^

I didn't want to watch the movie when it first came out because I thought it was Hollywood's attempt to cash into the Pink Dollar. However, on boxing day, December 26th, I went to watch it with three of my friends. We decided to pick the 8pm showing at the Tinseltown Vancouver and it was jammed packed with people which was a surprise for me since the movie was released a week ago and I didn't expect to be such a huge turnout.

When the movie ended, I stood up, went home and called my boyfriend, who's studying many miles away abroad at this time, to tell him that even though my family and friends are in Vancouver, if I had to make a choice, I choose him.

You see, for the longest time, I always held my friends and family in priority over my boyfriend and I didn't think much of it even though I loved him. After all, my friends and family were there for me before I met JC and I felt wrong to put my boyfriend above people who I have been with all of my life. So it didn't feel right to abandon my life in Vancouver to move up there to live with him.

It was only after watching Ennis at the end of the movie that I realized how much I love JC and how much I would regret not being with him if he disappeared out of my life in the very moment. That the regret and pain I feel of not being with him outweighs that of not being with my family and friends.  It was in that instant, that I finally felt that I did truly love him.

What I took from the last words of the movie, Jack, I swear, was this, "Jack, I swear (that I will do right by you)" I spent the past three days thinking about the movie and feeling sad because of it. It took me until now to figure out why I couldn't get it out of my head. After all, Ennis is not the image of my ideal guy since I would like someone who spoke more than a few words each day.

However, whenever I imagine him, grieving over the loss of somebody so precious to him, my heart reaches out to him as if it recognizes the pain he was feeling. And then it struck me, it was the same feeling I had when my first love broke up with me when I was still very much in love with him.

He didn't tell me why he broke up with me and it took me a year before I matured and thought about my actions and apologized to him for what I thought I did wrong in the relationship. I then told him that because I could not undo the past and undo the hurt I have caused him, I could never fully forgive myself.

However, I also told him that I'm not going to live the rest of my life feeling guilty and that I will redeem myself by striving to not make the same mistakes I made with him, that I will do right by him. That's why I can identify with Ennis at the end of the movie. I know what it is like to lose somebody you love because of your stupid mistakes and although my ex is still alive and well, things can never be the same between us.

However, my heart goes out to Ennis because he could never apologize to Jack in real life any longer, that he will spend the rest of his life paying for his mistake, regretting that he didn't take up Jack's offer, and blaming himself for losing the first and perhaps last love of his life. I only went out with my good friend for four months after we have been friends for a year; I couldn't imagine the loss Ennis must have felt after loving Jack for twenty and not being able to say goodbye.

In a way, although the movie ended tragically, I can take to heart that at least Ennis came to the same conclusion that I did, that he will spend the rest of his life doing right by the person he loves and will always love. Because of that promise to himself, I believe Ennis will find some sort of solace from the ghosts of his past and that even though the movie ended on a tragic note, Ennis came out of it a better man.  I am sure that when love crosses his path again, he wouldn't make the same mistakes he did with Jack; he would cherish it. 

I hope that I did offend anybody from bringing my personal experiences into this thread.  I guess it's my way of coping with the movie, lol.  Take care and I look forward to reading some replies!

Ryan

[ranchgal]

Thank you for sharing-and reviewing---that is what this site is for, and listening is what webfriends do.

[Krispera]

Nice thought  :o ! I never been so far in my reflexion! You make me think alot more about the love and futur years I have in front of me.. Wow you make me think alot! I know now, that I should not do the same thing as Ennis  :'( but show your love..

[Angelove]

Thanks for the words of encouragement Ranchgal and Krispera.  ^^

I liked the ending because it hits home what is really important in your life, or rather who.  And yes, part of the message is about love.  However, I also believe that Ennis's last words are also about getting your priorities straight.  Instead of putting his work before his daughter, Ennis has learned from Jack to not take time for granted and to do what matters to him and get his priorities straight before it is too late.  He will not allow his daughter or any more of his love ones to slip away from his life like Jack did and I'm glad that he has a reminder of that in his closet. 

