Author Topic: Did Jacks mom know? (Read 106721 times)

proulxfan · « **Reply #60 on:** Mar 15, 2006, 07:49 PM »

tpe,
BBM HAS THE BEST ENSEMBLE CAST. PERIOD.

Amen, brother!!

BBBOY · « **Reply #61 on:** Mar 15, 2006, 09:02 PM »

I'd like to send Roberta a letter. Anyone know where I might do that? My one contact in the theater world of NYC is not responding to my emails and I fear the worst for her.

chameau · « **Reply #62 on:** Mar 15, 2006, 11:50 PM »

Quote from: proulxfan on Mar 15, 2006, 07:49 PM

tpe,
BBM HAS THE BEST ENSEMBLE CAST. PERIOD.

Amen, brother!!

DITTO!

proulxfan you cannot be more right

ethan · « **Reply #63 on:** Mar 16, 2006, 12:22 AM »

Quote from: BBBOY on Mar 15, 2006, 09:02 PM

I'd like to send Roberta a letter. Anyone know where I might do that? My one contact in the theater world of NYC is not responding to my emails and I fear the worst for her.

You can mail it to Focus Features.

Roberta Maxwell
c/o Focus Features
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608

BBBOY · « **Reply #64 on:** Mar 16, 2006, 06:36 PM »

Thanks Ethan. You are such a well of knowledge!

sjimf · « **Reply #65 on:** Mar 20, 2006, 08:56 PM »

Wow - this is a great website...with a special section just about Jack's mother...whoever directed me to this site...thank you. This tender scene....Ennis coming down the stairs with the shirt in his hands remains one of the most powerful to me. It combines the love of Jack from both Ennis and his mom...as the reconnect putting the shirt in the paperbag together I am struck by their shared love...its almost as if they are having their own ritual of honor to Jack as they pack away his shirt. They are that connected in their shared love.
I think we see, in this scnee, that Jack found his love from his Mom...and in looking back on some of the tenderness that Jack showed for Ennis (remember the scene where he tries to clean Ennis' wounds with a damp hankerchief?) comes from his Mom. Yeah, his Dad was a nasty old man...but he has his Mom.
Jim

Patriot1 · « **Reply #66 on:** Mar 20, 2006, 09:18 PM »

Quote from: sjimf on Mar 20, 2006, 08:56 PM

I think we see, in this scnee, that Jack found his love from his Mom...and in looking back on some of the tenderness that Jack showed for Ennis (remember the scene where he tries to clean Ennis' wounds with a damp hankerchief?) comes from his Mom. Yeah, his Dad was a nasty old man...but he has his Mom.
Jim

Wow. That is something I don't remember seeing anyone writing about. It never occurred to me that Jack was trying to tend to Ennis's wound like his mother would tend to his. But now that you mention it he probably did get that compassion from her.

Great observation.

chameau · « **Reply #67 on:** Mar 20, 2006, 09:23 PM »

Quote from: Patriot1 on Mar 20, 2006, 09:18 PM

Quote from: sjimf on Mar 20, 2006, 08:56 PM
I think we see, in this scnee, that Jack found his love from his Mom...and in looking back on some of the tenderness that Jack showed for Ennis (remember the scene where he tries to clean Ennis' wounds with a damp hankerchief?) comes from his Mom. Yeah, his Dad was a nasty old man...but he has his Mom.
Jim

Wow. That is something I don't remember seeing anyone writing about. It never occurred to me that Jack was trying to tend to Ennis's wound like his mother would tend to his. But now that you mention it he probably did get that compassion from her.

Great observation.

Oh yes, great obervation. Thanks for sharing Jim. By the way this scene kills me each time I see it, just the eyes of Ennis and Jack's mum I not even mentioning the shirts. Here I go again, each time I come to this thread I cannot help it but cry.

