tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post7631408224554736326..comments2024-02-10T01:22:29.316-08:00Comments on Hugo Stiglitz Makes Movies: Question of the Day: What are some of your favorite film endings?Kevin J. Olsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-15612976175007404012009-09-08T11:38:26.139-07:002009-09-08T11:38:26.139-07:00J.D.:
Great additions. I also thought of the end...J.D.:<br /><br />Great additions. I also thought of the ending to <i>Eyes Wide Shut</i> and that hilarious final line. And good call on <i>The Insider</i>. I always like the way Mann ends his films. Specifically his recent endings in <i>Miami Vice</i> and <i>Collateral</i>.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-91366413503770071962009-09-08T08:17:58.301-07:002009-09-08T08:17:58.301-07:00Two memorable endings come immediately to mind: FI...Two memorable endings come immediately to mind: FIGHT CLUB ends on one hell of a doozy as Edward Norton and Helen Bonham Carter watch several buildings explode and collapse on themselves to the strains of "Where is My Mind?" by Pixies.<br /><br />Also, the last shot, last word spoken in EYES WIDE SHUT gets me every time. Great stuff. In fact, several of Kubrick's films feature great endings, like the soldiers singing the Mickey Mouse Club theme song at the end of FULL METAL JACKET.<br /><br />Honorable mention: I love how THE INSIDER ends. With Bergman leaving CBS offices triumphant yet sad because of the compromises made and the damage done.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-42765199032769479992009-09-06T05:12:39.200-07:002009-09-06T05:12:39.200-07:00Nothing posted on Violence. I probably wrote somet...Nothing posted on <i>Violence</i>. I probably wrote something when it came out, but at this point I need to revisit it and write it from that perspective. A goal for this fall.<br /><br />Love the questions!Jason Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-56794448852106081152009-09-05T19:58:22.988-07:002009-09-05T19:58:22.988-07:00Jason:
I loved your piece on Before Sunrise. I a...Jason:<br /><br />I loved your piece on <i>Before Sunrise</i>. I agree with everything you say there about that closing montage. "Scrapbook" is a perfect word for it. I was also thinking about endings to movies that totally changed your perspective on the film. I couldn't really think of any off the top of my head, so I abandoned that sub-question. However, if anyone can think of some endings that were really good, but were attached to poor films, I would love to hear some titles.<br /><br />Also, do you have anything written about your experience with <i>A History of Violence</i>, Jason? I would love for you to further explain your problems with the film. I know plenty of people who thought the whole film was laughable. I, however, found the film to be quite good. And I just love the execution of that ending. <br /><br />Anyway, thanks for stopping by.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-76688126682751521782009-09-05T18:30:55.646-07:002009-09-05T18:30:55.646-07:00Good topic. But I suck at remembering things like ...Good topic. But I suck at remembering things like this off the top of my head. If you ask me how a movie ends, I can often tell you. But ask me to think of endings and I draw a blank ... at least beyond the ones that you and others have mentioned above.<br /><br />However ...<br /><br />I wrote about this, but I'm very fond of the conclusion to <a href="http://coolercinema.blogspot.com/2008/09/perfect-ending.html" rel="nofollow"><i>Before Sunrise</i></a>, which I think actually redefines (and saves) the movie. (For that matter, the end to <i>Before Sunset</i> is good too.)<br /><br />One more comment...<br /><br />At some point I'll give it another chance, but seeing as how I loathed, loathed, loathed <i>A History of Violence</i>, your inclusion of that closing scene made me laugh. I agree, it's a good closing scene. And I liked it, too, though I came at it from a different angle than everyone else above, presuming that everyone above liked the film.