Sometimes, all it takes for a movie to be great is a great ending. Whether it's the "big reveal (last year, it was The Illusionist and The Prestige), the inspirational (The shot in Hoosiers, Private Ryan standing in front of the grave), or the completely absurd (the choose your ending of Wayne's World or the police bust in Monty Python's Holy Grail)... I love a great ending. Here's a Top 5 for me...
5. The Usual Suspects - Who is Kaiser Soeze? I remember watching this movie and being confused, bored, and ready to turn it off. The final 5 minutes made it all worth it. If you haven't seen Kevin Spacey's Oscar performance as Verbal Kint, it's worth a watch... but I recommend the TV version; very bad language.
4. Napolean Dynamite - The first time I watched this movie, I didn't laugh out loud once. Yet, when it was over, I remember looking at Janelle and saying, "That movie was really funny!" The dance scene followed by the music montage is funny and profound, as you see the unfolding of this total social misfit's impact on those around him. Then, the post credits wedding scene... priceless!
3. Dead Poet's Society - No matter how many times I watch it, I tear up a little when Ethan Hawke jumps up on his desk and shouts, "Oh Captain, my Captain!" One of Robin Williams better performances.
Mr. Keading - "I stand upon my desk to remind myself that we must constantly look at things in a different way. "
2. The Return of the King - I know, there were about six endings. I know, it was really long... yet, how else could you do this. There had to be conclusions to the various layers of the story. And with each ending there's a profound and moving statement. My personal favorite, the moment that all of Minas Tirith bows to the Hobbits.
1. Shrek - I love that it was unexpected. In a world that says "All that matters is what's on the inside... as long as your pretty," and "Do the right thing, and you'll get exactly what you want," I loved the ending of Shrek. It was one of the most refreshing movie moments when Fiona remains the ogre.
Many more to include... The Shawshank Redemption, Last of the Mohicans, The 6th Sense, Remember the Titans, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Citizen Kane, The Sound Of Music, Stand By Me, The Sandlot, Braveheart... the list could go on... feel free to throw in your personal favorites.
5. The Usual Suspects - Who is Kaiser Soeze? I remember watching this movie and being confused, bored, and ready to turn it off. The final 5 minutes made it all worth it. If you haven't seen Kevin Spacey's Oscar performance as Verbal Kint, it's worth a watch... but I recommend the TV version; very bad language.
4. Napolean Dynamite - The first time I watched this movie, I didn't laugh out loud once. Yet, when it was over, I remember looking at Janelle and saying, "That movie was really funny!" The dance scene followed by the music montage is funny and profound, as you see the unfolding of this total social misfit's impact on those around him. Then, the post credits wedding scene... priceless!
3. Dead Poet's Society - No matter how many times I watch it, I tear up a little when Ethan Hawke jumps up on his desk and shouts, "Oh Captain, my Captain!" One of Robin Williams better performances.Mr. Keading - "I stand upon my desk to remind myself that we must constantly look at things in a different way. "
2. The Return of the King - I know, there were about six endings. I know, it was really long... yet, how else could you do this. There had to be conclusions to the various layers of the story. And with each ending there's a profound and moving statement. My personal favorite, the moment that all of Minas Tirith bows to the Hobbits.
1. Shrek - I love that it was unexpected. In a world that says "All that matters is what's on the inside... as long as your pretty," and "Do the right thing, and you'll get exactly what you want," I loved the ending of Shrek. It was one of the most refreshing movie moments when Fiona remains the ogre.Many more to include... The Shawshank Redemption, Last of the Mohicans, The 6th Sense, Remember the Titans, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Citizen Kane, The Sound Of Music, Stand By Me, The Sandlot, Braveheart... the list could go on... feel free to throw in your personal favorites.
4 comments:
I distinctly remember the first time I saw Usual Suspects and the shocking ending. The only reason I bring it up is because it was in your dorm room with you. I don't know if that was your first time seeing it or not, but I do remember being a bit bored with it until the end, after which all I wanted to do was watch it again.
Some addendums. I like your list, and would add these.
"Raising Arizona", H.I. McDonough's narration of his prophetic final dream sequence.
("But still I hadn't dreamt nothin' about me'n Ed. Until the end... And this was cloudier 'cause it was years, years away. But I saw an old couple bein' visited by their children - and all their grandchildren too. And the old couple wasn't screwed up, and neither were their kids or their grandkids. And I don't know, you tell me. This whole dream, was it wishful thinking? Was I just fleein' reality, like I know I'm liable to do? But me'n Ed, we can be good, too... and it seemed real. It seemed like us. And it seemed like well... our home... If not Arizona, then a land, not too far away, where all parents are strong and wise and capable, and all children are happy and beloved... I dunno, maybe it was Utah...")
2. "Psycho" (1960). Norman Bates final look is as creepy as can be.
3. "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" (1975) -- the perfect post-modern ending.
4. "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" -- the movie's over, go home.
5. "Wit" (2003) -- The Donne poem, "Death, be not proud". I'm a sucker for ending with poetry.
6. "Tsotsi" -- I'm a sucker for the redemption of a "thug" and the emblematic raising of the arms a la crucifiction pose.
7. "City of God" (Cidade de Deus) -- you just gotta see it. The whole movie is worth it.
8. "Cry, the Beloved Country" (1995)-- James Earl Jones voice, what more could you want.
9. "A River Runs Through It" -- worth watching and listening to a dozen times. But first, of course, it was a fabulous novel. Redford nails the final paragraphs in his narration. ("Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters.") Watch it here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxz9dVncQGM
10. "Smoke Signals" -- I make my multicultural literature students watch the final scene three times. Watch it here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QutfN2wb1wc
11. "Whale Rider" -- gives me goose bumps every time.
12. "My Dog Skip" -- you'll ball your eyes out.
www.xanga.com/robbyprenkert
Dan, that was about the third time watching it. After seeing it, it became my personal mission to let people know about it.
You happened to be a part of that mission.
You were an excellent missionary. I can only add my personal favorites:
-Field of Dreams: "Hey Dad...You wanna have a catch?" "I'd like that."
-The Natural: "Pick me out a winner Bobby."
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