Topic: What is Ennis mouthing with his lips after reading the postcard?

[dalemidex]

I have not found this asked anywhere else, though it's almost hard to imagine there are any details in the film not asked about at this point!

When Ennis reads Jack's first post card, we see it as he reads it.  Then we see him looking at it and silently mouthing words as Alma asks who he is.  At first glance I thought Ennis' lips are moving as he reads.  But I really don't think that's what it is.  I can't make his lips come close to matching the words on the card.  And I believe he's flipped it over and perhaps back again at this point.

Anybody else notice this?  Any guesses as to what he's silently saying?

[tpe]

dalemidex, the screenplay indicates that when Ennis reads the postcard, he trembles -- so much so that he consciously checks to make sure that Alma does not notice it.

The only way Ledger could do this in the cinematic shot largely showing the face was to show his lips trembling.  It was a masterful interpretation of the screenplay directives, if you ask me.  This is true and subtle acting.  Wonderful to behold.   

[jimmypage]

Anybody else notice this?  Any guesses as to what he's silently saying?

Yes..indeed I think he was reading the card again, to be sure it was real.

[dalemidex]

Thanks for the feedback!  It just doesn't seem like he's mouthing the words on the postcard.  I thought maybe he's saying "Jack F'n Twist" or something like that, but I can't make his lips say that, either. 

I'll have to watch more closely the next time I see it again.  And I've already thought of about a million things I'm going to do when I get the DVD...freezing, replaying, etc.

[Russianman]

I watched the movie 8 times and the last 2 I really paid a ot of attention to the details. I am very positive that Ennis jsut reads the address and repeats some words from the pstcard. I do not think that his lips were trembling. He looks agitated but not nervous or frightened.

[Rønnaug]

he mouths

"friend this letter is long overdue" and then answers Alma

[tpe]

This thread is making me rethink my views.

Interesting posts.  I appreciate the exchange of ideas.

[Rønnaug]

Played it over a few times... and he does mouth it, trembles before we read the card, mouths after

[dalemidex]

Played it over a few times... and he does mouth it, trembles before we read the card, mouths after

Thank you!!

dale

[christie wood]

I love the way Ennis looks at the card, reads it, turns it over, looks at the front, and then reads it again.  Like he has to read the words to make them real, and he has to do it a couple of times for double confirmation that he'll be seeing Jack Twist again.  I'm surprised he was able to give Alma an answer at all, he looked so...entranced.  I bet his hands were trembling, never mind anything else!

[aimi15]

I will be looking out for this, i didn't pay THAT much attention just thought he was re-reading it. So many details i've missed...

[haveacrush]

I love the way Ennis looks at the card, reads it, turns it over, looks at the front, and then reads it again.  Like he has to read the words to make them real, and he has to do it a couple of times for double confirmation that he'll be seeing Jack Twist again.  I'm surprised he was able to give Alma an answer at all, he looked so...entranced.  I bet his hands were trembling, never mind anything else!

didnt notice this details before.. thanks for the thread. Just look at the way he runs his fingers over and over again as if caressing it , i guess he was trembling and the lip movement was an expression of that excitement and emotion rather than any particular word/ phrase