Last Scene w/ Ennis and Jack Together

[fofol]

In the sixteen years since the reunion kiss, the guys have rarely talked about the sex they're enjoying with one another, much less have they discussed anything about their emotions.  Not talking about their emotions is a direct consequence of "I'm not; me neither."  The reason that their first summer was so great is that they were able to justify the sex they had together as the same kind of sex that any two 'straight' boys would be able to share, and that kind of sex comes with the warning of 'no feelings necessary (or allowed) in sport fucking,'  because once we associate an emotional bonding with the sex we're sharing, sport fucking becomes more like love, which is so 'woman-like' that both our guys 'know' it is not possible between two men without the men being queer, and they've already established to their mutual satisfaction that they're not queer, so whatever this thing is, it's not love...  This is why it takes Jack sixteen years to begin to say, "Tell you what.   Sometimes I miss you so bad...," and a long pause to work up the courage to actually say the words out loud to Ennis.  I.e., film Jack is finally telling Ennis what we've known all along, but he's confessing emotional attachment while he still believes that Ennis believes that emotional attachment means he's queer...  Which in turn means that Ennis's later observation 'boys like you' doesn't come from nowhere.

[Marc]

I'm rarely on this thread, so maybe this has been suggested before.

When Ennis says, "I'm nothin', I'm nowhere," I think he's referring what life is like when Jack's not around. 

On another level, he could be blaming Jack for bringing out his gay side.  If Jack weren't around, Ennis would still be married and happier.

[andy]

The nothin n nowhere remark is to me Ennis's saying that in order to have been able to meet up as they'd done over the years and ditching whatever job got in the way of that, he's never been able to establish himself in the workforce market and is therefore those two things.

I don't see Jack as being anything like Ennis in his 'I ain't queer' state. When Jack said it(movie), he was already wise enough to see that if he wanted 'this thing' to continue, he'd better toe the Ennis line. Jack may have been just as poorly educated as Ennis, but I reckon his grasp of emotions and sexuality is on an altogether different level and he knew exactly what was what and he played the part that he knew Ennis wanted of him until he dared to let out something of what he was feeling. IMHO.

[killersmom]

^^^^^ Good comment, Andy.

I remember the look on Jack's face, when he agreed with Ennis when Ennis said "I ain't queer". It was quickly said and Jack's look was so anxious, wondering if Ennis was going to believe him.

[fofol]

The nothin n nowhere remark is to me Ennis's saying that in order to have been able to meet up as they'd done over the years and ditching whatever job got in the way of that, he's never been able to establish himself in the workforce market and is therefore those two things.

I don't see Jack as being anything like Ennis in his 'I ain't queer' state. When Jack said it(movie), he was already wise enough to see that if he wanted 'this thing' to continue, he'd better toe the Ennis line. Jack may have been just as poorly educated as Ennis, but I reckon his grasp of emotions and sexuality is on an altogether different level and he knew exactly what was what and he played the part that he knew Ennis wanted of him until he dared to let out something of what he was feeling. IMHO.

What actually confirms Andy's thought for me is a line from the story, when Ennis is in Jack's room:  Ennis sees a picture of a movie star on Jack's bedroom wall that has enough age on it that the star's hair has turned magenta.  From this, we can extrapolate that Jack's exposure to the world outside of Lightning Flat was far greater than anything we're told about Ennis's knowledge of the world beyond Sage.

[Goby]

"Tell you what...the truth is, sometimes I miss you so much I can hardly stand it".  They both look so sad and stare at the fire.  I think it's heartbreaking

It was...
Just look at Jacks face, all those subtle movements, the hesitations, the stare... So powerfull, heartacheing... From that face you just can read everything he has been going through in all those years.

Its top notch what both actors pulled off in this sequence btw (eventhough ist a smaller scene and not one of the 'iconic' ones, its the one scene of the whole film that gets under my skin the most)

[kathy]

   
     

[gattaca]

It was...
Just look at Jacks face, all those subtle movements, the hesitations, the stare... So powerfull, heartacheing... From that face you just can read everything he has been going through in all those years.