That's why it seems like a perfect fit, even though the quote is really open ended for any interpretation, that he swears that he'll do right by Jack.  He wouldn't want his death to be in vain.   

[*Froggy*]

When the movie ended, I stood up, went home and called my boyfriend, who's studying many miles away abroad at this time, to tell him that even though my family and friends are in Vancouver, if I had to make a choice, I choose him.

Wow, what a great proof of love...thank you sooo much for your thoughts and review...like Ranchgal and Krispera said you did a great job and i hope this board brings more threads like yours

[jackchristopher27]

This is an amazingly romantic story. I can completely agree with your take of the movie's ending.

[bhebbe]

I found myself asking the same question. I didn't understand why the story made me feel the way it did, UNTIL I answered it. Until I answered it for myself, filling in the blanks.

"Jack I swear _____ _______ ________"

For me, Ennis said, "Jack I swear, I didn't mean what I said. I swear we would've worked somethin' out."

This was the only way I could deal with the feeling the story leaves with me.  Well almost...

[bhebbe]

For me, I had to brake the story into two stories.  That is, the good story of -- they were working it out.  They were on the right track -- twenty years behind them. 

Ennis was talking more, making more eye contact, speaking to Jack in a more affectionate manner.  Hec, Ennis was even asking -- how do you handle ...? or are you experiencing (such and such)?   They were even having cathartic discussions as most couples do when they are at the end of their ropes and need something to change.  Their relationship was going in a very positive direction. 

Ennis had a point, it wasn't working for him either.  I'm surprised he could get away as much as he did.  My employer today would never allow that.  Ennis' daughters were soon to be married.  I have a feeling in a few years, Ennis would have moved on.  He was just gearing up for it.

For me this was the happy part of the story, coming from that part of the country and growing up with men very confused, troubled, and over compensating.  To see a man change out of this character into his own really hits me hard in a good way.

I didn't want the sad story -- the unexpected death of a loved one -- to take away from the happy story.

In the sad story, Ennis says, "Jack I swear _____ _______ ________"

For me, Ennis said, "Jack I swear, I didn't mean what I said. I swear we would've worked somethin' out."

Once I had this in my mind, I have found it helps to put down the story (or leave the movie) before the sad part begins.

[Angelove]

Howdy bhebbe,

Hmmm, I didn't think of the story as having the two parts you described until you described it.  I didn't notice Ennis asking more questions in the movie or speaking more affectionately to Jack than he always have done.  I did noticed that he withdrew more and more into himself towards the end of the movie to the point it looks like it pains him to speak. 

But, I would agree with you that the relationship was going in a positive direction since Ennis decided to dump his second girlfriend after the last meeting with Jack.  I don't know whether he would ever dump Jack in years to come as all indications showed that not only he has spent the last twenty years seeing Jack, but he also looked quite excited to see Jack's final postcard. 

We are never given the reasons why Ennis decided to go cold turkey on his second girlfriend and like most of the movie, it is up to our interpretation.  My interpretation is that he didn't wish to live a lie anymore and hurt the people around him.  One would have thought that he would have learnt his lesson after Alma, but he went on dating a girl again.  We are also not told why he would do that, but perhaps he still has not learnt his lesson the first time.   However, there was something about his last meeting with Jack that made him change his mind regarding his relationship with the new girl in his life.  He didn't want to date her anymore. 

And we might never know why, whether it's because

- he wants to live more honestly.

- he realized that he does not need to lead life the way he's been told how and he began thinking outside the box.

- he wishes to spend the rest of his days with Jack and realizes that in order to do this, he needs to dump her.

- he realized that he cannot spend the rest of his life living the way he is now and needs to make some changes to improve his life and how he feels about himself.

- he can't bring himself to hurt people anymore after Jack expressed the pain and suffering caused by enduring the past twenty years, that he does not want another the same way he has hurt Jack, the one he truly loves. 