BBBOY · « **Reply #68 on:** Mar 20, 2006, 09:24 PM »

Quote from: sjimf on Mar 20, 2006, 08:56 PM

Wow - this is a great website...with a special section just about Jack's mother...whoever directed me to this site...thank you. This tender scene....Ennis coming down the stairs with the shirt in his hands remains one of the most powerful to me. It combines the love of Jack from both Ennis and his mom...as the reconnect putting the shirt in the paperbag together I am struck by their shared love...its almost as if they are having their own ritual of honor to Jack as they pack away his shirt. They are that connected in their shared love.
I think we see, in this scene, that Jack found his love from his Mom...and in looking back on some of the tenderness that Jack showed for Ennis (remember the scene where he tries to clean Ennis' wounds with a damp hankerchief?) comes from his Mom. Yeah, his Dad was a nasty old man...but he has his Mom.
Jim

Your comments make me understand what an underappreciated scene this really is. I've seen the movie 9 times and always knew there was something about it. Thanks Jim for sheding some light on it.

sjimf · « **Reply #69 on:** Mar 21, 2006, 06:15 AM »

The deeper I feel the movie the more the universal love comes up...Jack's mom, Jack trying to tend to Ennis' wound, Alma Jr. tender scene inviting her Dad to her wedding, Ennis' barroom girlfriend trying to get him to understand her love for him...they all fill this open heart with strong message. Just to love - just to love.
It inspires me to live a better life.
Jim

sam · « **Reply #70 on:** Mar 21, 2006, 06:27 AM »

Quote from: sjimf on Mar 20, 2006, 08:56 PM

Wow - this is a great website...with a special section just about Jack's mother...whoever directed me to this site...thank you. This tender scene....Ennis coming down the stairs with the shirt in his hands remains one of the most powerful to me. It combines the love of Jack from both Ennis and his mom...as the reconnect putting the shirt in the paperbag together I am struck by their shared love...its almost as if they are having their own ritual of honor to Jack as they pack away his shirt. They are that connected in their shared love.
I think we see, in this scnee, that Jack found his love from his Mom...and in looking back on some of the tenderness that Jack showed for Ennis (remember the scene where he tries to clean Ennis' wounds with a damp hankerchief?) comes from his Mom. Yeah, his Dad was a nasty old man...but he has his Mom.
Jim

Wow! Another new perspective to that particular scene! Thanks for sharing sjmf! I will get in line behind the others giving thanks for your thoughts. Very, very good observation. I'm glad to embrace that thought in my heart too. (sam wipes a tear away from his cheek)

Quote from: Jim

The deeper I feel the movie the more the universal love comes up...Jack's mom, Jack trying to tend to Ennis' wound, Alma Jr. tender scene inviting her Dad to her wedding, Ennis' barroom girlfriend trying to get him to understand her love for him...they all fill this open heart with strong message. Just to love - just to love.
It inspires me to live a better life.

(sam really crying now...) Yes Jim, let's hope that this marvelous film helps to make the world just that little bit better...and that it will teach us simply to love...

sam

stephan · « **Reply #71 on:** Mar 21, 2006, 07:18 AM »

Quote from: sjimf on Mar 21, 2006, 06:15 AM

The deeper I feel the movie the more the universal love comes up...Jack's mom, Jack trying to tend to Ennis' wound, Alma Jr. tender scene inviting her Dad to her wedding, Ennis' barroom girlfriend trying to get him to understand her love for him...they all fill this open heart with strong message. Just to love - just to love.
It inspires me to live a better life.
Jim

You said it, Jim. A better life, more love.
I think she knew about Jack. I also imagine that is why she said that Ennis could come back any time. She must have known that if Jack spoke about Ennis for nearly 20 years, they were bound together like she was to her husband. :'(
A 75-year-old lady I know actually enjoyed the film, but I didn't ask why. I hope that for mothers and grandmothers everywhere wo see the film, something of the mother of Jack can inspire them too (if they need the inspiration). Stephan

coguaro · « **Reply #72 on:** Mar 22, 2006, 05:43 AM »

Jack's mother is a tender character. I think she knows about Jack and she knows about Ennis to. Even she didn't speak to much her eyes are so expressive and when she leaves Ennis it seems to me that she communicate so many comprehension and solidarity to him. She maybe the second person, after Ennis, who loved Jack... they have a secret tie!

