The part I love about FNIT was Jack's expert strategy and control. So well planned was Jack's move on Ennis that Ennis was putty in his hands. Big strong, practical hardworking Ennis who had a good work ethic and could cook and shoot, follow the rules with no complaint, and everything else that Jack couldn't, was putty in Jack's hands in their first night, which Jack also planned.
It was because of Jack their jobs unraveled, specifically, Jack's fixation on Ennis. He is so masterful in his strategy and pursuit I didn't give a hoot about ethics or sheep. So he worked me too. He was all I could think about.
First he had to get Ennis into the tent. Ennis, shivering audibly, was yelled at by Jack to get in the tent. It worked. If he had been too gentle, Ennis would not have budged. but a command, he followed. they slept.
Jack pulls Ennis's hand over him, Ennis crashes away in fighting mode, even though still drunk and tired and Jack immediately assumes a fight position, sits bolt upright, grabs Ennis's jacket in his fist and holds him there... quietly... steady...
1) to control Ennis and his explosive and dangerous fight impulses
2) but also to make it look like Jack himself was as innocent as the driven snow, like Ennis was doing something unnacceptable to him!! (Has this been pointed out?) So, it would look like Jack was holding Ennis off.
If this is true it is masterful strategy on Jack's part. This leaves Ennis confused, muddled in his already inebriated state.
In seconds that Jack was probably counting, 100, 200, timing was everything, Jack rips his own jacket off... in a move that startled and confused Ennis... (it startled me) that was the whole idea.
if he moved too soon he'd get decked.. if he waited too long, Ennis would be fully awake and the moment would be lost... Jack whispered barely audible sounds... this switched Ennis's focus on Jack's words, f**k me (right? to soothe and seduce Ennis).... Jack's next moves were also urgent and the urgency caught like wildfire on Ennis.
He knew the moment he had him. Powerful stuff. The bull unleashed.
I have never seen anything like this in my life. If only he could have used strategy like this to convince Ennis it could work for them forever. But he sold out. Jack became lost in his love for Ennis. Urgent, needy, he let Ennis play him like a fiddle... on a short leash. The long term picture was controlled by Ennis. Jack did not have the confidence to test Ennis's love.
Painful to see Jack's shining star, his brilliant mind, be run by Ennis, the bull in the china closet.
Masterful timing, anyway, Jack, you sexy thing.
The rest is well detailed by you all right here, so beautifully.
I like how Jack managed to bring this about with the unmanageable, explosive, straight and strong Ennis who might have torn him apart and wedged them apart forever.
Jack took a horrible risk and succeeded in something not every man could pull off. He had no strategy for the long term, but he knew how to break the bull down for the first sex.
He can't cook, shoot, sing or rodeo, but wow did he get a bead on Ennis, timing his moves, masterminding his strategy and bringing him down. Very, very powerful stuff. What brilliant manipulation. It would not be easy or even possible for any man to get to Ennis. One would have to be as furtive and hungry a hunter as a cat with single-minded purpose.
This is the scene I can watch over and over and also SNIT.
And, the bull did not get his breakfast in the morning because the mastermind was sleeping. ha.
Some camp tender. Ennis was so bewildered. The following night Ennis apologizes to Jack. Jack the Innocent. I didn't hear his apology.
love this movie....
tamlynn
