Topic: Was Ennis pulling back? (Possile Spoiler)

[Toadily]

Do you think Ennis was kind of trying to ease out of things cause Jack says "you used to come away easy
now it's like getting the Pope" so it's not like missing August was the first problem.  so do you think he was
and Jack sensed this and was trying to move on (thus the other guy...)?  I think that explains "Jack I swear" too
cause its like Ennis senses the loss and what he didn't hang on to.

[brokebackmountain]

Do you think Ennis was kind of trying to ease out of things cause Jack says "you used to come away easy
now it's like getting the Pope" so it's not like missing August was the first problem.  so do you think he was
and Jack sensed this and was trying to move on (thus the other guy...)?  I think that explains "Jack I swear" too
cause its like Ennis senses the loss and what he didn't hang on to.

I did not sense that Ennis was pulling back. The on and off relationship between Jack and Ennis was difficult enough. And I think a long distance did not help either. I do believe that Ennis really needed to work and postpone their plan for August and knowing Jack's personality, Ennis did not have the gut to tell him until they were returning from their *fishing* trip. 

You could really see Jack's frastration with Ennis. Jack is and has always been ready for Ennis. But Ennis is scared of facing the reality. I could easily understand if someone has appeared in Jack's life...he may have moved on.

[*Froggy*]

Do you think Ennis was kind of trying to ease out of things cause Jack says "you used to come away easy
now it's like getting the Pope" so it's not like missing August was the first problem.  so do you think he was
and Jack sensed this and was trying to move on (thus the other guy...)?  I think that explains "Jack I swear" too
cause its like Ennis senses the loss and what he didn't hang on to.

I did not get that from the short story at all. I think it was frustration more than anything...Jack's wants more, but Ennis is unable to give it.

[stationbbm]

I'm with Brokebackmountain...Ennis wasn't much of a talker, nor one to confront Jack too often.  He saved this bad news for last because he didn't want it to mess up the whole fishing trip.  By saving it to last, he figured that Jack could then drive away and have a 14-hour drive to get over it.  I don't think Ennis was purposely trying to push away from Jack.  I really think he had a work commitment that could not be adjusted.  Everyone's schedule can create for lousy timing.  This is just an example.  Nevertheless it made for an entry to what I consider the best scene of the film...both confronting their frustration, pain and anguish around their relationship.  Both Ledger and Gyllenhaal reach to the depths of their craft to deliver an amazing performance here.

My two cents.
stationbbm

[natalia]

I used to think that Ennis was pulling away from Jack a bit, but then the reality of life set in. Ennis truly did have to work to earn his keep, especially with the whole child support thing and not having a second income (Alma's) to help him out. Also, cause he's getting older maybe it's harder to get jobs and randomly taking weeks off every few months would probably not fly with his employers at all.
And yeah, Ennis waited till the end of the trip so Jack wouldn't sulk the whole time and ruin the precious week they had together

[Toadily]

Right, I agree with that, a man pushing 40 wouldn't feel as free as alientating jobs etc.
Damn, why couldn't Jack just let it be and just be with Lureen and not hook up with that other guy
and been somewhat resigned to just see Ennis once or twice a year?  Well as Proulx said,
it had to end sad but still..

[bnjmn3]

Ennis enters the movie as a hitchhiker...he could not even make room in his home and life for Alma, Jr who asked to live with him. His life was one of loneliness..caused not because of his sexuality, but more a product of his childhood disconnection. The only childhood memories we get from him are his parents death and the hate crime!

[brokeback0415]

I think there is another childhood memory from Ennis -- where he recounts what his Mom says to him about sleeping like a horse standing up or something (when he is hugging Jack from the back in the flashback).

[BBMaddict]

I think there is another childhood memory from Ennis -- where he recounts what his Mom says to him about sleeping like a horse standing up or something (when he is hugging Jack from the back in the flashback).

Yes, good point. And what a meaningful childhood memory it was. As basically was stated in the previous posts, this is the first "happy" memory we seem to see out of Ennis. And brought out in such a beautiful way!!

I don't think Ennis was pulling back. I think he dreaded telling Jack that their plans would not work out and then got frustrated when Jack didn't understand his commitment to work. Unfortunately it was too late that Ennis realized how much Jack had understood all those years.