*Froggy* · « **Reply #73 on:** Mar 22, 2006, 06:52 PM »

Quote from: coguaro on Mar 22, 2006, 05:43 AM

Jack's mother is a tender character. I think she knows about Jack and she knows about Ennis to. Even she didn't speak to much her eyes are so expressive and when she leaves Ennis it seems to me that she communicate so many comprehension and solidarity to him. She maybe the second person, after Ennis, who loved Jack... they have a secret tie!

Go listen to the Roberta Maxwell interview

http://www.ennisjack.com/index.php?topic=279.0

Toadily · « **Reply #74 on:** Mar 22, 2006, 06:53 PM »

It's the best interview. I love how Proulx contacted her.

BBBOY · « **Reply #75 on:** Mar 22, 2006, 07:15 PM »

Wow! I just listened to the interview. What a wonderful lady, helped me to understand how a movie is shot and how they were all so into it. She spoke exactly 5 lines of dialog but conveyed volumes with her eyes and body. Now that is SOME acting my friends.

chameau · « **Reply #76 on:** Mar 22, 2006, 07:17 PM »

Quote from: BBBOY on Mar 22, 2006, 07:15 PM

Wow! I just listened to the interview. What a wonderful lady, helped me to understand how a movie is shot and how they were all so into it. She spoke exactly 5 lines of dialog but conveyed volumes with her eyes and body. Now that is SOME acting my friends.

IMO besides Heath and Jake, she gives the best acting of the movie.

Patriot1 · « **Reply #77 on:** Mar 22, 2006, 07:25 PM »

Quote from: frog123 on Mar 22, 2006, 06:52 PM

Go listen to the Roberta Maxwell interview
http://www.ennisjack.com/index.php?topic=279.0

WOW! I just found the interview thanks to you. I know she was talking about her part and what she was suppose to convey in the movie, but when she said she loved her son and here was the boy that loved her son, for a minute I forgot she was talking about her part. I felt she was talking about a real life situation. What a wonderful woman.

I was also surprised to hear her say they had experienced some hostility in Alberta because of the subject matter. Doesn't offer much hope for the immediate future.

Patriot1 · « **Reply #78 on:** Mar 22, 2006, 07:27 PM »

Quote from: chameau on Mar 22, 2006, 07:17 PM

IMO besides Heath and Jake, she gives the best acting of the movie.

I agree totally Chameau. She should have been given the Best Actress in a Supporting Role nomination.

I love her to pieces.

*Froggy* · « **Reply #79 on:** Mar 22, 2006, 07:29 PM »

Quote from: chameau on Mar 22, 2006, 07:17 PM

Quote from: BBBOY on Mar 22, 2006, 07:15 PM
Wow! I just listened to the interview. What a wonderful lady, helped me to understand how a movie is shot and how they were all so into it. She spoke exactly 5 lines of dialog but conveyed volumes with her eyes and body. Now that is SOME acting my friends.

IMO besides Heath and Jake, she gives the best acting of the movie.

Yep I think so too...<OT> but now I also love Anne's Lureen too! For such a young actress, that last scene on the phone, she was fantastic x

chameau · « **Reply #80 on:** Mar 22, 2006, 07:31 PM »

Quote from: Patriot1 on Mar 22, 2006, 07:27 PM

Quote from: chameau on Mar 22, 2006, 07:17 PM
IMO besides Heath and Jake, she gives the best acting of the movie.

I agree totally Chameau. She should have been given the Best Actress in a Supporting Role nomination.

I love her to pieces.

