Opening Scenes

[Ministering angel]

In the published script the point is made that the truck takes off pretty much as Ennis closes the door, and in earlier scripts there's a bit of conversation beforehand, and the impression is that they've barely passed a word all night, let alone anything untoward.

My impression of Ennis's look is that the scene is set for him as a very wary young man who observes people closely when they cannot see him. Look how he checks out Jack and Aguirre - he's on the alert but doesn't want anyone to see him doing it.

Jo, I like the spit and the audience glance. Film Ennis plays his cards close to his chest yet he knows what's going on around him. It's the wariness which comes of hypervigilance, as far as I can see. He doesn't trust people readily. His uncommonly fast reflexes are part of that. He's always ready to strike first (as his dad taught him).

[CANSTANDIT]

yeah, yeah, hypervigilance.....I feel like he thinks  we, the audience, are 'lookin at ya, like they all know, too'.

[Ministering angel]

I should add that I feel that hypervigilance comes about not through any general sense of wariness but because, somewhere deep inside, he's taken the lesson of Earl personally, as well he might. IOW not a conscious awareness of his sexuality but a nebulous uncertainty. Makes me think that if Jack hadn't befriended him for so long beforehand, there would have been blood shed a lot sooner.

[nagsheadsea412]

Ennis is a tough sinewy cowboy who spits and grunts and scratches, is silent, wary, watchful and he really and truly was a man's man..in the widest sense possible

[bjoe27]

The opening scene will always stick out in my mind when i think of brokeback.

Firstly because of the both the character's entrances. We immediately see then ennis is poor as he has all his belongings in one small bag. Ennis immediately comes across as closed in and almost tight in his body language and this is the characters two twaits that let him down throughout the film.

Jack on the otherhand is the total opposite he comes in and immediately slams the bonnet of his truck exclaiming "shit". This does invite a wary look from ennis at first but when jack turns around and looks at him directly (showing jack to be the open one) ennis does look down at his boots shyly. i certainly got that intention when i first saw this.

Jack is the one that doesn't make his looks towards ennis something of a bother to him. This is adamant outside and in the trailer too. Alternatively ennis always makes sure that when he looks at jack that jack's not lookin back at him. Ennis certainly has no problem of looking directly at Aguirre but with jack he's very wary.

i will finish or i'll keep goin on and on but this is definitly one movie that i have kept in my favourite pile since it came out.

[CANSTANDIT]

Welcome, bjoe27.. .. And thanks for the detailed commentary..It never really occurred to me that Ennis does look Aguirre in the eye, as opposed to avoiding Jack's eyes..good call. Enjoy the Themes/Scenes threads-they are a blast!

[Desecra]

Welcome, bjoe27.   I agree that the eye contact is interesting in that scene.  How about the way they stand too?

[Ministering angel]

Interesting observation, bjoe27, that Ennis is not shy of all people, just wary of Jack. Welcome to the forum. You'll find plenty to like here.

[bjoe27]

Thanks guys im glad i came across this forum, even if i am 2 years late.

[nagsheadsea412]

The opening scenes were the best because they were the subtle....blatant maybe...build up...of what was to come..the tilting of the hats..repression of Ennis..the postures, the blown away hither look stance of Jack...I could watch them endlessly and then turn it off happily

[Oregondoggie]

In the movie preview, there is a voice over.  Jack says "Well since we're going to be working together, I reckon it's time we start drinking together."
Was this from a scene that got cut in the movie?  Or was it done only for the preview which immediately shows Jack and Ennis in the bar having beers?

[BayCityJohn]

In the movie preview, there is a voice over.  Jack says "Well since we're going to be working together, I reckon it's time we start drinking together."
Was this from a scene that got cut in the movie?  Or was it done only for the preview which immediately shows Jack and Ennis in the bar having beers?

from an earlier script, that line came right after "Nice to know you, Ennis Del Mar"

don't know why it was cut. probably just a timing issue.

[Oregondoggie]

from an earlier script, that line came right after "Nice to know you, Ennis Del Mar"

don't know why it was cut. probably just a timing issue.

Film really didn't need it.

[Marge_Innavera]

Yeah, that would make sense since the next shot was of them walking into the bar.  The shots you see of the town make it pretty clear that they're killing time and are going to do some drinking together.

[BayCityJohn]

Film really didn't need it.

Yes, but wouldn't it have been nice to be able to have an entire topic devoted to that line