WARNING: A couple spoilers posted below. Read the full post.
Aug 9
2007
10:00 AM ET
What are your favorite movie endings?
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I LOVE that you included Before Sunset. My favorite ending ever. Also, I have to agree with Heleno: the American ending of P&P is a load of crap. I MUCH prefer the film when it ends on Mr. Bennett. Actually, that’s a great ending! Makes me tear up every time… The coda just makes me hurl.
I wanted to add the end to Mulholland Drive. Silencio!
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind – a simple “ok” said so much about human experience, whether good or bad, forms our identity.
Unfaithful
The Hours
Mystic River – the look between Linney and Harden said so much
The Shape Of Things
Closer
Dawn Of The Dead
The Family Stone (ooh McAdams)
Waking Ned Devine (who knew I’d be so happy watching an old lady in a wheelchair get knocked over a cliff)
Arlington Road
Final Destination
You Can Count On Me (once again, a simple rolling down the window and sticking the hand out says so much)
Memento
One that hasn’t been mentioned that always gave me chills, the ending of Arlington Road. “The only one who’s not supposed to be here, is you.” A great twist that I did not see coming.
And of course it’s mentioned right before I post
The ending of Goodfellas….with Ray Liotta looking into the camera and it freezes on him for a split second, as he explains that now he is a nobody, a nothing, a schlub. For a wiseguy, its a hell worse then jail. Excellent!
No Way Out – I definitely did not see that coming.
“The Heiress” starring Olivia DeHavilland and Montgomery Clift has a fantastic ending. DeHavilland’s naive character, Catherine Sloper, is so constantly humiliated throughout the film by those around her that a lifetime of loneliness and bitterness is a certainty. The final shot of Montgomery Clift pounding on the front door is surprisingly uplifting, and had me yelling “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
I can’t believe no one mentioned No Way Out….sure, it’s dated now (cheezy synthesizer score? Check.), but watching that movie in the days of the Cold War, the ending was downright shocking.
Also, to go with another Kevin Costner movie, I’d have to say Field of Dreams – I know of no other movie that is guaranteed to make all men cry, and the ending (“Hey, Dad…wanna have a catch?” “I’d like that…I’d like that very much”) as the line of cars drive up to the field (“People will come, Ray”) was pitch perfect for one of the most beautiful sports movies of all time.
I think Armageddon had a cool ending. To bad the rest of the movie wasn’t as cool.
Here’s a semi-obscure one: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three- freeze frame on Walter Matthau’s face as he figures out who the bad guy is. The whole movie is tense and funny and gritty and that last scene and especially last shot perfectly encapsulate those feelings.
I saw Waitress back in June and I still think about how the ending to that movie was just so right. The ending wasn’t shocking, but it suited the story.
Agree with Fight Club
Last Temptation of Christ – He says the words, screen goes red, Gabriel’s “It Is accomplished” kicks in
Oceans Eleven, at the fountain
Life of Brian – Always look on the bright side of life!
I’m partial to Fight Club too, b/c they blew up the building I used to work in.
I hope you’re going to do worst/lamest movie endings next, because I’ve got a couple of those too.
I agree with you Martin on the ‘The Heiress’ (“Lock the door, Mariah”)
My favorites:
-An Officer and A Gentleman
-The Bad Seed
Thirteen Days. While we see the shadows of the Kennedys walking off, we hear JFK’s “What Kind of Peace Do We Seek?” speech playing as the movie fades to black.