How Brokeback affected me

[Nick_F]

  I'll NEVER go back to being the person I was before.

Amen to that! Me neither!

[BayCityJohn]

  I'll NEVER go back to being the person I was before.

Amen to that! Me neither!

I just wish I could go back to the body I had before.

[danac]

[]

Thanks Danac!  that was my post that Dave was quoting.

Well, it's funny, John...and I soooo need that.
Thank God for all of you...I'd have to be hospitalized if it wasn't for this site!

[mcnell1120]

I just wish I could go back to the body I had before.

Ha.....my dream!!!   in my next life.............lol

[mcnell1120]

I am so grateful for this film. I'll NEVER go back to being the person I was before.

We all have become so much richer...met so many good people.....I'll never go back either !!

[Brokaholic]

One feature of great art is the ability to present a concrete form with elements that are open to interpretation and that can only be answered in our own hearts. 

One more person who nails the essence of this movie!

The continuing discussion here about these elements is testament to the great art of this film.  We just never see anything on film that stimulates such discussion and exploration of our own feelings in the context of the film as BBM has.  The longer we explore this film, the more it withstands our scrutiny and stimulates more discussion.

Last time I checked there were over a hundred thousand posts on this forum so yes there is some real discussion and analysis going on here. I won't even consider all the discussion that is going on at dinner tables around the world.

It becomes more amazing as time goes by.  Truly great film making.  The best I have seen in my life...maybe ever.

Only movie that could make me join a forum and talk about 2 fictional characters none stop like they were my best friends.

[JohnJay]

The more thsi movie sinks in, the more i feel sorry for Jack.. He knew wha the wanted but did not get anything, not even his last wish was granted him.. about the ashes..

I wonder, what were his feelings after the last meeting, did he in some way say goodbye to Ennis? Was the relationship in his eyes over? I mean, he said he could not go on like this.. Did he die, thinking that he and Ennis were not together anymore? Did he die so sad?

I was having the same thoughts as you after my second viewing of the movie last weekend.  When I read the short story before my second viewing, there is a paragraph after the last meeting between Ennis and Jack in which Jack has the flashback to the dozy embrace scene from their first summer on BBM.  He is thinking that this is his favorite moment from that time.  He describes it as a sweet and charming moment, even understanding that Ennis had to come up from behind because he couldn't do it facing him.  Then he is thinking that maybe this was as far as they ever got.  The final words he says in that paragraph are - "Let be, let be".  This continues to puzzle me.  Does anyone know exactly what he meant by that?  Does it mean the same as "let it be"?  Was he letting go of Ennis finally, knowing that he was suffering and would not ever be able to live with him openly?  I too want to know if he thought it was over between them.  I wondered if that was why he was with the neighbor in Texas and told his father that he was bringing him up there.  But somebody here answered that by saying that the fact that he never did bring him up there was because he couldn't let go of Ennis.  There was so much pain in that final scene between them, so much agony and unbearable suffering.  Did he think that he should let go of Ennis to ease his pain?  I want to think that he never gave up on Ennis and died still loving him and holding on to the possibility that they could be together.  I just wondered what some of you think about this, because it has really been bothering me and I can't get it out of my mind.  Maybe I need some peace of mind, too.

I've only seen BBM once, so I can't be sure I have all my memories in the correct order.  Was it after their last meeting that there is the close up of Jack in the cab of his truck, driving away with tears welling up and him wiping a tear off his cheek?  I didn't recall Jack being so sad at previous partings... perhaps because there would always be an expected "next time".  Maybe that emotion welling up in Jack was his realization that perhaps it was it (i.e., over between them).  Hate to say that, because Jack IS the hero... but also human, and therefore not a Superhero!  Perhaps he knew it was best to let go, and not put any more pressure on Ennis, and perhaps he (Jack) might try and find a substitute... Such as that newly married husband of his wife's chatty friend Jack danced with.  That guy WAS comming on to Jack.  Of course we'll never know.  But that doesn't lessen the greatness of Jack's 20 year committment. It was just his realization that Ennis would probably never come around.  It would take Jack's death for that to happen.... and that's what's so tragic.

[BayCityJohn]

I've only seen BBM once, so I can't be sure I have all my memories in the correct order.  Was it after their last meeting that there is the close up of Jack in the cab of his truck, driving away with tears welling up and him wiping a tear off his cheek?  I didn't recall Jack being so sad at previous partings... perhaps because there would always be an expected "next time".  Maybe that emotion welling up in Jack was his realization that perhaps that was it.  Hate to say that, because Jack IS the hero... but also human, and therefore not a Superhero!  Perhaps he knew it was best to let go, and not put any more pressure on Ennis, and perhaps he (Jack) might try and find a substitute... Such as that newly married husband of his wife's chatty friend Jack danced with.  That guy WAS comming on to Jack.  Of course we'll never know.  But that doesn't lessen the greatness of Jack's 20 year committment. It was just his realization that Ennis would probably never come around.  It would take Jack's death for that to happen.... and that's what's so tragic.

No that was after Jack drove all the way to Ennis's house after the divorce, hoping finally to be with Ennis. I did the same thing with my Alan when he got divorced but I only had to drive 5 hours.

