Author Topic: Pretty good with a can opener (Read 36741 times)

Sitaram · « **on:** Jan 21, 2006, 08:23 PM »

I dutifuly did a search of the forum on "opener" to see if there are any posts addressing this.

As an adolescent, in the 1960s, I remember a corny joke: "What do you call a drink with vodka and prune juice?" Answer: "A can opener."

Jack has such a wry expression when he says that he is a poor cook, but is pretty good with a "can opener".

What is the agenda, if any, behind such a remark?

For years I was a vegetarian, before old age and health problems forced me to eat meat. My stepson one day brought home a fellow highschool student whom I knew was openly gay (but he did not know that I know.) Somehow the topic of vegetarianism came up. I asked him, "Do you eat mean?" He answered, with a wry smirk, "Sometimes."

CherryCake · « **Reply #1 on:** Apr 13, 2006, 07:24 PM »

Oh, yes, Jack very much was being sly with this phrase. He was not talking about kitchen appliances! He was bragging that he was good in the sack... to prove it, look at the scene that follows: he is on his back opening a can of beens and he splashes him self. He is NOT good with can opener... or at least one kind.... hehehehe

forbiddenlovers · « **Reply #2 on:** Apr 14, 2006, 09:33 AM »

So true, there is a hidden meaning to that remark. He's AWFUL with a can opener, it was more Jack saying. I can't cook worth a ****, but I'm pretty good in bed, just like you said! Great one!!

Valandil Eluch · « **Reply #3 on:** Apr 17, 2006, 12:44 AM »

Quote from: forbiddenlovers on Apr 14, 2006, 09:33 AM

So true, there is a hidden meaning to that remark. He's AWFUL with a can opener, it was more Jack saying. I can't cook worth a ****, but I'm pretty good in bed, just like you said! Great one!!

omg that is so true it was his way to flirt with ennis again!!! i'm laughing right now

forbiddenlovers · « **Reply #4 on:** Apr 17, 2006, 09:25 AM »

I can't watch the scene now without laughing. Not that I didn't before, but now it has new meaning

Petter Gusten · « **Reply #5 on:** Apr 17, 2006, 09:44 AM »

Quote from: CherryCake on Apr 13, 2006, 07:24 PM

he is on his back opening a can of beens and he splashes him self. He is NOT good with can opener... or at least one kind.... hehehehe

but isn't he distracted by Ennis who is undressing :-))
and
telling him that he shot a wolf (something Jack has failed to do)

forbiddenlovers · « **Reply #6 on:** Apr 17, 2006, 12:31 PM »

Ooh nice!! That could be what it is too. The idea of Ennis being right there, shirtless, could have his concentration totally off, thus opening the can was not working so well for him at the moment!! Never thought of it like that!!

Ann

Valandil Eluch · « **Reply #7 on:** Apr 17, 2006, 01:38 PM »

dalemidex · « **Reply #8 on:** Apr 17, 2006, 02:42 PM »

I don't see this as anything more than Jack being Jack. First he makes a bragging joke, after saying he can't cook worth a damn, that he's pretty good with a can opener. Thats like saying "I don't ride bulls well but I have the whole gravity thing worked out. I always fall downward." Perfectly in character for Jack.

Then when we later see him not working the can opener well, I think that was a matter of him going about it in a foolish way...lying on his back, opening the can almost overhanded on top of his chest. Poor lovable goofball can't even do that right. Again, classic Jack.

filazahies · « **Reply #9 on:** Apr 17, 2006, 06:37 PM »

Thanks Sitaram and all the others!!
I didn't realise about the "hidden" meaning of this scene, but now that you have explained it... this movie is never going to stop surprising me :o

greenfrog · « **Reply #10 on:** Apr 17, 2006, 06:44 PM »

What a way to flirt !!!! Go Jack !!

