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This week’s question thread is another one that I don’t know how to conclusively answer. I know what my head tells, but my heart is, like, “Screw you, Head, you don’t know what you’re talking about!”
What is your favorite film with an open ending (and why)?
If you’ve never considered this term, it specifically applies to stories that end with what you might call cliffhangers in which audiences are expected to construct their own ending or meaning.
They’re quite common in literature, so let’s keep this thread limited to films with open endings. A popular recent example would be Inception (2010) - does the top fall over or not?!
As for my position on this question, as I mentioned, I’m torn. My head says it’s the “space baby” that concludes 2001: A Space Odyssey(1968), but my heart tells me it’s either the ending to Before Sunrise(1995). I think I have to give Before Sunrise the edge.
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As you've already used Inception, I nominate Donnie Darko and The Vanishing (the Dutch version). Both films left me questioning the ending for days, weeks and years later. I don't know if The Vanishing is strictly an open ending film. Finally, I nominate Martyrs (2008). Absolutely chilling and debate provoking!
Side note, but I feel like movies get a pass for these, but anyone who puts in the "effort" to read a novel invariably gets pissed off when the ending is ambiguous.
For me, it’s Truffaut’s Les Quattre Cent Coups (The 400 Blows). The longed-for escape to freedom- the exhilarating, desperate, run through the country… which loses momentum and peters out on that huge, empty expanse of sand. He reaches the surf, turns toward us…
Now Truffaut eventually gave us four more films, so we know what happened to Antoine, but still, that original ending.
The Sound Of My Voice. It's ambiguous if she's honest or not, and as the movie progresses it becomes more evident that she is not trustworthy. However at the end, you wonder if that was the wrong question. What if she does come from the future, but was lying nonetheless ?
One False Move and Naked Lunch both have the same feel for me and I love ‘em. At first glance, those movies drive off the road into oblivion but with careful study those are perfectly ended for what they are.
I second Blade Runner. Also Wim Wender's Perfect Days - the film ends focusing on the protagonist's emotions crossing their face, we're left to wonder and imagine what will happen next. To an extent, Picnic at Hanging Rock - who knows what happened to the school picnic party climbing the rock?
Would you consider the ending of Michael Clayton open ended? It does leave us with an arrest and vindication but the way it ends in the car with Michael just looking out the window felt open to interpretation. Honestly, I feel I can return to that film over and over and never be bored by it. The writing is phenomenal. The acting is as well.
“Castaway” .. decisions we make like, turning left or right at the intersection because we can go either way. Choices made in youth or any time really that affect not just our own life but that of others as well. Some profoundly, others hardly noticeable. I love that movie more than anything for the ending that doesn’t end but starts another journey.
Off the top of my head, John Carpenter’s The Thing?
Probably Blade Runner, now if only they’d make a sequel set 30 years later to answer the main question. Is he or isn’t he?
As you've already used Inception, I nominate Donnie Darko and The Vanishing (the Dutch version). Both films left me questioning the ending for days, weeks and years later. I don't know if The Vanishing is strictly an open ending film. Finally, I nominate Martyrs (2008). Absolutely chilling and debate provoking!
Truman Show.
Side note, but I feel like movies get a pass for these, but anyone who puts in the "effort" to read a novel invariably gets pissed off when the ending is ambiguous.
Personally, I love novels that end this way.
No Country for Old Men
Does Anatomy of a Fall count? The ending appears to wrap up neatly, but I kinda felt like maybe it wasn’t so neat.
Coen Brothers' "A Serious Man"
Oh... No Country for old men^^
Triangle of Sadness has a great abrupt ending leaving a character's fate in doubt.
Also, how about Hitchcock's The Birds! Will they attack again? Are they merely letting the family leave before another onslaught...?!
I think it's just an average film but the ambiguous ending of John Sayles' Limbo caused one guy in the theater to yell "Fuck you." Very very funny.
The movie that came to mind is Doubt. I thought the movie had terrific performances and I still don't know if he was guilty or not.
Force Majeure. Fantastic film, perfect ending, lots to discuss!
The end of Race With the Devil still haunts me.
Almost any kubrick film
A clockwork orange
Dr strangelove
Paths of glory
For me, it’s Truffaut’s Les Quattre Cent Coups (The 400 Blows). The longed-for escape to freedom- the exhilarating, desperate, run through the country… which loses momentum and peters out on that huge, empty expanse of sand. He reaches the surf, turns toward us…
Now Truffaut eventually gave us four more films, so we know what happened to Antoine, but still, that original ending.
Mccabe and Mrs. Miller^^
The Sound Of My Voice. It's ambiguous if she's honest or not, and as the movie progresses it becomes more evident that she is not trustworthy. However at the end, you wonder if that was the wrong question. What if she does come from the future, but was lying nonetheless ?
Annihilation 😳😳😳
One False Move and Naked Lunch both have the same feel for me and I love ‘em. At first glance, those movies drive off the road into oblivion but with careful study those are perfectly ended for what they are.
Close Encounters, Ex Machina come to mind
That’s a hard question. Technically, every story has an open ending. It just depends on where you stop.
Does Casablanca count as open-ended? I like to think about what happened to Rick and Reynard.
The Thing. For sure.
Last Night by Massy Tadjedin. Debatable how open it is..
Blade Runner. Fasho. My favorite flick of all time. Though I'm not sure it's that open-ended.
Kill Bill? :)
I second Blade Runner. Also Wim Wender's Perfect Days - the film ends focusing on the protagonist's emotions crossing their face, we're left to wonder and imagine what will happen next. To an extent, Picnic at Hanging Rock - who knows what happened to the school picnic party climbing the rock?
Would you consider the ending of Michael Clayton open ended? It does leave us with an arrest and vindication but the way it ends in the car with Michael just looking out the window felt open to interpretation. Honestly, I feel I can return to that film over and over and never be bored by it. The writing is phenomenal. The acting is as well.
“Castaway” .. decisions we make like, turning left or right at the intersection because we can go either way. Choices made in youth or any time really that affect not just our own life but that of others as well. Some profoundly, others hardly noticeable. I love that movie more than anything for the ending that doesn’t end but starts another journey.
Jonathan Glazer’s BIRTH, for me, although ROSEMARY’S BABY is my favourite film of all-time, and that’s pretty open-ended.
Endings are hard. IMHO, unresolved endings are a cheat.