[Shawn Cornwell]

As I recall, the "flashback" I referred to happened during an Ennis scene, wherein the audience was seeing the younger Jack and Ennis through Ennis' perspective, although I guess Lee does leave this moment open to an individual's interpretation. The fact that both characters did appear younger led to my assumption this was intended as a flashback sequence, harking back to the couple's happier days on the mountain. I'll have to see how the scene plays out on a second viewing.

1/22- I saw the movie again and finally read the short story- BOTH Jack and Ennis are in the scene preceding the flashback, but only Jack is seen immediately following the flashback, as he watches Ennis drive away. As mentioned in another post, in the short story Jack is the one who recalls this earlier scene on the mountain. . .

[Vickie_M]

I got the impression that it was Jack's flashback too.


Shalit apologised.


From GLAAD's web site:

Quote:

In reviewing the fictional movie "Brokeback Mountain", I expressed my opinion of "Jack", one of the fictional characters. It is my responsibility to my audience to present my views of the film and the actions of the film's fictional characters. My view of "Jack" may be contrary to the views of others, but we are all entitled to our opinions.

In describing the behavior of "Jack" I used words ("sexual predator") that I now discover have angered, agitated, and hurt many people. I did not intend to use a word that many in the gay community consider incendiary. Baron Lytton wrote in 1839 that "the pen is mightier than the sword," and this matter proves again how hurtful words can be. I very much regret using them.

The GLAAD website carried an assertion that instead of reviewing "Brokeback Mountain", which is my job, I "used the occasion to promote defamatory anti-gay prejudice to a national audience." This is untrue. It is unfair to me and must be corrected. Everything in my life and in my family's life demonstrates beyond doubt that I am not homophobic. Indeed, the contrary is true, and everyone who knows me knows it.

I certainly had no intention of casting aspersions on anyone in the gay community or on the community itself. I regret any emotional hurt that may have resulted from my review of "Brokeback Mountain."

Gene Shalit

[MichaelBA]

Sort of a non-apology from Shalit. Rather in the vein of "I'm sorry you feel that way" instead of "I'm sorry."

Judging only Shalit's review, because I haven't seen the film, it seems that Shalit was trying to say that the "Jack" character was selfishly putting both his physical desires and his emotional connection to the other man above the potentially devastating social risks they faced in that time and place. Perhaps Shalit is trying to say this was irresponsible and inconsiderate?

Looking beyond any hint of homophobia and just at the way the story plays out on film, has anybody who has seen BBM felt that anything sexually predatory about the character "Jack" is in some way objectively applicable?

[Chuck Mayer]

I think he used a poor choice of words to express something I read months ago by Dave Poland. They are not equals in the relationship. The film makes it clear that Ennis has one true love. He is with his wife, he is with Jack, and maybe that cute waitress. That's it.

Clearly, Jack is not so monogamous (or bigamous, but you get the point). In terms of homosexuality. Jack has been with several men, and Ennis with one. One could argue it's a great love for Ennis, and merely a fascination with Jack. I don't buy into that, but the evidence is there.

I don't buy the predator angle at all.

Ennis is "on top" during the first encounter. Ennis goes back to Jack after it. Ennis initiates physical/romantic after their first few years apart. Ennis is clearly excited about Jack, loves him (and being with him) deeply. There is a mountain of evidence disputing the specific claims Shalit makes, but quite a bit less on the generic unevenness of their relationship.

I would agree with Michael. That's the "sorry I offended anyone" apology, which is all GLAAD deserved in my opinion. Did they apologize to him for their specific attack?

[Vickie_M]

Shalit deserves no apology. There was absolutely NOTHING predatory about Jack's behavior.

I would assume that anyone who thinks there is would also use that term to describe Johnny Cash in Walk The Line concerning his pursuing June Carter.

[SteveJKo]

I don't normally go for repeat viewing at theaters, but I defintely plan a return trip to this "Mountain" before it leaves the local cinemas.

I ended up seeing this film two days in a row. Though I didn't think it was possible, the film hit me even harder on the second viewing.

[Sean Laughter]

Quote:

Judging only Shalit's review, because I haven't seen the film, it seems that Shalit was trying to say that the "Jack" character was selfishly putting both his physical desires and his emotional connection to the other man above the potentially devastating social risks they faced in that time and place. Perhaps Shalit is trying to say this was irresponsible and inconsiderate?

I haven't read his review, but just going by what you say there, what he seems to imply is a much more benevolent thing than one assumes when one hears the words "sexual predator" - a completely different connotation.