Valandil Eluch · « **Reply #11 on:** Apr 17, 2006, 07:07 PM »

omg i'm still surprised by Jack how he flirted to and unknowing of the situation Ennis who never got any of the hidden flirts!!!!!

greenfrog · « **Reply #12 on:** Apr 17, 2006, 07:33 PM »

Quote from: Carlos_H82 on Apr 17, 2006, 07:07 PM

omg i'm still surprised by Jack how he flirted to and unknowing of the situation Ennis who never got any of the hidden flirts!!!!!

I doubt Ennis was used to having a bloke flirt with him. He probably didn't even realise it.

Valandil Eluch · « **Reply #13 on:** Apr 17, 2006, 08:10 PM »

i agree with you

forbiddenlovers · « **Reply #14 on:** Apr 17, 2006, 08:36 PM »

I just see that whole scene of Jack flirting. No matter what Ennis says about not minding trading places, Jack has something to say. Like "not the point, we should both be here" Jack always has something to rebutt what Ennis says. I just think it's Jack flirting, through and through! Such a cute scene!!

greenfrog · « **Reply #15 on:** Apr 17, 2006, 09:22 PM »

Quote from: Carlos_H82 on Apr 17, 2006, 08:10 PM

i agree with you

orangetruck · « **Reply #16 on:** Nov 17, 2008, 03:52 AM »

Mmm, I like this thread. Just found it. That hint of flirting does come across in this scene, specially as he says that line. It floats from his eyes damn near like heat waves

Thanks for the good opener, Sitaram.

tpe · « **Reply #17 on:** Nov 17, 2008, 08:23 AM »

There was a childish tinge when he said that line -- did any of you get the same impression? Certainly an element of "play". The fact that he couldn't cook didn't seem to faze him. I ask myself sometimes: what good would that skill do if you can't cook?

orangetruck · « **Reply #18 on:** Nov 17, 2008, 08:35 AM »

Well, tpe, if he can't cook but can open a can then he can at least spill the beans.

I think he does this in more ways than one

tpe · « **Reply #19 on:** Nov 17, 2008, 08:37 AM »

Quote from: orangetruck on Nov 17, 2008, 08:35 AM

Well, tpe, if he can't cook but can open a can then he can at least spill the beans.

I think he does this in more ways than one

Well, that other scene also seemed to suggest that he wasn't that good with a can opener either.

But we can forgive him -- he was SO distracted at that moment!

orangetruck · « **Reply #20 on:** Nov 17, 2008, 08:39 AM »

Quote from: tpe on Nov 17, 2008, 08:37 AM

Well, that other scene also seemed to suggest that he wasn't that good with a can opener either.

But we can forgive him -- he was SO distracted at that moment!

Exactly.

tpe · « **Reply #21 on:** Nov 17, 2008, 08:43 AM »

Quote from: orangetruck on Nov 17, 2008, 08:39 AM

Exactly.

Let's just say that cooking dinner was probably the furthest from his mind at that moment...

orangetruck · « **Reply #22 on:** Nov 17, 2008, 08:49 AM »

Yes.

I wonder though, could Ennis have picked up on this even subconsciously and tripped a mechanism of some sort? Not that this is unheard of his character. He is quick to insist trading though, not leaving much a bridge at all for any more vibes to come across.

I see so much a front from Ennis, maybe even especially leading up to and during this scene. My initial feeling is that he sensed something more than what was stated, even though he seemed like such an empty shell.

Jack though, oh yeah, he was looking to play the opener

tpe · « **Reply #23 on:** Nov 17, 2008, 09:08 AM »

Quote from: orangetruck on Nov 17, 2008, 08:49 AM

Yes.

I wonder though, could Ennis have picked up on this even subconsciously and tripped a mechanism of some sort? Not that this is unheard of his character. He is quick to insist trading though, not leaving much a bridge at all for any more vibes to come across.

I see so much a front from Ennis, maybe even especially leading up to and during this scene. My initial feeling is that he sensed something more than what was stated, even though he seemed like such an empty shell.