I'm leaning towards this last interpretation because I emphatize the pain other people experience, whether I like it or not. However, one thing is for change, after the last meeting with Jack, Ennis did change and this is reflected in his choice to quit the second girl like a bad habit.  How he changed is up to our interpretation. 

That brings me to ask, why do you think Ennis broke up with his second girlfriend?  Or more precisely, what do you think it was about his last meeting with Jack that made him change his mind to dump the girl?

Tell me what you think.   

Ryan

[greenfrog]

I posted this awhile ago on IMDB (this version is updated a little) ...

Considering that this line comes from Ennis (Ennis being ... well Ennis) , I can't help but get the feeling that when he says "Jack' I swear" that he says it without really knowing how to finish it. In other words he is swearing to him, but he doesn't know why. After all he is just start to come out of denial in regards to his feeling for Jack and you know that feeling when you want to comfort someone, to tell them that everything is going to be alright but you can't find the words that you want to say to them? I think that's how he feels in that scene. He wants to swear something to Jack but can't find the word to say it.

Anybody?

[dirtbiker]

Exactly, he probably doesn't really know what he  meant to say. Maybe, just maybe, he was trying to say, "Jack I swear I don't know what I can say to change things, but I'm so sorry for pushing you out of my life and there is nothing now I can do to change that."

[bhebbe]

Hey.  Thanks for the feedback.

re: Us not knowing what he was going to say or not say -- You are exactly right!  We don't, and I only completed the sentence as if I were Ennis and given some of the clues in the previous scenes.

and

re: "That brings me to ask, why do you think Ennis broke up with his second girlfriend? 

I think Ennis gave us some clues.  He was asking Jack for ideas, sympathy, and his understanding in his last meeting with him.  He shared the reasons why real well, why August wasn't going to work.  He said some really great things about how the trip in November could be.  He said something real sweet to trigger Jack's memory before he drove off.  And lastly, he wrote the post card confirming the November meeting.  For me, and I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything, I believe Ennis was starting step up and become a more responsible partner.

I think Ennis knew big things had to change when he said he couldn't stand it any longer.  He only went off on the Mexico tangent because his old tapes played.  He was really just letting something out, making it get worse before it could get better.

[coguaro]

Hi to all.. just coming back from cinema to see BBM. This is the first day of film projection in Italy. Two cinema was full load!!! I had to change sale because of to much people.
I swear I think means.... "I swear that I never will mistake again!"

I love very much Ennis he is so fragile and he love so much Jack!

Coguaro

[jimnick]

Hi to all.. just coming back from cinema to see BBM. This is the first day of film projection in Italy. Two cinema was full load!!! I had to change sale because of to much people.
I swear I think means.... "I swear that I never will mistake again!"

I love very much Ennis he is so fragile and he love so much Jack!

Coguaro

Yes, Coguaro, yes!

Jim

[francis.shim]

Hi pardners!!!

You know when Ennis said those last words it was just so rightly placed: "Jack, I swear..."

He just finished talking with his daughter about making sure that the guy she wanted to marry was really and truly in love with her.  In a way, it was the closest to him ever coming out to his daughter (I might be wrong... he might have, but the movie didn't seem to indicate that).

Perhaps, Ennis after talking about the very topic of marriage may very well decided that he too wanted to marry the one person he knew he could also love: Jack.  Perhaps, Ennis in his very terse way of speaking said "Jack, I do.".  Perhaps, Ennis in his noble way wanted to answer the question he asked his daughter - with some adjustments - "Do I love Jack, does Jack love me?"... I think all our fill in the blanks are valid, because Ennis is truly very economical with his words and he probably means a WHOLE MOUNTAIN of things...

... but in the end, it was clear that he has come to some peace knowing that he does love Jack and that Jack really did love him.

