Support NeoGAF

[viciouskillersquirrel]

Who else likes it when a movie reaches its final conclusion and the ending isn't quite wrapped up in a neat little bow?

Maybe one or more of the main characters has died (La Vita E Bella), the guy didn't get the girl (The Terminal) or the conclusion to one of the threads is left open to interpretation (The Graduate). I like it when the ending is bittersweet or uncertain, mainly because it makes me feel like the story is more real and humanises the characters somewhat.

Some people, like the women in my life, tend to hate these kinds of endings, but I think these stories make the best films. What about you, GAF? Do you agree? Disagree?

 

[CygnusXS]

The first time I watched Deep Blue Sea, I found myself saying "really, those guys?"

 

[Diatribe1974]

Patch Adams

Enjoyed it quite a bit. Got to the end. Was like "You fuckers had to shit in my Wheeties, didn't you?"

 

[legend166]

The first time I watched Deep Blue Sea, I found myself saying "really, those guys?"

I can't even remember what happens in the end of that movie. Doesn't LL Cool J shoot the shark or something?

 

[linsivvi]

I don't mind happy endings, but dislike those that are so over the top that simply turns you off.

I'm looking at you, Love Actually. Ruined an otherwise fine movie.

 

[Teddman]

Se7en is probably the ultimate.

 

[bjscott05]

American history x comes to mind

 

[BarrelMakingPenguin]

The first time I watched Deep Blue Sea, I found myself saying "really, those guys?"

:lol I thought the exact same thing.

Off the top of my head - All the Real Girls

 

[themadcowtipper]

Jacob's Ladder, The jacket, Primer,Momento


Edit: Sorry just read the thread title, not the actually post, I thought we were talking about movies, with not happy endings, not movies that ended abruptly

 

[woodchuck]

layer cake's ending is hilarious and out of the blue

this sequel talk better be bullshit

 

[DY_nasty]

The Professional.

Hit the spot in all the right ways.

 

[Staccat0]

"Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn"

Silly movie with the greatest fucking ending ever.

Now, to actually respond to the OP instead of just saying some bullshit... :lol

Yeah I like it. Not as a rule, but if it suits the film, sure.

 

[op_ivy]

arlington road

 

[woodchuck]

Casablanca's fantastic ending also comes to mind.

 

[viciouskillersquirrel]

I don't mind happy endings, but dislike those that are so over the top that simply turns you off.

I'm looking at you, Love Actually. Ruined an otherwise fine movie.

Didn't Love Actually have that "husband cheating and wife ignoring it" subplot as well as the subplot where the woman's retarded brother ruins her one chance at happiness? The kid who was in love with Joanne did get the girl, but she went off to the US.

I do admit though, the Prime Minister story and especially Colin's story were a bit over-the-top.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

 

[-COOLIO-]

im a sucker for happy endings with pretty much anything

 

[batbeg]

A bit off-topic, I guess, but this was the one thing I didn't necessarily like about Stardust. I much prefer the happy but not entirely happy ending of the book to the happy ending of the film (which is still great, of course).

 

[viciouskillersquirrel]

"Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn"

Silly movie with the greatest fucking ending ever.

Now, to actually respond to the OP instead of just saying some bullshit... :lol

Yeah I like it. Not as a rule, but if it suits the film, sure.

Gone With The Wind's ending was pretty awesome. That was so damn cold.

Casablanca's fantastic ending also comes to mind.

Also fantastic. Both films held up amazingly well.

A bit off-topic, I guess, but this was the one thing I didn't necessarily like about Stardust. I much prefer the happy but not entirely happy ending of the book to the happy ending of the film (which is still great, of course).

I bought the book for my girlfriend a while back and she loved it. I should see if I could borrow it.

 

[jet1911]

arlington road

This

 

[ATF487]

I just watched Gone Baby Gone, and the ending was sort of a downer.

It was great, though, I love when movies don't end with the obligatory happy ending.

 

[GrapeApes]

arlington road

Horrible ending.

 

[PhoncipleBone]

arlington road

Damn, beat me! One of my favorite non happy endings.

Spoiler

not only did the bad guy win in the end, but he made it look like the good guy was behind everything and made him take the fall for it posthumously in the public eye.

 

[Tornado Condor]

im a sucker for happy endings with pretty much anything

Why were you banned?

 

[Nocebo]

Depends on the execution, but usually if it's an open ending I want more. I want there to be a sequel or whatever so I guess I do need a satisfying conclusion.

Why were you banned?

He was whining about the "michael jackson good or bad" thread after a mod said whiners would be banned.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

Munich.

My favourite type of endings are the bittersweet ones.

Eg: Director's Cut of Butterfly Effect. Terminator 2, Iron Giant, A.I. ..... HALO 3.

Robots are awesome.

