Opening Scenes

[CANSTANDIT]

You are in for a wonderful ride, Speechless.....

[speechless]

I hope so!

[mrbluebird]

I don't think I am imagining this.  At the beginning, when it says "1963... Signal, Wyoming" at exactly that moment, Ennis turns around... not to look at the truck that is leaving... he is looking at... us!  Just before he walks between the two black-and-white "gate" markers.  Almost as if he knows we are here...

I recently converted my DVD into an MPEG file, and that was a big help... it is MUCH easier to go back and forth to compare scenes, to back up, and to freeze frames on a computer.  This works much better than trying to do the same thing with a DVD.  The "bookend scenes" are much easier to compare.  And on a computer, you can duplicate the file (usually, you have to duplicate the file with a different name; you cannot open one file twice) and so have two files open side by side to compare.  That is really useful.  Everything in the movie happens so fast, I am just amazed at what I can see when I freeze a frame for a few seconds.

I think the musical score also gives us clues, and I'm a sucker for the guitars (almost like John Mayer fans on Dave Chappelle).

Themes repeat for a reason, even if they are variations by grades.  Listen to what happens at Signal and follows the clues later.  Also interesting is the music when Ennis finds the dead sheep and when he reads the returned postcard.

The part in Brokeback Mountain that made see it's depth was when Ennis seemed to play "Melissa" at the jukebox. The scene seems shot with the song in mind, with Ennis as the gypsy going through crossroads. There's more, including a bunch of barely audible audio and some that don't exactly match the scripts or subtitles.  I posted a few notes on things I noticed early last year.

I agree with your ideas about viewing on the computer. I've even thought I should bring the files into a video editor and cut it up so that similar cuts are on the same layer/track with nice big thumbnails for easy viewing.

[CANSTANDIT]

With so much to ponder after Heath Ledger's untimely death, my mind continues to go over the parallels of the promise of youth, and how RL always lays those obstacles in your path....


Ennis walks away from the truck, putting on his Jacket-his cover-  turns to the camera, spits over his shoulder-and in that moment, gives us the nutshell of what Ennis's conflicts are.

He comes from a very specific place-the steely world of iconically masculine men, as repped by the muscular truck and truckdriver. He glances back briefly after the quck doorslam-he's competent and strong, seems to be that message-and always looks back to his originas. Then he turns towards Signal-and Jack- and very smoothly puts that jacket on-the emotionally biege coat that will define the constant conflict within. The two sides almost nullify each other-make them neutral. Biege. Complete repression. Its almost comfortable to him.

He then turns back and spits over his shoulder, offering a glance at US-'you ever get the feelin.....lookin at ya, like they know?' yeah, we know, Ennis, we know.


Thank you again, Heath, God rest your soul, and Ang for such brilliant moments of definition.

[KZ]

It's led up to, of course, by J&E walking in lockstep to the bar, and calling that shot brilliant doesn't do it justice.

Did this shot echo for anybody else a similar shot (involving Joe Buck and Ratso Rizzo) in Midnight Cowboy?  It struck me right away.

[CANSTANDIT]

It's led up to, of course, by J&E walking in lockstep to the bar, and calling that shot brilliant doesn't do it justice.

Did this shot echo for anybody else a similar shot (involving Joe Buck and Ratso Rizzo) in Midnight Cowboy?  It struck me right away.

I never picked up on that...you're right.

[KZ]

I wonder if it was intentional on Ang Lee's part.  The director of MC (Schlesinger) also, I believe, directed that beautiful film about a gay/bi/straight triangle, Sunday, Bloody Sunday.

[Ministering angel]

Did he? I loved that film. I recall the audience gasping when Peter Finch kissed Murray Head, and me thinking, Oh for heavens sake, get over it.

[CANSTANDIT]

I haven't seen those films in ages.....I may have to rent them.

[MsMercury]

It's plain as day, Jack Twist has a true Holy Shit moment when he kicks his truck, turns  and sees EDM hunched against that trailer....

If i remember right, that is exactly what the lipreader said he was saying as his mouth moved, when he leaned against his truck.

I never noticed his mouth moving! Now there's something else for me to watch for next time I watch the movie!

I always liked that scene as Jack leans against the truck. To me the body language says it all. He's flirting. I love that pose.  It's drool worthy for sure.   

[Marz]

the opening scenes are stunning! i love the way jack is checking ennis out in the mirror when hes shaving!

[BookJunkie]

It's plain as day, Jack Twist has a true Holy Shit moment when he kicks his truck, turns  and sees EDM hunched against that trailer....

If i remember right, that is exactly what the lipreader said he was saying as his mouth moved, when he leaned against his truck.

I never noticed his mouth moving! Now there's something else for me to watch for next time I watch the movie!

I always liked that scene as Jack leans against the truck. To me the body language says it all. He's flirting. I love that pose.  It's drool worthy for sure.   

Yes absolutely!  That scene reaffirms my belief that Jack already was aware of his own sexual preferences, whereas Ennis was yet to discover his.  The first time I saw the movie, I was drawn in from the very first moment, when Ennis got out of that truck, and I love that scene where they are both waiting outside the trailer.

[Marz]

yeah by leaning back its like hes presenting himself to ennis saying 'here i am this is me' even though ennis,at the time would of had no idea that thats why jack is doing it

[Ministering angel]

Several months ago, over on Planet Heath, one (sadly now ex-) poster juxtaposed a series of animal pics with BBM pics. For the scene of Jack leaning against the truck he chose a peacock in full display with a peahen standing in front of him. That pretty much sums up Jack at that moment.

[Sandy]

Had that pose been staged in a gay bar, the message of cruising and opennes for action would have been unmistakable. It's ambiguous in the story and the movie because I would wager neither had been to a gay bar or knew that "code." (I do wonder about the Black and Blue Eagle, sometimes.  )
Edited for spelling