Its top notch what both actors pulled off in this sequence btw (eventhough ist a smaller scene and not one of the 'iconic' ones, its the one scene of the whole film that gets under my skin the most)

Nailed.  Not trying to start any sort of argument, just stating my feelings.  For ME, this is one of MY top 3 touchstone scenes in the film - ABSOLUTELY brilliantly acted by Jake and Heath.  Sure, there are others which pack more in-the-gut punch,  such as the telephone call to Laureen,  Ennis visiting Jack's parents ranch, finding the shirts and the iconic last shot.  What reverberates is by this juncture, we realize how much Jack loves Ennis and he's desperately, in his own way, reaching out to the reclusive Ennis yet again, with a deep soul searching sincerity in his eyes, only to be rebuffed by Ennis's fear. It really tightens my chest everytime I think about the spoken lines or especially if I view it.   Cheers,   Vincent

[morrobay]

When I saw the movie the first time I didn't know anything about the story.  So when I heard Jack say "Tell you what...the truth is, sometimes I miss you so much I can hardly stand it".....I was thinking - Oh my God, what's Ennis going to say?  It's been said out loud!  Now they can comfort each other; even knowing they can't be together, finally, after all this time, they can let each other in.  I seriously thought he would say something like "Me, too."  Or "I know..."  Or at least somehow acknowledge Jack's pain, and his love.

But no...there was nothing...and seeing the next shot with Ennis's arm over Jack as they slept did nothing to ease the pain...

[andy]

Jack must have felt like he'd fallen in love with a brick or stone. No wonder he blew up the way he did in this scene. It's another wonder it took him so long, actually.

[nataliemarie]

Actually HE was a courageous man ... I should read what I type.  Sorry.

[kathy]

When I saw the movie the first time I didn't know anything about the story.  So when I heard Jack say "Tell you what...the truth is, sometimes I miss you so much I can hardly stand it".....I was thinking - Oh my God, what's Ennis going to say?  It's been said out loud!  Now they can comfort each other; even knowing they can't be together, finally, after all this time, they can let each other in.  I seriously thought he would say something like "Me, too."  Or "I know..."  Or at least somehow acknowledge Jack's pain, and his love.

But no...there was nothing...and seeing the next shot with Ennis's arm over Jack as they slept did nothing to ease the pain...

In the (next to last?) original version of the screenplay by DO and LM (2003 I believe), Ennis does answer Jack with the statement "I know the feeling".   But this wasn't in the film.  I wish it had been. 

I've always felt Ennis was feeling exactly like Jack re this statement, but - the way Ennis is and no matter how he really feels for Jack - he just couldn't get those words out of his mouth.  It's the way he is and it is so sad.  Ennis has always felt as much love for Jack as Jack for  Ennis, but he is so fearful and scared of them.  He will not admit that "boys like you" also refers to him. 

kathy

[kathy]

True.

I have always thought of my daddy and Heath when I read these words years ago.   It's such a beautiful verse and I want to believe it so much, but somehow I have a hard time doing this. 

kathy     

[BlueJeanDarlin]

I've often complained on here that the Dozy Embrace in the film isn't nearly long enough. The paragraph is my absolute favorite in the short story - it's so powerful.
I think it's a real shame the scene in the film is somewhat cut short. We don't see Ennis's love and tenderness for Jack too often like it's presented in this scene, and it's one of the very few times the boys are perfectly at ease with each other.

I found this slow motion edit of the Dozy Embrace on YouTube that combines both story and film. It's beautifully done. I can't believe I only found it just now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=UxW0npSi9U0

[killersmom]

And the look of such love on Ennis' face, so seldom seen, as he pushes away from Jack

Jack's utter contentment as he watches Ennis ride off.

Made me cry yet again.