[Brokaholic]

I've only seen BBM once, so I can't be sure I have all my memories in the correct order.  Was it after their last meeting that there is the close up of Jack in the cab of his truck, driving away with tears welling up and him wiping a tear off his cheek?  I didn't recall Jack being so sad at previous partings... perhaps because there would always be an expected "next time".  Maybe that emotion welling up in Jack was his realization that perhaps that was it.  Hate to say that, because Jack IS the hero... but also human, and therefore not a Superhero!  Perhaps he knew it was best to let go, and not put any more pressure on Ennis, and perhaps he (Jack) might try and find a substitute... Such as that newly married husband of his wife's chatty friend Jack danced with.  That guy WAS comming on to Jack.  Of course we'll never know.  But that doesn't lessen the greatness of Jack's 20 year committment. It was just his realization that Ennis would probably never come around.  It would take Jack's death for that to happen.... and that's what's so tragic.

John that was the aftermath of the scene when he goes to see Ennis after he finds out about the divorce hoping they can finally be together and Ennis sends him packing.
Jake pulled that scene off really well you can literally feel his pain.

[JohnJay]

Thanks, Bay & Broke!.  I knew I shouldn't be commenting till I've seen it at least 5 times!  BTW, that theater where I saw it for the first time yesterday... is actually showing it until NEXT Thursday... not till today like I thought.  You know where I'm gonna be this weekend!

[paintedshoes]

  I'll NEVER go back to being the person I was before.

Amen to that! Me neither!

I just wish I could go back to the body I had before.

Me, too, John, me, too...sigh.  But I'd rather be the PERSON that I am today.

[BayCityJohn]

Thanks, Bay & Broke!.  I knew I shouldn't be commenting till I've seen it at least 5 times!  BTW, that theater where I saw it for the first time yesterday... is actually showing it until NEXT Thursday... not till today like I thought.  You know where I'm gonna be this weekend!

JohnJay:  Don't hold back on comments. That's what the forum is for. There are no dumb questions.

Tonight is the last showing here in Bay City so you know where I will be.

[BayCityJohn]

  I'll NEVER go back to being the person I was before.

Amen to that! Me neither!

I just wish I could go back to the body I had before.

Me, too, John, me, too...sigh.  But I'd rather be the PERSON that I am today.

I'd rather be the Person I am today WITH the Body I had before. Now that would be awesome. And I'm happier being the person I am today that the person i was before I experienced Brokeback Mountain.

[jakelikethat]

i'd rather be the person i am today, with the body of heath ledger.  then i'd be going after jake gyllenhaal !!!

 

[MindyM]

I've only seen BBM once, so I can't be sure I have all my memories in the correct order.  Was it after their last meeting that there is the close up of Jack in the cab of his truck, driving away with tears welling up and him wiping a tear off his cheek?  I didn't recall Jack being so sad at previous partings... perhaps because there would always be an expected "next time".  Maybe that emotion welling up in Jack was his realization that perhaps that was it.  Hate to say that, because Jack IS the hero... but also human, and therefore not a Superhero!  Perhaps he knew it was best to let go, and not put any more pressure on Ennis, and perhaps he (Jack) might try and find a substitute... Such as that newly married husband of his wife's chatty friend Jack danced with.  That guy WAS comming on to Jack.  Of course we'll never know.  But that doesn't lessen the greatness of Jack's 20 year committment. It was just his realization that Ennis would probably never come around.  It would take Jack's death for that to happen.... and that's what's so tragic.

John that was the aftermath of the scene when he goes to see Ennis after he finds out about the divorce hoping they can finally be together and Ennis sends him packing.
Jake pulled that scene off really well you can literally feel his pain.

With all due respect, I do not think that Ennis just sent him packing.  This is one of the scenes that keeps flashing back to me, over and over.  It brought up a few things in me.  First, you see the juxtaposition of the characters in the scene, Ennis is in the middle between his girls and Jack.  I remember him standing there and looking at his girls and then at Jack.  The man wants to tear himself into two parts so that he can be with both of them.  One of the reasons that I liked Ennis so much was that he wouldn't turn his back on his children.  I have abandonment issues from childhood that I will not discuss even here, but I can tell you that if he had left those little girls I never would have forgiven him for it.  I loved and respected how he felt about them. I think that, next to Jack, they were the little loves of his life.  Parents sometimes have to sacrifice their own happiness for their children.  You know in that scene that Ennis wants to be with Jack, you can see it in his eyes when he tells Jack how sorry he is.  Everyone thinks Jack is the hero, and I do like Jack myself, but Ennis is the one who got into my heart and soul.  He lives and breathes inside me because there is something deep that he touched.  I am not sure what that is yet, but I know the realization will come in time.  Ennis did the right thing and maybe people here don't like it or understand it, but I do.  If he had left those little girls to go off with Jack, it would have scarred their little souls forever and I know what I am talking about here.  I do love that Jack made it easy for him, as he always did, by not showing his disappointment to Ennis.  It's only when he gets in his truck and drives off that we see him break down.  It hurt me to see that and I did feel his pain.  I felt torn in two myself watching this scene.  It is so unfair that someone has to be hurt.  Wouldn't life be wonderful if we could make everyone happy in our lives and do what we want to do.  But that is not the case, there are hard and difficult choices that have to be made.  I always think about what President Kennedy said, "Life is unfair".  Never more so than in BBM.