<br /><br />In my case, as that dinner table scene unfolded, I thought to myself: "This is going to be a disaster! There's no line of dialogue that can possibly work right now!" And, given that this is true, the scene is blissfully without dialogue. So great scene...but (in a conversation for another time), an absurd movie.Jason Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-62637967267842768082009-09-05T15:16:53.931-07:002009-09-05T15:16:53.931-07:00Yes, Sam. I am not ashamed to admit that the endi...Yes, Sam. I am not ashamed to admit that the ending to <i>City Lights</i> made me ball like a baby when I first saw when I was in 7th grade. And that's a time in one's life where you try to avoid things like that, hehe.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-60255876383114924042009-09-05T13:32:22.757-07:002009-09-05T13:32:22.757-07:00Correct Krauthammer. I am 55 years odl and becomi...Correct Krauthammer. I am 55 years odl and becoming senile I'm afraid.<br /><br />Of course one of your own choices there Kevin, CITY LIGHTS challenges for the top spot. That blind girl recognition scene maqy well be my favorite scene of all time.Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-40233851246620256992009-09-05T13:09:22.232-07:002009-09-05T13:09:22.232-07:00Krauthammer:
I haven't seen My Life to Live. ...Krauthammer:<br /><br />I haven't seen <i>My Life to Live</i>. I will have to rectify that. Also, I think you're right about Cukor doing the 50's version of <i>A Star is Born</i>.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-65184896922376942202009-09-05T13:07:50.012-07:002009-09-05T13:07:50.012-07:00Sam:
Great list. I knew you would throw some stu...Sam:<br /><br />Great list. I knew you would throw some stuff in there I hadn't seen yet! Haha.<br />Thanks for contributing.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-10498954474635601662009-09-05T12:54:49.270-07:002009-09-05T12:54:49.270-07:00The 30's Star is Born is Wellman, isn't it...The 30's Star is Born is Wellman, isn't it? The 50's is Cukor. <br /><br />I haven/t seen the original, but the 50's ending is really unbelieveable. And I can't believe that I didn't mention AQOTWF, it's an ending the eliminates any flaws that the film may have.Krauthammerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14426806666095796310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-13176271213170829852009-09-05T10:32:56.345-07:002009-09-05T10:32:56.345-07:00Actually the A STAR IS BORN version i really meant...Actually the A STAR IS BORN version i really meant was the original 1937 directed by George Cukor.<br /><br />I will also add the shattering butterfly sequence at the end of ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT(1930) to this list.Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-8121587532477941472009-09-05T10:30:42.212-07:002009-09-05T10:30:42.212-07:00The most shattering ending for me in the history o...The most shattering ending for me in the history of the cinema is the final scene in Mizoguchi's SANSHO THE BAILIFF (1954), when the blind mother recognizes her long lost son.<br /><br />But here are several more I found unforgettable:<br /><br />A Star is Born (1954)<br /> "Hello everybody...This is MRS. Norman Maine."<br /><br />Mouchette (Bresson)<br /> ...the shocking suicide...<br /><br />The Wizard of Oz (Fleming)<br /> .."There's no place like home..."<br /><br />The Red Balloon (1956)<br /> ...all the balloons of Paris carry boy into the sky...<br /><br />A Clockwork Orange (Kubrick)<br /><br /> ...I was cured all right....<br /><br />Dead Poets Society (Weir)<br /><br /> ...oh Captain, my Captain....<br /><br />Wuthering Heights (1939)<br /> ...Cathy and Heathcliff reunited...<br /><br />Empire of the Sun (Spielberg)<br /><br /> ...Bale reunited with parents with Suo Gan being heard on the soundtrack...Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-36518146993357392562009-09-04T19:33:27.062-07:002009-09-04T19:33:27.062-07:00And while we're still on classic foreign film ...And while we're still on classic foreign film endings, <i>My Life to Live's</i> ending sticks with me like few others. It would be hard to explain it without giving something away, but suffice to say, if you haven't seen it by now you really should.Krauthammerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14426806666095796310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-2417469968850788542009-09-04T17:27:05.305-07:002009-09-04T17:27:05.305-07:00The Caustic Ignostic:
I thought I had put The 400...The Caustic Ignostic:<br /><br />I thought I had put <i>The 400 Blows</i> on here...but I guess I didn't! What a huge omission on my part. Great call, though. And I love love loved <i>The Edge of Heaven</i>. That ending is perfect with nothing but the sound of the breakers. Reminds me of the endings to two films I mentioned on here: <i>Michael Clayton</i> and <i>Traffic</i> where the audience is asked to just sit and watch the characters sit and think. These filmmakers let the experience that just occurred wash over its audience. Great stuff.<br /><br />And since we're talking classic foreign film endings, how about the neo-realist classic <i>Bicycle Thieves</i>. A movie that hasn't really aged well with me, but still contains a powerful punch at the end.<br /><br />Thanks for taking the time to leave two great film endings.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-77465082403795045822009-09-04T17:20:09.144-07:002009-09-04T17:20:09.144-07:00Not much time tonight, but since I just saw it, I ...Not much time tonight, but since I just saw it, I gotta throw out Truffaut's "The 400 Blows". That freeze-frame on the beach: so abrupt, so ambiguous, so marvelous it its way.<br /><br />Which makes me think of another closing moment on a beach, last year's "The Edge of Heaven"! As languid and anticipatory as Truffaut's was sudden and stark. Nejat sitting on that Black Sea, waiting to make things right with his father. Perfect.The Caustic Ignostichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08573539801150336099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-34530294206182627882009-09-04T17:16:30.049-07:002009-09-04T17:16:30.049-07:00Anh Khoi Do:
Great list. I love the inclusion of...Anh Khoi Do:<br /><br />Great list. I love the inclusion of <i>The Killer</i>...it's one of my favorite action films, and it probably contains one of the best endings to any action film ever made. <br /><br />Thanks for stopping by.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-78010632528137634662009-09-04T17:02:09.363-07:002009-09-04T17:02:09.363-07:00Well, I guess that since you mentioned History of ...Well, I guess that since you mentioned <i>History of Violence</i>, <i>Brokeback Mountain</i> and <i>Citizen Kane</i>, I no longer need to mention them anymore. So, here is my list of favourite endings:<br /><br />1. <i>Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon</i> (my all-time favourite)<br />2. <i>eXistenZ</i><br />3. <i>Flower and Garnet</i><br />4. <i>J'ai tué ma mère</i> (<i>I Killed My Mother</i>)<br />5. <i>Atonement</i><br />6. <i>Le dîner de cons</i> (<i>The Dinner Game</i>)<br />7. <i>Mystic River</i><br />8. <i>Rain Man</i><br />9. <i>The Killer</i><br />10. <i>Monsieur Batignole</i>Anh Khoi Dohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15018387547508527604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-74844889085593309732009-09-04T15:31:49.280-07:002009-09-04T15:31:49.280-07:00Tony:
Nice additions. The Godfather, Part II has...Tony:<br /><br />Nice additions. <i>The Godfather, Part II</i> has an ending that's just as iconic as the original. Great choice.<br /><br />I also love the additions of <i>Cutter's Way</i> and <i>Thief</i>. Two great films. <br /><br />I don't remember much about <i>To Live and Die in L.A.</i> (except the famous car chase), but I remember really liking that movie. I think it's time I revisited it. <br /><br />Finally, great call on <i>The Wicker Man</i>, one of the truly last great horror movies with a genuinely horrifying ending.<br /><br />Thanks for the contributions.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-72161004659696461482009-09-04T15:25:00.982-07:002009-09-04T15:25:00.982-07:00If I may add:
Beneath the Planet of the Apes
Cutt...If I may add:<br /><br />Beneath the Planet of the Apes<br />Cutter's Way<br />The French Connection<br />The Godfather, Part II<br />The Long Goodbye<br />McCabe and Mrs. Miller<br />North by Northwest<br />The Pledge<br />Thief<br />To Live and Die in L.A.<br />The Wicker Man (1973)Tony Dayoubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04632329277519635858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-23698674562224741032009-09-04T15:18:01.445-07:002009-09-04T15:18:01.445-07:00Troy:
I expected a lot of Hitch on your list. Go...Troy:<br /><br />I expected a lot of Hitch on your list. Good call with <i>Vertigo</i>. I remember the first time seeing that and truly being shocked that Hitch ended the movie that way.<br /><br />Also, <i>There Will Be Blood</i> is another good modern example of an unforgettable ending. <br /><br />Good list.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-40455594517374708762009-09-04T15:02:41.660-07:002009-09-04T15:02:41.660-07:00I agree with all of the ones you list (that I have...I agree with all of the ones you list (that I have seen). Of those, Chinatown is likely my favorite. <br /><br />The rest of these are probably some of the standard fare, but they all came to mind:<br /><br />Notorious<br />Casino<br />Casablanca<br />Unforgiven<br />The Birds<br />Gone With The Wind<br />Carrie<br />Sleepaway Camp (yeah, why not)<br />The Devil's Rejects<br />The Conversation<br />Resevoir Dogs<br />There Will Be Blood<br />Night Of The Living Dead<br />Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia<br />It’s A Wonderful Life<br />Rebecca<br />VertigoTroy Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14843741571724231174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-69851726432252867262009-09-04T14:21:32.012-07:002009-09-04T14:21:32.012-07:00FilmDr:
D'oh! How could I forget the famous ...FilmDr:<br /><br />D'oh! How could I forget the famous ending from <i>Some Like It Hot</i>? Nice call. Also, I love that you include another one of my favorite Billy Wilder movies <i>Ace in the Hole</i>. Good choices.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-73829194713741206432009-09-04T14:19:51.383-07:002009-09-04T14:19:51.383-07:00Good question. I was thinking of the ending of Th...Good question. I was thinking of the ending of <i>The Third Man</i> until I saw you had included it. <br /><br />I really like the ending of <i>Say Anything</i>. <br /><br />Other movies that come to mind: <i>Out of the Past</i>, <i>Ace in the Hole</i>, and <i>Some Like It Hot</i>.The Film Doctor https://www.blogger.com/profile/03073505923746994988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-53790618255798337492009-09-04T14:06:27.945-07:002009-09-04T14:06:27.945-07:00Thanks for the fine list there, Krauthammer. I lo...Thanks for the fine list there, Krauthammer. I love some of your older choices like Gold Diggers, Bride of Frankenstein, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. For some reason my mind never wanders towards the classics at first...I usually have to think long and hard about it, but like I said, this was off the top of my head...hence the more modern choices.<br /><br />I totally forgot about <i>Dead Man</i> (great, underrated Jarmusch) and <i>Blow-Up</i>. Both great choices. <br /><br />Hopefully this comment threat evolves a bit...because I would love to hear your thoughts.<br /><br />Thanks again for this great response.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-1959128086749714722009-09-04T13:43:38.084-07:002009-09-04T13:43:38.084-07:00You have a great list there Kevin, and if I was ma...You have a great list there Kevin, and if I was making this list from scratch it would have a lot of overlap. I especially liked your inclusion of the ending of A History of Violence, which is one of the most emotional experiences I’ve had in the theater.<br />Here are some of the first to come to mind:<br />Blow-Up<br />Bride of Frankenstein<br />Dead Man<br />Fargo<br />Gold Diggers of 1933/42nd Street<br />How Green Was My Valley<br />Masculine, Feminine<br />Psycho<br />La Roue<br />Touch of Evil<br />The Immortal Story<br />Pi<br />All That Jazz<br />Edward Scissorhands<br />The Incredible Shrinking Man<br />Mr. Smith Goes to Washington<br />Night of the Living Dead<br /><br />I'd like to write something about them but that would take ages, I might fill in the details as the comment thread moves along if there's any interestKrauthammerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14426806666095796310noreply@blogger.com