6/08/2006

June 8th discussion : Brokeback Mountain


Can't make it to the discussion group meeting? Click on the Comments link at the bottom of this post and tell us what you think about this film!

Director: Ang Lee

Screenplay: Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana; based on the short story by Annie Proulx

Stars: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway, Randy Quaid

Plot: “An epic love story set against the sweeping vistas of Alberta's Rocky Mountains, Brokeback Mountain tells the story of two young men - a ranch-hand and a rodeo cowboy - who meet in the summer of 1963, and unexpectedly forge a lifelong connection, one whose complications, joys and tragedies provide a testament to the endurance and power of love.” Focus Features plot summary via imdb.com

Review links:

Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times

David Edelstein Slate

Lisa Anne Cockrel Christianity Today

Read more reviews:

IMDB

Metacritic

8 comments:

Liz B said...

I've enjoyed Heath Ledger's work since Roar; but his acting in Brokeback was simply amazing. And the way his character aged was also very impressive; never over the top, just how his face got more worn.

Anonymous said...

The group had a nearly 2 hour conversation about the film. We talked about how repressed society was (and still is) and how Ennis is a perfect example of this. His tamped-down emotions explode out of him, sometimes violently, like the storms that sweep across the Wyoming skies. Jack seems more in touch with feelings and is more outgoing, but there was disagreement as to whether he truly was a risk-taker, since he settled into his unhappy marriage and work situation and never really followed through on his life plans.

There was a lot of symbolism in the film: the sheep (especially the one killed during Jack & Ennis's first night together), the weather, the landscape. One participant noted the marks on the back of Ennis's hand during his last embrace with Jack in the parking lot; could he be burning himself with cigarettes? Also noted was Lureen's heavy makeup and smeared nail polish when she was speaking to Ennis on the phone. Her mask of calmness and propriety showed cracks.

We agreed Jack was definitely more expressive towards Ennis, and more willing to imagine a future together. Ennis seemed unable to express himself in almost any manner, possible due to his upbringing, the loss of his parents and there being “no room” for him in his sibling’s families. He feared loss so never really attached himself to anyone, except perhaps his daughters.

The last time they see each other, in the parking lot, Ennis’s breakdown may be brought on by a combination of jealousy (Jack fooling around with other men), fear of committing to being with Jack (his fear of being killed for living with another man), and realization that he’s been in limbo between the life Jack imagines for them and the life he thought he’d lead, with wife, kids, a job. He’s “nobody” and “nothing” because of this failure to take the risk of loving and losing. Jack wants a lifelong commitment that Ennis is unable to give him.

We didn’t really come to any conclusion about Ennis’s final line, “Jack, I swear…” A few people couldn’t decipher what he said, so didn’t have any analysis of it. I think Jack was in a frame of mind, thinking about his daughter marrying and making a family, and that she wanted him at the wedding, that made him reflect on what he was unable to have with Jack. It was interesting how Ennis’s initial reaction to Alma Jr.’s announcement was to say he was going to be working somewhere on a roundup, but a minute later spontaneously says he’ll be there, his daughter’s wedding is more important than his duty to his employer. I think his impulsive decision to be there for his daughter was Jack’s influence, Ennis realizing the people he loves are more important than duty to an outsider and whatever consequences not being at work might bring.

We also talked about the significance of the two shirts that Ennis takes from Jack’s closet when visiting the Twist home. The shirts are hidden in the closet, like their love had to be hidden. When Ennis finds them, Jack’s denim is on the outside, Ennis’s shirt in inside, but at the end, in Ennis’s closet it’s the opposite. Ennis has finally “internalized” Jack in his heart, that’s what makes him able to be spontaneous and decide to be at Alma Jr.’s wedding. It's also interesting how Jack's mother touches Ennis, comfortingly, and tells him it's ok to go up to Jack's old room. She seems to know he'll find the shirts, and has a bag ready for Ennis to take them away in. Despite the oppressive, almost crushing anger and control her husband seems to posess, she manages to communicate, through the meaningful way she looks at Ennis, that she recognizes and appreciates his love for her son.

Overall, the group was deeply moved by the film as a whole. One group member has seen the film 5 times, another purchased a copy for their dvd library. This film can stand up to repeated viewings, and will probably become a modern classic, not just because of the subject matter, but because it's a convergence of a quality script, skilled actors and a masterful director.

Jill
DVD discussion group moderator

Liz B said...

Ennis & Alma Jr: What I found sad was up to that point, Ennis had been willing to say no to his employer to be with Jack; obviously not always, but I got the sense that he made more of an effort to have those times away with Jack than he did for his children, and that his saying yes to Alma was a beginning of his no longer compartmentalizing his life. His children were no longer being shut out.

I read in the NYT this weekend about this film v. the searchers and how the final shot of the movie is framed similarly, but with Ennis it's to show the person trapped by civilization looking out at the freedom of the nature while with Ethan (JW's character in Searchers) its about the person being excluded from civilization.

Anonymous said...

That's true, Ennis barely gives a second thought to skipping out on work (or home) to be with Jack. Alma Jr. seems braced for her father's rejection and visibly surprised/pleased that he changes his mind.

I have to read the NYT article on The Seachers. I'm not a big fan of westerns, so I missed any visual references to genre classics.

Jill

Chris said...

I was at the discussion and was very impressed with a participant's observation about how Aguirre watching Jack and Ennis through binoculars was a metaphor for society watching. Or (and this is probably my extrapolation)gay people's perception that the straights are always watching them and looking for "abnormal" behavior to pass judgement on. I hadn't seen it that way.
There is so much symbolism in this movie and many shades of meaning. I think that's what makes it so powerful. It works on the surface as a straightforward tale, but there are also layers of meaning that people perceive based on their life experiences. It's a very powerful movie.

Anonymous said...

I found the last line in the movie Brokeback "Jack, I swear." provocative. It certainly draws from the experience of the viewer to judge it's meaning which makes this last line all the more classic.
But, judging from the context of the movie, the only other time The words "I swear" are spoken is the last scene in which Ennis tells Jack -if he knew what he doesn't know about the mexico trips he'd kill him himself.-
So, I understand the last line to mean ....had Ennis known, he'd of stopped him from going to Mexico or killed him. If he'd succeeded (in stopping him) he'd be alive.
Now only leaving him with his memories and feelings for Jack.
Nonetheless, it also shows his own personal realization of how he loved him although too late to express it. A significant growth for him; when although the more the realistic of the two, definitely the more repressed by social constraints.

clare said...

About the final words "I swear". The first scene where Jack and Ennis come together with knowing and affection, Jack whispers "I swear" 3 times to Ennis. Finally, 20 years later, Ennis is able to say "I swear" to Jack, too late. I heard that as each swearing love, and to swear means it's true and binding and forever.
The story is a heart-rending tragedy, an extraordinary film. Every movement, every nuance of face, hands and eyes in every scene is important. It rewards constant and studied viewing and only improves by doing so.

Unknown said...

I imagined the "I swear" like this. The shirts were there with ennis' around jack's, symbolizing his arms wrapped around him. The picture was like them being up on the mountain together in said position. The I swear was ennis' way of saying I love you to jack. Like jack said I swear up on Brokeback Mountain so many years ago.