Tuesday, September 08, 2015

Most Satisfactory Movie Ending.

What movie ended most satisfactorily for you?


I am going with THE GRADUATE because the ambiguity in the final scene so reiterates the initial feelings experienced by Ben. By the second half, we are made to forget it, following his pursuit of Elaine. But the last scene brings it home.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, you've mentioned one of my top classic films, Patti! I love the ending of The Sting, too.

Jeff Meyerson said...

Groundhog Day.


Jeff M.

pattinase (abbott) said...

OK now I am rethinking THE GRADUATE. New film PHOENIX is right up there.

Al Tucher said...

I think I have mentioned TIN MEN before. Ending a comedy in a satisfactory way is very difficult. Even Shakespeare had as much trouble as anybody, but I think this movie has the perfect ending. I don't want to spoil it, but I recommend checking it out.

Jeff Meyerson said...

I would not pick THE GRADUATE. It may have been of its time but I don't love the end.

Jackie would probably go with WHEN HARRY MET SALLY or the Matthew Perry/Salma Hayek romantic comedy FOOLS RUSH IN or something along those lines.

Jeff M.

Sergio (Tipping My Fedora) said...

There is something really cherishable about a movie with a great finish, whether it be happy or sad. If I had to compile a top 10 (and yes, I think I now so feel compelled), all of these would be considered:

James Bond crying in ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE
Rosebud undiscovered in CITIZEN KANE
Doors closing in THE SEARCHERS and THE GODFATHER
The beginning of a beautiful friendship in CASABLANCA
The sneeze in THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE
Woodward and Bernstein typing in ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN
The puff of air in THE USUAL SUSPECTS
The voice explained in FIELD OF DREAMS
The flying car in BACK TO THE FUTURE

pattinase (abbott) said...

Great list, Sergio.
I like ambiguity a lot, a movie that leaves some room for the viewer to decide what happens. I have friends who cannot take any lapse in a consistent narrative where everything is explained. So there are movie for all of us.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Like I think WIZARD OF OZ would have been better if we didn't know at the end if it had really happened.

Charles Gramlich said...

The Outlaw Josey wales

Graham Powell said...

I love that final scene in THE GRADUATE. Apparently the actors were just supposed to laugh, but the director kept rolling... and rolling... and rolling, until they ran out of gas, and we got the ending image of the characters, spent.

George said...

DIRTY HARRY

Yvette said...

A NEW LEAF and SOME LIKE IT HOT jump to mind. :)

Kieran Shea said...

Of late, I'm going with BIRDMAN and AMERICAN HUSTLE.

pattinase (abbott) said...

All great choices.

Mathew Paust said...

"The, uh, stuff that dreams are made of." Maltese Falcon

Kent Morgan said...

Field of Dreams

Barry Ergang said...

"Aw, hell!" in "Harper."