Topic: Symbols you will forever associate with BBM scenes

[welshwitch]

Noel Coward quotation: "Funny how potent cheap music can be." Sme of the BBM stuff is well-known - eg "King of the Road" - and some of it just normal radio-station stuff - the most beautiful sections are the ones Santolalla composed for the movie, but the whole lot together fus into the sequence of events of the film. Classical music doesn't work in the same wy for me; it's played in so many different situations, I suppose, that it loses specific associations (except for a few pieces - the Mahler used for "Deth in Venice" being an eg for me).

I think those first plangent guitar chords are what struck me when I saw the movie the first time; they still affect me now.

[jeffjoe]

Another powerfull symbol to me "WILLIE NELSON"

[aimi15]

Yes! Willie Nelson! And of course Emmy Lou Harris, and all the rest.. The whole country music thing has taken on a new meaning for me now. I don't dismiss it off hand any more. It doesn't seem to matter what it is, a few guitar twangs and i'm back with Ennis and Jack again.

[ksxks]

Yes! Willie Nelson! And of course Emmy Lou Harris, and all the rest.. The whole country music thing has taken on a new meaning for me now. I don't dismiss it off hand any more. It doesn't seem to matter what it is, a few guitar twangs and i'm back with Ennis and Jack again.

I've always liked country music -- not all of it, but I like what I like.  And another thing, music-wise, that now is forever BBM-evocative to me:  all the songs on the BBM music videos that people have made.  Now I can never hear a certain song on the radio or wherever, if it's been made into a BBM vid that I watch.  It happened again the other day, in a store -- I heard a song ("Because of You") and I immediately got lost in my own little world, there with Ennis and Jack.

kathy

[tpe]

Yes,the instrumental BBM music will always be a killer for me to listen to.
The whole film plays before your eyes.

J.x

I had always wondered whether there were deliberate motifs in the music, in the manner of Wagner.  The opening chord seems to be such as motif.

[tpe]

Noel Coward quotation: "Funny how potent cheap music can be." Sme of the BBM stuff is well-known - eg "King of the Road" - and some of it just normal radio-station stuff - the most beautiful sections are the ones Santolalla composed for the movie, but the whole lot together fus into the sequence of events of the film. Classical music doesn't work in the same wy for me; it's played in so many different situations, I suppose, that it loses specific associations (except for a few pieces - the Mahler used for "Deth in Venice" being an eg for me).

I think those first plangent guitar chords are what struck me when I saw the movie the first time; they still affect me now.

And his most beautiful music in the film happens to be very very simple in texture.  He really captured the film in his music.  The themes become symbols in and of themselves.

[tpe]

Yes! Willie Nelson! And of course Emmy Lou Harris, and all the rest.. The whole country music thing has taken on a new meaning for me now. I don't dismiss it off hand any more. It doesn't seem to matter what it is, a few guitar twangs and i'm back with Ennis and Jack again.

I've always liked country music -- not all of it, but I like what I like.  And another thing, music-wise, that now is forever BBM-evocative to me:  all the songs on the BBM music videos that people have made.  Now I can never hear a certain song on the radio or wherever, if it's been made into a BBM vid that I watch.  It happened again the other day, in a store -- I heard a song ("Because of You") and I immediately got lost in my own little world, there with Ennis and Jack.

kathy

It is wonderful: music as a universal symbol and vehicle of emotions.  In this sense, it surpasses language.  No matter what style, whether or not it is accompanied by words, music such as this is understandable.

 

[brokie007]

All the leaning. They lean against everything !!!

I especially love the way Jack leans against his truck the first time he checks out Ennis in Signal.  And the pose he adopted is a classic -- unforgettable. 

Greenfrog, I know jerasjr gets upset when anyone says that Jack was crusing his heart out then, but whenever I see that picture I get such a good feeling in my heart. It reminds me so much of all the men I have seen leaning against a bar or pool table striking the same pose.

"Here I am cowboy. Are you interested?"     

yeah....that pose is soooo damn sexy    that's exactly what it says...... 

[Patriot1]

"Here I am cowboy. Are you interested?"     

yeah....that pose is soooo damn sexy    that's exactly what it says...... 

Yes it is sexy isn't it brokie007. Wouldn't you like to have some guy strike a pose like that and look straight at you like that?  I know I sure would.

