Topic: Who was your favorite character (excluding Ennis/Jack)

[tpe]

I do suspect it is not possible to have a wrong answer here.  Everyone was superb.

[ms.bluesky]

i liked alma jr cause i think she was alot like ennis quiet and shy yet very strong

[cremetorte]

well, as you can see in my avatar, it's Alma Jr.

i guess i just love her so much, because i feel a connection to her. she's a "daddy's girl", just like i am and she shared this special bond to ennis... and kate's acting was so great when junior asked ennis if she could stay with him...

[dalemidex]

Love your comment, dalemidex.  I'd also like to see a ranking system since I like several of the minor characters.  They ALl lend something great to the story -- even those who are hardly mentioned in the short story.

Thanks!  I could probably make a similar case (in different ways) for Mrs. Twist, Lureen, Alma and Alma Jr.  And as much as I love the short story, the screenplay is simply incredible in my eyes.  I'd be hard pressed to think of anything added in the movie (okay, maybe the 4th of July scene) that isn't a masterful addition or expansion of the original.

[TexRob]

They're all good.  But if I had to choose, it would be Lureen.  She has the most complex personality after Ennis and Jack themselves, and Anne Hathaway brings the character to life in an authentic and convincing performance.

[frances]

They're all good.  But if I had to choose, it would be Lureen.  She has the most complex personality after Ennis and Jack themselves, and Anne Hathaway brings the character to life in an authentic and convincing performance.

In the phone call scene in particular, when Lureen tries to hold back so much emotion but can't completely

[tpe]

They're all good.  But if I had to choose, it would be Lureen.  She has the most complex personality after Ennis and Jack themselves, and Anne Hathaway brings the character to life in an authentic and convincing performance.

In the phone call scene in particular, when Lureen tries to hold back so much emotion but can't completely

Yes, that scene in particular had so many layers.  I am sure a lot of moviegoers missed a lot of the nuances in that scene.  It was her best scene, to be sure.  IMO, it matches in underlying emotional power (less dramatic, but more subtle) the Thanksgiving scene between Ennis and Alma.

[jesseanne21]

They're all good.  But if I had to choose, it would be Lureen.  She has the most complex personality after Ennis and Jack themselves, and Anne Hathaway brings the character to life in an authentic and convincing performance.

In the phone call scene in particular, when Lureen tries to hold back so much emotion but can't completely

Yes, that scene in particular had so many layers.  I am sure a lot of moviegoers missed a lot of the nuances in that scene.  It was her best scene, to be sure.  IMO, it matches in underlying emotional power (less dramatic, but more subtle) the Thanksgiving scene between Ennis and Alma.

I agree with you TPE, that was an excellent performance by Anne Hathaway.  I saw an interview with Anne Hathaway and she is a very bubbly person (like the earlier Lureen).  She really had to stretch herself to play the older Lureen. 

[Gyllenhaalic]

Lureen was definitely my favorite. She had me with that wink

But I REALLY fell for her when she was on the phone with Ennis. I could just watch that scene over and over again. She obviously has such a combination of emotions here and you can almost read each one of them. Sadness, fear, relief, anger...

I'd always liked Anne Hathaway, my little niece was a fan of the Princess Diaries movies. But she really impressed me in Brokeback - she proved that she's a versatile actress, and I think she's great

[tpe]

I agree with you TPE, that was an excellent performance by Anne Hathaway.  I saw an interview with Anne Hathaway and she is a very bubbly person (like the earlier Lureen).  She really had to stretch herself to play the older Lureen. 

You are right jesseanne21.  Hathawy has mentioned that acting out the role of a very forward young lady (whne Lureen first met Jack) was very difficult for her.  But I think she missed out on saying how the older Lureen is probably a greater stretch.  There is a hardness in the older Lureen that is not normally seen in Hathaway's characters, no? 

[tpe]

Lureen was definitely my favorite. She had me with that wink

But I REALLY fell for her when she was on the phone with Ennis. I could just watch that scene over and over again. She obviously has such a combination of emotions here and you can almost read each one of them. Sadness, fear, relief, anger...

I'd always liked Anne Hathaway, my little niece was a fan of the Princess Diaries movies. But she really impressed me in Brokeback - she proved that she's a versatile actress, and I think she's great

Yes, I do think that scene between her and Ennis is one of the finest and most difficult ones  in the entire movie.  It took me multiple viewings to realize everything that was happening there.

[welshwitch]

Probabaly  but it seems to me that all three, Anne Hathaway, Heath Ledger and Jake grew up almost in front of the camera in this movie.

[tpe]

Probabaly  but it seems to me that all three, Anne Hathaway, Heath Ledger and Jake grew up almost in front of the camera in this movie.

Yes.  The growth: it all seemed so real -- in spite of Jake's fake stash...

[frances]

Yes, I do think that scene between her and Ennis is one of the finest and most difficult ones  in the entire movie.  It took me multiple viewings to realize everything that was happening there.

Maybe OT. I like in particular this exchange:
 
Lureen: He used to say he wanted his ashes to be scattered on Brokeback Mountain, but I wasn’t sure where that was ……
Ennis: No, ma’am, we herded sheep up on Brokeback one summer … back in ‘63”
Lureen: Well, he said it was his favorite place. I thought he meant to get drunk ….

I love the way she pronounces that "he said it was is favourite place" . This is the moment she gets to know that Jack loved this man way before she met Jack and that his favorite place was really the place where he met this man.

[tpe]

Yes, I do think that scene between her and Ennis is one of the finest and most difficult ones  in the entire movie.  It took me multiple viewings to realize everything that was happening there.

