Okay, I don't know about the rest of you girls, but Jack Dawson is my dream guy. I mean, what else do you want from anyone? He's smart and funny and artistic and sensitive and all that kind of good stuff. His character is just awesome. It's no wonder that Rose left Cal for him. :-) And of course, Leonardo DiCaprio is absolutely PERFECT in this role. I love his expressions, like during the drawing scene when Rose says, "As a paying customer.." and she tosses the dime at him, he has the most adorable little grin on his face. And of course he's PERFECT in the spitting scene. :-) Oh, and I also love that expression on his face during the steerage party when Rose says, "Hold this for me Jack! Hold it up!"

Unlike most people, I never really got all obsessive and gushy over how he rules the world of male actors. I've been in line behind girls at almost every movie who say, "Look, I'm not going to see the boat sink. I'm going to see the guy IN the boat." Of course I smile politely, but I'm thinking, "I don't believe this." For a while, admittedly, I *thought* I was getting obsessed with him but then I realized I wasn't obsessed with him at all--it was Jack Dawson. Not that I think Leonardo is unlikable or anything. I mean, from what the magazines and stuff say about him, he seems really likable (and I don't mean the romantic like. I mean "like" in a friendly kind of way) and fun to be around. But then, he *is* an actor and a darn good one, so I'm sure he could fool the world if he wanted to. Anyways, this is beside the point. I really do respect him for his acting ability. I mean, you can totally read what he's thinking just by looking in his eyes. Just about every move, or every gesture he makes (I can't think of any exceptions to this rule) conveys an emotion. But still, I didn't go see the movie ten times just because he was in it. That would be a little ridiculous. :-)

Contrary to the other characters in this movie, the main challenges Jack faces are generally not intellectual or emotional. He already has a good understanding of who he is. He knows what he wants, and he goes and does it. He is comfortable with himself, so what other people think about him really doesn't matter to him. He probably had a bit of a battle with his emotions just before he told Rose how he felt about her, and then just after she told him to leave her alone (I LOVE the expression Leonardo has on his face during that whole scene, and then the one a little after that where he's at the bow of the boat by himself looking out into the ocean).

I didn't really notice until the second time I saw the movie what a challenge it really probably was for Jack when Rose got into the lifeboat. Now I cry every time I see that scene, even after Rose jumps out of the lifeboat back into the boat. Let me just recopy what Jack and Cal said after she was being lowered, cuz I feel like it. :-)

Jack: There's no arrangement, is there? Cal: No, there is. Not that you'll benefit much from it. I always win, Jack, one way or another. The first time I saw the movie, I just thought, "He is such a jerk," and spent the whole time thinking that. But the second time, I was thinking, "And Jack is thinking... what?"

So it hit me then--he's probably realizing that even though he has done all he could to save Rose from the confined life she was originally going to end up with, the words he had said to her in the gymnasium earlier that day would ring true, "You're right. Only you can do that [save yourself]." She would be totally on her own, to decide whether she would choose to let herself be trapped, or to make an individual of herself. But he showed his faith in her, and thus his extreme love for her, by trusting her to do the right thing.

-Silhouettes-Melanie-Rose-

Last updated 1/3/99 : Collage at top and new pic added