It's my best scene of the movie, hard to look at because too much emotions from Ennis and Jack's mum I could take, I'm not mentioning the shirts. Most of the shots are close ups, the actors were good enough to live their characters with a camera almost under their noses.

Tom · « **Reply #81 on:** Mar 22, 2006, 07:40 PM »

Quote from: sjimf on Mar 21, 2006, 06:15 AM

The deeper I feel the movie the more the universal love comes up...Jack's mom, Jack trying to tend to Ennis' wound, Alma Jr. tender scene inviting her Dad to her wedding, Ennis' barroom girlfriend trying to get him to understand her love for him...they all fill this open heart with strong message. Just to love - just to love.
It inspires me to live a better life.
Jim

Jim , I think most of us feel that as well. Love is the overlying theme of this film. Like you after watching it I felt it was time to live a better and more fulfilling life. We all lose sight of what is most important these days, it's not the house or the car it's to be loved in this world and to love right back.

I register deaths up to 10 times ad ay at work and the stories that partners and children tell, let you know how much these people were loved and how much they will be missed....you never hear people tell you of the material possessions the person had but more of the times they made them laugh and feel happy and loved and wanted.

Even Jesus said it when he said " Above all else, Loe one another"
I am sometimes flippant and cheeky on these boards but I know it was BBM that brought me here to discover this for myself.

Thanks Jim for a lovely post.

Tom

BBBOY · « **Reply #82 on:** Mar 22, 2006, 09:19 PM »

Quote

WOW! I just found the interview thanks to you. I know she was talking about her part and what she was suppose to convey in the movie, but when she said she loved her son and here was the boy that loved her son, for a minute I forgot she was talking about her part. I felt she was talking about a real life situation. What a wonderful woman.

Quote

When I heard her say that I nearly fell out of my chair. She had gone back into character so completely. The scene is remarkable in that it is all closeups save for the beginning shot a tableau of the 3 people, Ennis, Jack's mother and his father. It's an establishing shot and then goes closeup of each actor. Tonight I am stuned at the power of 5 lines by Roberta, 8 brief lines by Heath and 10 by Peter. When I first read the screenplay I thought to myself, gee, I could write this.....so few words. But now I understand. This film is not about words, it's about feelings and expressing them. I'm really gasping for breath here. This movie just doesn't stop getting me!

sjimf · « **Reply #83 on:** Mar 22, 2006, 09:26 PM »

Thank you Frog123 for sending us to the interview. I know I sound like a broken record but this website has meant so much to me. To be able to hear this interview and know deeply what shooting that scene was like brings me joy. I helps me see that we DID notice something amazing happening in that scene.. and we have a right to our intense feelings that do not die even months after seeing the film. Thanks...

More thoughts on Jack's Mom - I imagine in that she was very grateful for that short time Ennis visited. How lonely her life must have been. I have had the opportunity to read Annie Proulx's short storiy collection, Close Range, which includes BBM. From that excellent collection I got a full dose of what life in Wyoming is like...and I imagine Jack's mom having one of those lives. To have Ennis, the love of her son's life, come through those doors. Remember the scene where he pulls in their homestead and she comes out the door. Notice her face and body in this scene. You can see adoration in her eyes...almost a sense of peace having met him in the flesh. I am sure she kept that brief moment in time in her heart: the place where no evil or hatred can touch.
Jim

Patriot1 · « **Reply #84 on:** Mar 22, 2006, 09:37 PM »

Quote from: sjimf on Mar 22, 2006, 09:26 PM

Remember the scene where he pulls in their homestead and she comes out the door. Notice her face and body in this scene. You can see adoration in her eyes...almost a sense of peace having met him in the flesh. I am sure she kept that brief moment in time in her heart: the place where no evil or hatred can touch.
Jim

It is such a coincidence you should mention when she came to the door.