Maybe OT. I like in particular this exchange:
 
Lureen: He used to say he wanted his ashes to be scattered on Brokeback Mountain, but I wasn’t sure where that was ……
Ennis: No, ma’am, we herded sheep up on Brokeback one summer … back in ‘63”
Lureen: Well, he said it was his favorite place. I thought he meant to get drunk ….

I love the way she pronounces that "he said it was is favourite place" . This is the moment she gets to know that Jack loved this man way before she met Jack and that his favorite place was really the place where he met this man.

Yes, the way she intoned it -- as if she was nonchalant about it.  But it does indicate an older and stronger attachment between Ennis and Jack.  Ennis was not the upstart.  She was.  Realizing this must have sucked the marrow from her bones...

[Gyllenhaalic]

I love the way she pronounces that "he said it was is favourite place" . This is the moment she gets to know that Jack loved this man way before she met Jack and that his favorite place was really the place where he met this man.

Oh, I love that, too. You can just hear it in her voice.... like it's all coming together.

[jeffjoe]

Alma jr is the queen of my heart, a little angel with her softly wings how can i not love the Ennis little girl

[KillRoy1972]

I love the way she pronounces that "he said it was is favourite place" . This is the moment she gets to know that Jack loved this man way before she met Jack and that his favorite place was really the place where he met this man.

Oh, I love that, too. You can just hear it in her voice.... like it's all coming together.

Still, I believe she is behind the killing of Jack... She or her father...

I just don't like the way she talks on the phone about Jack.

[KillRoy1972]

Alma Jr.

I always had a feeling that 'she knew', and accepted it. At the end of the movie where she forgets her sweater and Ennis folds it, I thought she left it there on perpose and postcards from Jack would fell out. Which teared me up...

Also she was the only one to come over now and then, non of the other kids did...
So they all knew Ennis was gay, but she was the only one that sort of accepted it.

Which is beautiful: Ennis did not accept it, but she did...

His own daughter...

[tpe]

I love the way she pronounces that "he said it was is favourite place" . This is the moment she gets to know that Jack loved this man way before she met Jack and that his favorite place was really the place where he met this man.

Oh, I love that, too. You can just hear it in her voice.... like it's all coming together.

Still, I believe she is behind the killing of Jack... She or her father...

I just don't like the way she talks on the phone about Jack.

It could not have been her father, as he was dead at that time.  But I agree that the short story does leave open the possibility that Lureen had Jack murdered.  See the old thread that asks if Lureen had Jack murdered...

[Mars]

I don't think Lureen to be a direct or an indirect homicidal of Jack.
I like very much Jack's mom character!

[jeffjoe]

Yes she is a sweet lady (Jack's mom) her eyes show a deep sad in her soul

[tpe]

Yes she is a sweet lady (Jack's mom) her eyes show a deep sad in her soul

Very austere.  And yet, so warm.

[Gyllenhaalic]

Still, I believe she is behind the killing of Jack... She or her father...

I just don't like the way she talks on the phone about Jack.

Hmmm... sometimes I wonder about that, too. But for some reason I can't see her stooping to that level of cruelty. To her son's father.... to the man she lived with for all those years....

[FulOfSadness]

Damn, i came in here thinking no one would say Jack's mom, but I was proven wrong . She did so well, I can't stop thinking about her eyes, dangerous eyes she has.

[Koka]

the first person that came to mind after reading the title of this thread was CASSIE, so I voted for her ( one should act on one's instincts, ain't that right? ), although I absolutelly ADORE both jack's mom and alma jr.- such superb, gentle and tender characters.

why cassie came to mind? I don't know- probably because she is a lot like me, in a way....searhing for love in all the wrong places and wanting it so bad.....and her line 'girls don't fall in love with fun' gets me everytime, that's just so true and I totally felt for her in that scene...in oder words: I understand her.

[tpe]

the first person that came to mind after reading the title of this thread was CASSIE, so I voted for her ( one should act on one's instincts, ain't that right? ), although I absolutelly ADORE both jack's mom and alma jr.- such superb, gentle and tender characters.

why cassie came to mind? I don't know- probably because she is a lot like me, in a way....searhing for love in all the wrong places and wanting it so bad.....and her line 'girls don't fall in love with fun' gets me everytime, that's just so true and I totally felt for her in that scene...in oder words: I understand her.

In a strong sense, she is a most tragic figure in the story.  Unlike the wives, she never got it.  "I don't get you Ennis del Mar" is a heartbreaking admission of her inadequacy to cope, even though she is armed with great love.

[JT]

Character wise, I like Jack's mom.  Besides Ennis, she's the only other person that loves Jack and she seems to understand their relationship well.  When she puts her hand on Ennis' shoulder, that meant a lot of understanding and compassion.  I also like Alma Jr. because she loves her dad and seems to care about him.  You see her rubbing Ennis' shoulder after the Thanksgiving dinner.  I think she's a good daughter. 

For acting abilities, I think they all shine in the roles they played.

[Jennis]

I voted for Jack's mum/Mrs Twist.She said it all with subtle glances.She used her eyes to full effect and the gentle push on Ennis' shoulder for him to go too Jack's room.Only on screen for a short time,but enough to make her my fave after the boys.Lovely actress,great perfromance.

Jennis.x

[Patriot1]

I voted for Jack's mum/Mrs Twist.She said it all with subtle glances.She used her eyes to full effect and the gentle push on Ennis' shoulder for him to go too Jack's room.Only on screen for a short time,but enough to make her my fave after the boys.Lovely actress,great perfromance.

Jennis.x

I agree with you 1000% Jennis. She was marvelous! Like you said, she was on screen such a short time and had very few words and yet manages to convey to us all her love and understanding for her son AND Ennis, and to get Ennis to go up to Jack's room where she knew what was waiting for him there.

Brilliant actress!!!!!!

I wish I knew if she ever got my letter.