Jack was more willing than Ennis to give up the comfort and benefits of his fabricated marriage to be with the person he really desires. I think in the beginning Jack assumes Ennis' reluctance to go through with Jack's plan is mainly because of the marriage, but he realizes its a deeper rooted reluctance later on when nothing changes after the divorce. It all comes down to one willing to live defiantely against the accepted norms while the other tries to work what he truly wants into a life constructed to fit him into the accepted norms.

Quote:

Clearly, Jack is not so monogamous (or bigamous, but you get the point). In terms of homosexuality. Jack has been with several men, and Ennis with one. One could argue it's a great love for Ennis, and merely a fascination with Jack. I don't buy into that, but the evidence is there.

I know you said you don't buy into it, but just for discussion I have to agree and say that Jack definately loved Ennis - there's no doubt in my mind. Jack just eventually reached a point that everyone would in that situation and have to try and find, like he said, something outside their "one or two high alitude *bleeps* a year". One of my favorite moments is when Jack says the closest thing either one of them ever says to "I love you," which is something to the extent of "Sometimes I miss you so much I don't know what to do" - I can't remember the exact line.

Quote:

The fact that both characters did appear younger led to my assumption this was intended as a flashback sequence, harking back to the couple's happier days on the mountain. I'll have to see how the scene plays out on a second viewing.

Oh, it's definately a "flashback" to the audience since it's obviously from the first summer on Brokeback, I'm just not convinved we're meant to think either one of them is actually thinking it themselves, it just seemed more like a structural device to me like Lee was trying to contrast the two partings. If it is a flashback that one of them is thinking I feel it is Jack having it since we see nothing of Ennis immediately after it ends. The only reason I also find it hard to think it's Jack's flashback either is his facial expression when we come back to the present - he's obviously still angry while watching Ennis drive away, but the flashback is so tender I just would have thought at that point he'd have had at least a small smile on his face after thinking of it, even though Ennis is driving away until November.

[Chuck Mayer]

Sean, I know Jack loved Ennis. In many ways, it was much worse for Jack. Ennis was used to being lonely and bottling his feelings up. Jack was not. Jack was more open, more emotional, more available. It probably frustrated him that Ennis could "turn it off" when he couldn't. In quite a few ways, Jack's story is much harder than Ennis'. But Ennis was the focus and the star of the narrative, so he gets more empathy, as it were But Jack had to live in a much more public place, with strong feelings and no outlet.

I appreciate your comments, as you placed the post-divorce reunion scene in proper context...I can't believe I missed that on my first viewing. I had assumed Jack was there for a fishing trip. When of course he was there for LIFE.

[Sean Laughter]

Quote:

I appreciate your comments, as you placed the post-divorce reunion scene in proper context...I can't believe I missed that on my first viewing. I had assumed Jack was there for a fishing trip. When of course he was there for LIFE.

I actually found that one of the more puzzling things Ennis did. When Jack is leaving at the end of that scene he says something like "See you next month" so apparently their scheduled trip was in a month, but Jack says he got Ennis' card informing him of the divorce. I wonder why Ennis would send such a card to Jack? Maybe it's meant to signify he thought maybe he was ready for the kind of life Jack proposed, but chickened out and used the weekend with the daughters as a convenient excuse when Jack just showed up. That's conjecture though since we don't see Ennis' state of mind when he sent the postcard to Jack about the divorce.

That whole thing isn't in the short story as far as I remember, so I don't think there's any clarification concerning that in the original story's text unfortunately.

[Chuck Mayer]

I think Ennis was just keeping him informed (more trips in the future), and Jack took it as an invitation to something much bigger. I don't think Ennis EVER considered anything more than what they had. It simply wasn't in his reality to do something like Jack wanted.

I do think the film wanted to make an effort to show Ennis as a good father, if nothing else. I don't think he'd use his daughters as an excuse. I can imagine time with them was quite important to him. The end of the film seems to indicate that relationship is critical to his life, more at the end than ever.

While hopeless romantics may dream of Ennis and Jack not being able to get together because of society (and that's partly true), I like to think a part of it is because Ennis loves his children. Jack probably loves his son, but I doubt that Jack is a huge part of his life. To get such a life with Jack (beyond anything else), Ennis would have to lose his daughters. Jack is willing to make such a break, but Ennis isn't. Would Ennis be willing to without such a responsibility if he didn't have the specter from his youth in his eyes every day? Who knows?