Peace,
Frank

[bhebbe]

Frank!  Excellent!  Beautifully said:  "...he came to someplace where he knew..." and also the "....MOUNTIAN of things...".

You are leading me to think this is more of a beautiful story and less of a sad story.

What if, Ennis never came to that place?  What if that mountian of homophobia was never moved? Now, that would have been sad.

For me, when someone can change their view of their world that much, it is a very BIG and beautiful thing.

Thanks for your thoughts!

[*Froggy*]

You know when Ennis said those last words it was just so rightly placed: "Jack, I swear..."

He just finished talking with his daughter about making sure that the guy she wanted to marry was really and truly in love with her.  In a way, it was the closest to him ever coming out to his daughter (I might be wrong... he might have, but the movie didn't seem to indicate that).

Perhaps, Ennis after talking about the very topic of marriage may very well decided that he too wanted to marry the one person he knew he could also love: Jack.  Perhaps, Ennis in his very terse way of speaking said "Jack, I do.".  Perhaps, Ennis in his noble way wanted to answer the question he asked his daughter - with some adjustments - "Do I love Jack, does Jack love me?"... I think all our fill in the blanks are valid, because Ennis is truly very economical with his words and he probably means a WHOLE MOUNTAIN of things...

... but in the end, it was clear that he has come to some peace knowing that he does love Jack and that Jack really did love him.

Thankx Frank...it gives us hope for our Ennis..

You are leading me to think this is more of a beautiful story and less of a sad story.

It is (I believe) one of the most beautiful love story ever told.... :D

[kcristob]

I posted this awhile ago on IMDB (this version is updated a little) ...

Considering that this line comes from Ennis (Ennis being ... well Ennis) , I can't help but get the feeling that when he says "Jack' I swear" that he says it without really knowing how to finish it. In other words he is swearing to him, but he doesn't know why. After all he is just start to come out of denial in regards to his feeling for Jack and you know that feeling when you want to comfort someone, to tell them that everything is going to be alright but you can't find the words that you want to say to them? I think that's how he feels in that scene. He wants to swear something to Jack but can't find the word to say it.

Anybody?

YES!  yes yes.  He doesn't even know how to put his feelings into thoughts let alone words.   

[ethan]

[Toadily]

Oh gosh, I didn't expect to see that, thanks Ethan!  Sob... :'(

[ethan]

Oh gosh, I didn't expect to see that, thanks Ethan!  Sob... :'(

Sob too. Seeing Ennis like this just breaks my heart every single time. "Jack, I swear...." Wish he had had a chance to say it to Jack in person.  :'( :'(

[Toadily]

I sometimes think it took Jack's death to sort of jolt him out of his denial.

[ethan]

I sometimes think it took Jack's death to sort of jolt him out of his denial.

Ain't it true? Always too late and too much. Ennis, I swear if I could shake you and wake you up, I would.

[francis.shim]

Howdy...

I thought I would share with you what someone else said about Ennis' last line:

    "Jack, I swear..."

He said that in the Spanish speaking version, it was translated roughly to

   "Oh, Jack..." (literally in English)

So in a way, it is really is to show just how much stuff Ennis wanted to tell Jack... it simplies carries all that weight.

Peace,
Frank

[*Froggy*]

oh my....crying crying crying...cries!! :'(

[coguaro]

Frog... this picture is a blade in my heart...

 :'(

coguaro

[JerBear418720]

Looking at the picture, you realize that there is much about the character of Ennis that resonates in a deeply personal way with Heath.  That scene, in particular, goes way beyond acting.  As Larry McMurtry has said, "that young man IS Ennis".  Even Annie has commented that Heath knew and understood Ennis better than she did - and she created the character! 

[chameau]

oh my....crying crying crying...cries!! :'(

Cannot stand seeing Ennis in tears, o.k. now need tissues. Baw!  :'( :'(

[greenfrog]

*Cries little heart out*  :'( :'( :'(

[chameau]

Shared!  :'( :'( :'(