Two great endings

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This okay but unexceptional Chicago Tribune piece about great movie endings reminds me that no matter what you may or may not think about There Will Be Blood as a whole, the ending -- the final line, I mean -- is almost certainly the year's best.

The second best ending, of course, belongs to No Country for Old Men -- the combination of that final line ("Then I woke up"), the cut to a silent and meditative Tess Harper across the kitchen table, and then back to Tommy Lee Jones...beat, beat, cut to black.

The year's third-best ending -- I'm not being facetious -- was delivered by the Farrelly Brothers' The Heartbreak Kid. Ben Stiller's character, realizing he's again succumbing to the old obsessive hungers and behaviors, saying "fuck me!" -- and a fast cut-to-black. Perfect! Ranks with the finale of Some Like It Hot as one of the best movie-comedy endings ever. (Which obviously doesn't imply that I'm praising the rest of the film with equal fervor.)

comment #1

thatmovieguy says ...

Day-Lewis' delivery of that line has been echoing in the back of my mind since I saw the film three weeks ago. Simply superb.

comment #2

Geoff says ...

I agree with the first two. I can't really decide. Theyre' both perfection.

comment #3

Richard_Stone says ...

Can someone upload the finale of There Will Be Blood on Youtube already? Thanks.

comment #4

Richard_Stone says ...

Anyways, I'm not registering to read that Chicago Tribune piece. One of the best movie endings I can think of is Costa-Gravas' Z.

I liked No Country For Old Men as much as the next guy, but I think that the movie as a whole, and the ending particularly, are getting in the area of over-hyping. It's a solid genre movie with an unusual, somewhat random, finale.

From the same guys, Fargo is a better overall effort and has a stronger finale than NCFOM. I think pretty much everyone "got" the ending of Fargo, whereas the finale of NCFOM is much more divisive. More subtle, perhaps, if so it was a bt too subtle for me.

comment #5

Richard_Stone says ...

Anyways, I'm not registering to read that Chicago Tribune piece. One of the best movie endings I can think of is Costa-Gravas' Z.

I liked No Country For Old Men as much as the next guy, but I think that the movie as a whole, and the ending particularly, are getting in the area of over-hyping. It's a solid genre movie with an unusual, somewhat random, finale.

From the same guys, Fargo is a better overall effort and has a stronger finale than NCFOM. I think pretty much everyone "got" the ending of Fargo, whereas the finale of NCFOM is much more divisive. More subtle, perhaps, if so it was a bt too subtle for me.

comment #6

The Winchester says ...

C'mon, Michael Clayton getting into the cab and driving away. Easily better than Heartbreak Kid ending.

comment #7

Chris Willman says ...

Jeff is right: The last line of "Heartbreak Kid," and the way it's delivered, really is perfect. It accomplished the job of sending me out into the lobby feeling okay and almost forgetting how crappy the second half (or final third, at least) of the film was. Now, that's an ending that has a lot of work to do.

comment #8

jjgittes says ...

Haven't seen TWBB yet (this week hopefully), but as a general rule it's hard to compare endings. It's difficult to break films down like that (and somewhat foolish) :

I can tell you that 2 of my favorite films are "Aguirre, Wrath of God" and "Manhattan" and both have great endings that are true to the material - but not that one is better than the other.

Now, having said that NCFOM has perfect ending and I love it to death. Strikes a different note from Fargo not in its subtlety (they're both subtle and Fargo's is great too), but in it's sense of foreboding.

comment #9

figaso says ...

How and why are you all missing/forgetting Gone Baby Gone? Doesn't the look on baby Affleck's face sum it all up? I'm thinking in terms of contemporary American fecklessness in regards to repairing national ethical and moral morass as well as the congressional leaders and voting publics apathy in dealing with the devil in the White House? Jefferson. Lincoln, et al roll over once again in their exalted tombs....

comment #10

Jack Price says ...

Ah, fuck it... I know I'm unleashing the hell hounds here, but will someone just explain to me why they like the ending to There Will Be Blood so much? Or Jeff, could you post up an article intended specifically for discussion of this ending, no more tip-toeing around details necessary?

In broadest, non-spoilerific terms possible (still, if you have not seen it, skip down to the next posting immediately): I thought the film turned into complete self-parody by that point. As someone who knew about the ending well in advance and expected one kind of execution, the actual realization of the scene seems far more intentionally comedic than I ever, EVER would have guessed. I'm talking Patrick Bateman levels of cheekiness and lunacy.

So please, Jeff, Devin, anyone who has seen the film and was taken aback by the ending... did you see it with the same level of humor, or did you watch it with a straight, sobering expression?

As for the last line: I read it as an ellipse rather than a period. If that makes sense... I actually kinda liked it, but because it made me chuckle to myself. Again, not wanting to blow the cover open until enough people have seen the film.

comment #11

Jack Price says ...

But just to be clear... the film is still awesome. Seeing it again no matter what.

I'd rank Jesse James higher at this point, or at least until I see that film a second time as well.

I just know that No Country gets my best-of award for ending, and Jesse James also had me sold by the end. This one... still chewing it over. Time will forgive in the end...

comment #12

Jack Price says ...

But just to be clear... the film is still awesome. Seeing it again no matter what.

I'd rank Jesse James higher at this point, or at least until I see that film a second time as well.

I just know that No Country gets my best-of award for ending, and Jesse James also had me sold by the end. This one... still chewing it over. Time will forgive in the end, no matter what, as there's just too much that worked like gangbusters...

comment #13

Mark says ...

I always loved the final shot of Kramer vs. Kramer. Closing elevator; surprised look of thx following unexpected compliment; Streep in all her prime; cut to Purcell (i believe) and grouped credits.

comment #14

lipranzer says ...

I also think the ending of GONE BABY GONE is pretty powerful. It's part of why I'd recommend the movie overall, despite its flaws. I even misted up at the end.

One of my favorite endings, that the article never mentioned, is the ending to DANGEROUS LIAISONS. Not only does it come full circle - the beginning shows Glenn Close being made up, the end shows her taking her makeup off - it's a powerful way to convey just how much her character has been affected by what's happened.

comment #15

BurmaShave says ...

Favorite personal movie ending:

SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE. "I think we have it"

so damn creepy

comment #16

DarthCorleone says ...

Right on with Z. That ending sent a chill up my spine the first time I saw it.

Other greats...

The Godfather (major revelation, I know)
The Third Man (best EVER)
Notorious

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