[hpv]

And his most beautiful music in the film happens to be very very simple in texture.  He really captured the film in his music.  The themes become symbols in and of themselves.

It's just unbelievable,that G. Santoanella wrote this accords before the film was made,
still, it's like the two shirts in the closet,one can't be without the other... 
Quote from SS
" his shirt,hidden here inside Jack's own shirt,the pair like two skins, one inside the other, two in one.  "

[tpe]

And his most beautiful music in the film happens to be very very simple in texture.  He really captured the film in his music.  The themes become symbols in and of themselves.

It's just unbelievable,that G. Santoanella wrote this accords before the film was made,
still, it's like the two shirts in the closet,one can't be without the other... 
Quote from SS
" his shirt,hidden here inside Jack's own shirt,the pair like two skins, one inside the other, two in one.  "

It is quite unbelieveable.  Perhaps he had a very clear vision of what the short story called for -- the music is beautifully elegiac and restrained, like the movie.  It is uncanny how both the music and the film captured the story so wonderfully.  And yes, now I cannot think of the film without his music.  As you have said, they are now inseparable in my mind.

[brokie007]

"Here I am cowboy. Are you interested?"     

yeah....that pose is soooo damn sexy    that's exactly what it says...... 

Yes it is sexy isn't it brokie007. Wouldn't you like to have some guy strike a pose like that and look straight at you like that?  I know I sure would.

OMG!! Sure I'd love to....some guy like Jake or Heath...I'd melt 

[aintfoolin]

Jack is absolutly scandalous in this pcture!  And I love it.

[ksxks]

Jack is absolutly scandalous in this pcture!  And I love it.

Sure enough is.  Now this has probably been said before, but another interesting aspect to this part of this scene is:  not only Jack's pose, but that he's looking at Ennis as he's posing like this.  (Which, number one, could be said to be just a common way to relax against a truck, you know.  Right.)  If he had struck this pose and looked off in the distance, as if he's not interested in Ennis, it would have been different.  But he's so blatant with this -- the pose, and presenting a challenge to Ennis to look, by his staring.

kathy

[tpe]

Jack is absolutly scandalous in this pcture!  And I love it.

Sure enough is.  Now this has probably been said before, but another interesting aspect to this part of this scene is:  not only Jack's pose, but that he's looking at Ennis as he's posing like this.  (Which, number one, could be said to be just a common way to relax against a truck, you know.  Right.)  If he had struck this pose and looked off in the distance, as if he's not interested in Ennis, it would have been different.  But he's so blatant with this -- the pose, and presenting a challenge to Ennis to look, by his staring.

kathy

Blatant is the word, IMO.

One can indeed read a lot of significance in this pose.  I thought that it was most beautifully well done...

[ksxks]

Jack is absolutly scandalous in this pcture!  And I love it.

Sure enough is.  Now this has probably been said before, but another interesting aspect to this part of this scene is:  not only Jack's pose, but that he's looking at Ennis as he's posing like this.  (Which, number one, could be said to be just a common way to relax against a truck, you know.  Right.)  If he had struck this pose and looked off in the distance, as if he's not interested in Ennis, it would have been different.  But he's so blatant with this -- the pose, and presenting a challenge to Ennis to look, by his staring.

kathy

Blatant is the word, IMO.

One can indeed read a lot of significance in this pose.  I thought that it was most beautifully well done...

I don't know if this borders on OT, but I'll say it then quit -- just more refining of the discussion on this particular symbol of BBM ("Leaning").

What was it that was said about Jake doing this?  (My memory not perfect all the time, with all this stuff flying around fast and furious.)  Someone, maybe Diana O., when they saw Jake do this, thought, "hmm...I don't know...maybe that's too Jake acting like this certain character"; but they quickly realized that this post/action is very Jack, just perfect Jack.

kathy

[carbyville]

I agree with everything that you all have said thus far. Beans, cowboys in general, all of it. But for me, the biggest thing is just dates and years. When I hear someone mention a year I will think about it and try and picture all of the characters in that time. Months as well, especially November. 

I was working earlier and I had to tell a customer of mine a total for something they order. The total, oddly enough was $19.63. I said it and immediately made a face (was on the phone.. I don't make weird faces at my customers ) and gave a little inaudible sigh.