Jack though, oh yeah, he was looking to play the opener

Ennis looked innocent enough in this scene. But yes, I wonder whether Ennis sort of detected Jack's discomfort. In fact, I suspect sometimes that Ennis deliberately wanted it to happen... Perhaps he wasn't so innocent in this particular scene...

Did this happen often -- both of them washing practically in front of the other?

orangetruck · « **Reply #24 on:** Nov 17, 2008, 09:18 AM »

Quote from: tpe on Nov 17, 2008, 09:08 AM

Ennis looked innocent enough in this scene. But yes, I wonder whether Ennis sort of detected Jack's discomfort. In fact, I suspect sometimes that Ennis deliberately wanted it to happen... Perhaps he wasn't so innocent in this particular scene...

Did this happen often -- both of them washing practically in front of the other?

Washing? If by that you mean underlying vibes, then I think it was echoed up until the nights in the tent.

Or if I think of Ennis washing his goods way back in the corner of Jack's eye, then.. well I think I see the same play on each other's space and curiosity.. as well as their own.

What are your thoughts?

tpe · « **Reply #25 on:** Nov 17, 2008, 09:25 AM »

I think there was a sense of provocation -- if not outright. I personally think that Jack definitely wanted less boundaries when it comes to physical/provate spaces. Notice his attempts to try to get himself to be with Ennis at night in camp...

orangetruck · « **Reply #26 on:** Nov 17, 2008, 09:39 AM »

Quote from: tpe on Nov 17, 2008, 09:25 AM

I think there was a sense of provocation -- if not outright. I personally think that Jack definitely wanted less boundaries when it comes to physical/provate spaces. Notice his attempts to try to get himself to be with Ennis at night in camp...

I quote

This is how I probably came to relate and sympathize with each character, even though Ennis took longer for me in the long run. I think that's the beauty of the story, that the narrative was so unbiased and heartbreaking. Unsentimental, yet as personal and as deep as it may ever get.

jackster · « **Reply #27 on:** Nov 18, 2008, 03:04 AM »

Quote from: orangetruck on Nov 17, 2008, 09:39 AM

. . . I think that's the beauty of the story, that the narrative was so unbiased and heartbreaking. Unsentimental, yet as personal and as deep as it may ever get.

Really well put OT. Pretty good summary of the whole BBM experience in my book.

tizi17 · « **Reply #28 on:** Nov 18, 2008, 04:29 AM »

Quote from: tpe on Nov 17, 2008, 09:25 AM

I think there was a sense of provocation -- if not outright. I personally think that Jack definitely wanted less boundaries when it comes to physical/provate spaces. Notice his attempts to try to get himself to be with Ennis at night in camp...

i just found out about this thread...

and another new thing in english... "open a can".. and how that changes that scene to me.. it's incredible..

i always wondered ...
as you rightly all say here..
i mean it wasn't just jack taking ennis' hand and ennis jumping at him.. without ANY built of tension before, going on for some time.. there MUST have been a hinting, gazes, maybe small touches, a play with words, like this one...

well well still learning new things about BBM...

tpe · « **Reply #29 on:** Nov 18, 2008, 08:41 AM »

Quote from: orangetruck on Nov 17, 2008, 09:39 AM

I quote

This is how I probably came to relate and sympathize with each character, even though Ennis took longer for me in the long run. I think that's the beauty of the story, that the narrative was so unbiased and heartbreaking. Unsentimental, yet as personal and as deep as it may ever get.

And the can-opener scene is emblematic of what you say about the character -- he is approachable and "faulty" in a way that calls our sympathy and affection. It is the GENTLENESS of Jack (free of any sentimentality and self-pity) that we love -- and together with it is a gentle humor that we do see in this very scene.

Author Topic: Pretty good with a can opener (Read 36741 times)

greenfrog

greenfrog

greenfrog