 

[VeritasVierge]

I don't mind them. I saw The Mist for the first time this weekend and I felt the ending was the best part.

 

[Tornado Condor]

Depends on the execution, but usually if it's an open ending I want more. I want there to be a sequel or whatever so I guess I do need a satisfying conclusion.

He was whining about the "michael jackson good or bad" thread after a mod said whiners would be banned.

Oh. pwned. Why was he unbanned? =[

Spoiler

j/k =]

 

[Staccat0]

Gone With The Wind's ending was pretty awesome. That was so damn cold.

For real, that bitch deserved it.
I guess it works best if the conclusion is logical. It gets to a certain point where no one would ever keep jumping through hoops for Scarlet O'Hara's bullshit. The film does a good job of getting you to the point where you are sick of her as a character and then finally, the support character is like, "Know what? I'm out. Your fucking hopeless."
Its an amazing conclusion to a 3 hour love story that makes slavery look fun.
Casablanca is logical too.

This is why I liked the ending to No Country for Old men. Thats exactly what he SHOULD do, but as an audience, we aren't used to seeing that in films but its too beleivable to call bullshit on.

Also, I have to do my obligatory M reference

 

[jet1911]

I don't mind them. I saw The Mist for the first time this weekend and I felt the ending was the best part.

Spoiler

I think the best part is when the religious lady takes a bullet between the eyes.

But yeah, the ending is great.

 

[B.K.]

30 posts and no one's mentioned Empire Strikes Back?

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

30 posts and no one's mentioned Empire Strikes Back?

Because this is about unhappy endings.

In Empire Strikes Back Vader finally lifts the burden off of his shoulders and connects with his son, Bubba Fett gets paid and Lando finally gets his ship back. Luke even gets a kickass robotic arm!

 

[disappeared]

Se7en, Fight Club, Requiem for a Dream, No Country for Old Men, 21 Grams, Babel, The Mist, and The Dark Knight come to mind.

 

[-COOLIO-]

Depends on the execution, but usually if it's an open ending I want more. I want there to be a sequel or whatever so I guess I do need a satisfying conclusion.

He was whining about the "michael jackson good or bad" thread after a mod said whiners would be banned.

i have no regrets

 

[MisterHero]

Citizen Kane didn't get his sled back. =(

 

[Verano]

The Departed hands down.

 

[ToxicAdam]

It works two ways for me ... I like when it makes you think (like Gone Baby Gone) but then there is the ending that makes you feel like you just wasted 2 1/2 hours (like The Departed). I like The Departed (overall) but the ending was just pointless and had nothingto do with storytelling.

Memento is the biggest mindfuck ending ever. You will have to google your ass off to figure it all out.

 

[StuBurns]

Before Sunset and Before Sunrise.

 

[seat]

In the Bedroom comes to mind.

 

[Mirimar]

ah nvm, misunderstood

 

[Corwood Rep]

Happy endings are usually contrived and Hollywood, so unhappy endings without perfect resolve ring more true and are more relatable, as a general rule.

Anyway, my favorite examples are Down by Law, Broken Flowers, and No Country For Old Men.

 

[Staccat0]

Before Sunset and Before Sunrise.

Oh snap! U my dawg

 

[viciouskillersquirrel]

Happy endings are usually contrived and Hollywood, so unhappy endings without perfect resolve ring more true and are more relatable, as a general rule.

Anyway, my favorite examples are Down by Law, Broken Flowers, and No Country For Old Men.

I must be a complete philistine or something, but I hated Broken Flowers. I was expecting subtle comedy and all I got was two and a bit hours of Bill Murray having awkward conversations with people. The ending would have been cool, had the kid appeared sooner and not just randomly shown up like that.

 

[disappeared]

Adaptation, too.

 

[StuBurns]

Oh snap! U my dawg

Why thank you kind Sir.

I'm adding Lost in Translation too, that's kind of a bitter sweet ending. And Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

 

[Uncle]

I just rewatched Children of Men yesterday, and yes. Endings like that rock. I think I'll rewatch Pan's Labyrinth today.

 

[Corwood Rep]

I must be a complete philistine or something, but I hated Broken Flowers. I was expecting subtle comedy and all I got was two and a bit hours of Bill Murray having awkward conversations with people. The ending would have been cool, had the kid appeared sooner and not just randomly shown up like that.

I don't know the extent to which I would call it a comedy. More of an art movie that happens to have some comedy in it (the parts with Winston and the rednecks). For what it's worth I think the movie has a point, but it's definitely not to make you laugh.

 

[weepy]

A Beautiful Mind comes to mind...

 

[tekumseh]

I'd also add:

Atonement
House of Sand and Fog

 

[StuBurns]

A Beautiful Mind comes to mind...

Fight Club too.