Movies With Great Endings
Submitted by AJDaGreat on Sat, 08/31/2002 - 10:03
Tags:
- Citizen Kane - Oh yes. Probably the most famous ending in movie history. I already knew the ending when I saw the movie for the first time, of course, but even so, little of the effect is lost. The ending is simply stunning. (also suggested by jgandcag on my other list, "Movies With Bad Endings.")
- Casablanca - Nowadays every Hollywood movie has to have a happy ending to avoid displeasing its audience. I don't see the connection; sure, a few stupid people might be upset, but plenty of beloved classics have more bittersweet endings...like "Casablanca." A fabulous ending. (also suggested by jgandcag on my other list, "Movies With Bad Endings.")
- Chinatown - I heard that Roman Polanski, director, and Robert Towne, writer, had an argument over the ending of "Chinatown"; Polanski wanted to make it dark and disturbing, much like the rest of the movie, and Towne wanted a happy ending. We're lucky Polanski won - the mood of the whole film would be different with a happier ending. (also suggested by jgandcag on my other list, "Movies With Bad Endings.")
- The Usual Suspects - I have a love / hate relationship with "The Usual Suspects", but I gotta admit, the ending is by far the best part of the movie. Even though I already knew the ending, I loved that scene.
- Memento - Simply brilliant. Period.
- Dr. Strangelove - The whole film is delightful yet dark, surreal and bizarre, but the ending takes the cake. I heard Kubrick originally planned to end it with a pie fight; luckily, he changed it to what it is now. What an ending.
- Cool Hand Luke - Depressing but bold. It was a fabulous ending to a fabulous movie.
- Sunset Boulevard - Not only is it a great ending to a dark noir, but this movie may have the best closing line in the history of movies (although it has competition with "Casablanca" and "Some Like It Hot.")
- The Sting AND Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - Two movies about con artists with superb twists in the end.
- Harold and Maude - Bravo.
- Cinema Paradiso - Brilliant.
- Soylent Green - I think many of you may know the ending, but the movie is actually half-decent too (I don't think I've ever met anyone else who had actually seen the movie, but everyone knows the ending).
- Manon of the Spring - What a payoff to this 4-hour, two-part epic. It's delightfully depressing.
- Life of Brian - "very subversive and twisted" (AAA)
- Dancer in the Dark - "heartbreaking, shattering almost" (AAA)
- The Conversation (thanks to jgandcag)
- The Godfather Part II (thanks to dcstar)
- Bonnie and Clyde (thanks to dcstar)
Author Comments:
List suggested by jgandcag
I'd gladly accept contributions to this list, but if I haven't seen the movie, then you'll have to write the comments.
Note that I have not seen the last 4 films on this list.
Life of Brian - very subversive and twisted.
Dancer in the Dark - heartbraking, shattering almost
and
Being There - thought provoking
Life of Brian - I agree. I'll add it.
Dancer in the Dark - Never seen it, but I'll add it.
Being There - I disagree. The ending has always kinda bugged me. I mean, yes, Chance / Chauncey has affected life in America for the better, but what are they doing here, comparing him to Jesus? Chance is nothing like Jesus.
Where's "Bonnie and Clyde" or for God's sake "Godfather II"?
I haven't seen them. I'll add them under your name.
I saw your Movies w/ Bad Endings and was checking to make sure you had a list of great endings before I made one. So I'll put in some of my favorites - Fight Club, Y Tu Mama Tambien, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Donnie Darko, The Ice Storm...I'll post more when I think of them.
I'm currently searching for the following cliche great endings, the lover whose supposed to have boarded a plane or a train, but turns to not have boarded, the musical where everyone ends a dance sequence and the camera pans out to reveal a huge arial shot of the scene, the infamous after the "drama" cop scene, littered with squad cars and ambulances and there's an injured hero on a stretcher being taken by ambulance or the helpless chic he just saved covered in a blanket.
The dog returning home to the lonely boy, the lonely cowboy riding off into the sunset or the samurai or kung fu fighter whose just killed the last villian to avenge or save a loved one. If anyone can help me source movies with these sort of cliche film endings or anything similar please shout. P.S: I'm really desperate.