[ksxks]

I agree with everything that you all have said thus far. Beans, cowboys in general, all of it. But for me, the biggest thing is just dates and years. When I hear someone mention a year I will think about it and try and picture all of the characters in that time. Months as well, especially November. 

I was working earlier and I had to tell a customer of mine a total for something they order. The total, oddly enough was $19.63. I said it and immediately made a face (was on the phone.. I don't make weird faces at my customers ) and gave a little inaudible sigh.

That's a good one, dates.  1963, for sure.  And November 7.  And August:  "Whatever happened to August?" or "the trade-off was August."  And "I'll be coming through on the 24th."

kathy

[greenfrog]

I was working earlier and I had to tell a customer of mine a total for something they order. The total, oddly enough was $19.63. I said it and immediately made a face (was on the phone.. I don't make weird faces at my customers ) and gave a little inaudible sigh.

You should post that in the "You know you are addicted when" thread.

Very nice 

[carbyville]

I agree with everything that you all have said thus far. Beans, cowboys in general, all of it. But for me, the biggest thing is just dates and years. When I hear someone mention a year I will think about it and try and picture all of the characters in that time. Months as well, especially November. 

I was working earlier and I had to tell a customer of mine a total for something they order. The total, oddly enough was $19.63. I said it and immediately made a face (was on the phone.. I don't make weird faces at my customers ) and gave a little inaudible sigh.

That's a good one, dates.  1963, for sure.  And November 7.  And August:  "Whatever happened to August?" or "the trade-off was August."  And "I'll be coming through on the 24th."

kathy

Can't forget "Bring 'em down? Why, it's the middle of August."  :\'(

[brokie007]

I agree with everything that you all have said thus far. Beans, cowboys in general, all of it. But for me, the biggest thing is just dates and years. When I hear someone mention a year I will think about it and try and picture all of the characters in that time. Months as well, especially November. 
I was working earlier and I had to tell a customer of mine a total for something they order. The total, oddly enough was $19.63. I said it and immediately made a face (was on the phone.. I don't make weird faces at my customers ) and gave a little inaudible sigh.

Months and dates too yeah...I'm getting married in November...bet I'd be thinking about Ennis & Jack on my wedding day!!! 

[carbyville]

I agree with everything that you all have said thus far. Beans, cowboys in general, all of it. But for me, the biggest thing is just dates and years. When I hear someone mention a year I will think about it and try and picture all of the characters in that time. Months as well, especially November. 
I was working earlier and I had to tell a customer of mine a total for something they order. The total, oddly enough was $19.63. I said it and immediately made a face (was on the phone.. I don't make weird faces at my customers ) and gave a little inaudible sigh.

Months and dates too yeah...I'm getting married in November...bet I'd be thinking about Ennis & Jack on my wedding day!!! 

This reminded me of another one. My daughter was two weeks old the first time I saw BBM and there are days when I look at her and see how much she has grown since then and I think to myself "Wow, it has really been that long since I first saw Brokeback?"

Congrats on getting married, btw!   

[NoReins]

I agree with everything that you all have said thus far. Beans, cowboys in general, all of it. But for me, the biggest thing is just dates and years. When I hear someone mention a year I will think about it and try and picture all of the characters in that time. Months as well, especially November. 

I was working earlier and I had to tell a customer of mine a total for something they order. The total, oddly enough was $19.63. I said it and immediately made a face (was on the phone.. I don't make weird faces at my customers ) and gave a little inaudible sigh.

That's a good one, dates.  1963, for sure.  And November 7.  And August:  "Whatever happened to August?" or "the trade-off was August."  And "I'll be coming through on the 24th."

kathy

My birthday is 7th November. I'll never be able to celebrate it again without thinking of the meeting between Jack and Ennis that never happened :\'( :\'(

[brokie007]

And I have always loved the month of November...since I was a little girl, I always wanted to get married in November...don't know really why...guess because I love autumn and winter...the rain...darkness...the cold...mountains...snow........- everyone usually associates most of these things with sadness....  just like the story of Jack & Ennis  :\'( 

And when I heard Ennis say "Me and Alma r getting married in November"...I thought to myself "well, we have one thing in common then!!"   

[tpe]

I don't know if this borders on OT, but I'll say it then quit -- just more refining of the discussion on this particular symbol of BBM ("Leaning").