Ennis pulls up and parks, she comes to the door. Ennis gets out of the truck, she can see it is a man. Now they live out in the middle of nowhere so I am thinking they don't get too many visitors out there so she knew who it was. She then comes out of the house, stands up straight and fixes her sweater as if to honor him by coming out to greet him. This is something people do who have manners and honor their guest, others you stay at the door and wait for them to get there.

I have always counted the twist house scene among my favorites but after listening to her interview, it means just a little more.

BBBOY · « **Reply #85 on:** Mar 22, 2006, 09:49 PM »

Quote from: Patriot1 on Mar 22, 2006, 09:37 PM

Quote from: sjimf on Mar 22, 2006, 09:26 PM
Remember the scene where he pulls in their homestead and she comes out the door. Notice her face and body in this scene. You can see adoration in her eyes...almost a sense of peace having met him in the flesh. I am sure she kept that brief moment in time in her heart: the place where no evil or hatred can touch.
Jim

It is such a coincidence you should mention when she came to the door.

Ennis pulls up and parks, she comes to the door. Ennis gets out of the truck, she can see it is a man. Now they live out in the middle of nowhere so I am thinking they don't get too many visitors out there so she knew who it was. She then comes out of the house, stands up straight and fixes her sweater as if to honor him by coming out to greet him. This is something people do who have manners and honor their guest, others you stay at the door and wait for them to get there.

I have always counted the twist house scene among my favorites but after listening to her interview, it means just a little more.

It has come to mean a lot more for me since reading this thread. Thanks to all who have posted.

*Froggy* · « **Reply #86 on:** Mar 23, 2006, 06:55 AM »

Quote from: BBBOY on Mar 22, 2006, 09:49 PM

Quote from: Patriot1 on Mar 22, 2006, 09:37 PM
Quote from: sjimf on Mar 22, 2006, 09:26 PM
Remember the scene where he pulls in their homestead and she comes out the door. Notice her face and body in this scene. You can see adoration in her eyes...almost a sense of peace having met him in the flesh. I am sure she kept that brief moment in time in her heart: the place where no evil or hatred can touch.
Jim

It is such a coincidence you should mention when she came to the door.

Ennis pulls up and parks, she comes to the door. Ennis gets out of the truck, she can see it is a man. Now they live out in the middle of nowhere so I am thinking they don't get too many visitors out there so she knew who it was. She then comes out of the house, stands up straight and fixes her sweater as if to honor him by coming out to greet him. This is something people do who have manners and honor their guest, others you stay at the door and wait for them to get there.

I have always counted the twist house scene among my favorites but after listening to her interview, it means just a little more.

It has come to mean a lot more for me since reading this thread. Thanks to all who have posted.

Yes thank you for posting such a great observation. Jack's mum was fantastic...Roberta Maxwell simply amazing!

Rønnaug · « **Reply #87 on:** Mar 23, 2006, 02:59 PM »

I have just listnend to the Roberta Maxwell interview and I think it is safe to put this question to rest with a loud and clear YES...Ms Maxwell sayd it, sayd Ang Lee sayd it and the letter she got from Annie Proulx sayd it... Jack's mother knew

*Froggy* · « **Reply #88 on:** Mar 23, 2006, 03:09 PM »

Quote from: Esme on Mar 23, 2006, 02:59 PM

I have just listnend to the Roberta Maxwell interview and I think it is safe to put this question to rest with a loud and clear YES...Ms Maxwell sayd it, sayd Ang Lee sayd it and the letter she got from Annie Proulx sayd it... Jack's mother knew

yep!

Toadily · « **Reply #89 on:** Mar 23, 2006, 03:11 PM »

Can I ask you guy, when Ennis says Ok to Jack's Dad after he says "Tell you what, we have a family plot, he's goin in it" is it played with sort of understated anger? I felt it was. So I guess that is what matters, but you can tell ENnis knows damn quick this guys an ass, and hates him for not letting him take Jack's ashes up there where JACK WANTED THEM.