What was it that was said about Jake doing this?  (My memory not perfect all the time, with all this stuff flying around fast and furious.)  Someone, maybe Diana O., when they saw Jake do this, thought, "hmm...I don't know...maybe that's too Jake acting like this certain character"; but they quickly realized that this post/action is very Jack, just perfect Jack.

kathy

Jack almost always took the lead, and I do think that this pose (one of at least 3), introduced so early in the movie, already alerts us to his more "aggressive" role.

[tpe]

I agree with everything that you all have said thus far. Beans, cowboys in general, all of it. But for me, the biggest thing is just dates and years. When I hear someone mention a year I will think about it and try and picture all of the characters in that time. Months as well, especially November. 
I was working earlier and I had to tell a customer of mine a total for something they order. The total, oddly enough was $19.63. I said it and immediately made a face (was on the phone.. I don't make weird faces at my customers ) and gave a little inaudible sigh.

Months and dates too yeah...I'm getting married in November...bet I'd be thinking about Ennis & Jack on my wedding day!!! 

OOT: congratulations, brokie007. 

Certain months, dates are indeed so memorable in BBM.  We also have Alma's wedding date in June. 

[aintfoolin]

I notice that alot of c&W music lately speak to brokeback mountain scenes. Anyone else notice this?.....But the symbol I remember most is SNIT, Ennis, sitting on a log ,throws another log on the fire and proceeds to the tent. and when the kiss happens the fire is seen between them, bathing them in the light. This may represent the fire between them at that moment, but fire is silent ,hot,beautiful even but its also very dangerous. Also st the beginning sequence three telephone poles are shown as if they are crosses in a row. Another symbol?

[ksxks]

Months and dates too yeah...I'm getting married in November...bet I'd be thinking about Ennis & Jack on my wedding day!!! 

This reminded me of another one. My daughter was two weeks old the first time I saw BBM and there are days when I look at her and see how much she has grown since then and I think to myself "Wow, it has really been that long since I first saw Brokeback?"

Congrats on getting married, btw!   

Wow -- you have a little girl born in the Brokeback era.  We are all clearly insane...but in a good way -- it is just funny, to look at your little girl and think about BBM.

And brokie007, you're getting married in November!  Have you yet said to someone, "Me and ____'s gettin' married in November"?  I'm sure you haven't -- but you can say it to us if you want.

kathy

[ksxks]

I notice that alot of c&W music lately speak to brokeback mountain scenes. Anyone else notice this?.....But the symbol I remember most is SNIT, Ennis, sitting on a log ,throws another log on the fire and proceeds to the tent. and when the kiss happens the fire is seen between them, bathing them in the light. This may represent the fire between them at that moment, but fire is silent ,hot,beautiful even but its also very dangerous. Also st the beginning sequence three telephone poles are shown as if they are crosses in a row. Another symbol?

That is wonderful, about the fire that is seen between them in SNIT, fire being an incredibly potent symbol, as you said.

I think the telephone poles were talked about early in this thread.  I actually don't have a comment about these, crosses not my speciality   I'll leave "religious" symbolism up to others.

kathy

[carbyville]

Months and dates too yeah...I'm getting married in November...bet I'd be thinking about Ennis & Jack on my wedding day!!! 

This reminded me of another one. My daughter was two weeks old the first time I saw BBM and there are days when I look at her and see how much she has grown since then and I think to myself "Wow, it has really been that long since I first saw Brokeback?"

Congrats on getting married, btw!   

Wow -- you have a little girl born in the Brokeback era.  We are all clearly insane...but in a good way -- it is just funny, to look at your little girl and think about BBM.

And brokie007, you're getting married in November!  Have you yet said to someone, "Me and ____'s gettin' married in November"?  I'm sure you haven't -- but you can say it to us if you want.

kathy

Yes, insane in a good way! I just think back on it and how much I wanted to drive 8 hours to New York City to see the movie on it's December 9th release, but knew better because I was due to have the baby at any time. She was born merely 4 days later. The first time she had a babysitter was when we went to see the movie. So I strongly correlate her with the beginning of this wonderful BBM ride I've been going on.

I can probably relate ANYTHING to BBM, if I tried hard enough, though.  Even my coffee cup. It has a picture of a coffee kettle that strongly resembles the one J&E used up on brokeback in '63. It makes me smile.