MovieChat Forums > Shoot the Moon (1982) Discussion > The ending

The ending

posted 19 years ago by DC1977
11 replies | jump to latest

I didn't like the ending, I thought it was contrived and despite George's short temper I simply couldn't see him reacting like that.

I think it would have worked better with a more downbeat ending where George leaves the court, goes back to his car, reflects on things for a few seconds and drives off with the film ending there.

Does anybody think, however, that the smashing up of the tennis court may have been done to get that reaction out of Frank as it was the only way that George could separate Frank and Faith?

George didn't put up any resistance at all, did he?

The other scene I didn't like was the restaurant argument which seemed totally out of place and belonged in a different film. Finney stole that scene from Keaton. I'm not a huge fan of Diane Keaton but I did like her in this film.

This was a good film and quite Bergmanesque in some ways. Finney was very good apart from his occasional tendency to talk very slowly and drag out his delivery.

[–] Coqui80 19 years ago

I liked the ending simply because it allowed the viewers of the film to question whether or not George and Faith still had a chance. When Finney reaches out his hand and says his wife's name, a plea for her love, in a way, she hesitates, yet we wonder if she feels anything that may allow her to give this guy a break after all. Not that the viewers are lead to believe that these two will "make it" or anything nearly so neat and falsely happy as that, but just that there's not really an end to this at all...which is the way it really is when you're divorced yet still have children together. Whether Faith will take George's hand at the end almost doesn't matter, because if she does or if she doesn't, their bitter/loving cycle will continue forever anyway. They are permenantly locked in. I found it nice that we don't see a neater, more "pat" ending, but rather a messy, hellish one. I also like George's outburst, showing that even the most ordinary, calm family men can lose their sanity when a relationship has been that painful for that long.

"It's alligator, darlin'...al-li-gator"

[–] IForgotMyMantra 18 years ago

Agreed! I thought that the film was on a clear path towards a somewhat 'happy' ending (they're separating but they're OK with that). I was genuinely shocked at George's demolition of the tennis court and I guess that could be perceived as melodrama tactics but it seemed to me to be in keeping with his temper, i.e. breaking the door down and throwing Faith out by force.

I'd like to think that Faith turned her back on George because that final outburst was too much, a sad individual all right.

[–] seroteamavi2001 18 years ago

Did i see it right but did the Peter Weller character destroy the daughters typewriter on the tennis court? If he did, i think that was a sign that he would no longer have any trust from the kids and hence, The wife would go bakc to the husband. Make sense?

[–] toughrabbit 18 years ago

Yeah, I think he did kick the typewriter, in the heat of the moment. I don't think he intentionally set out to destroy it. He probably didn't even fully realize what he was kicking. He was pretty Pi$$ed off. I love that scene. Fantastic acting by Weller.

[–] Stirchley 13 years ago

Yeah, I think he did kick the typewriter, in the heat of the moment.

You could say that the typewriter was a metaphor for George and his love of words. (Sherry's love of words too. Maybe she will become a writer too.) George destroyed Frank's work (the tennis court) so Frank destroyed the instrument on which George types his work.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] Newz_Dawg 18 years ago

Wake up! George's groin had been exploded! He's dying of internal hemorrhaging! His hand is raised for one last clasp before he bites the big one. Even if he survives, his unit will never function. It's a hopeless ending for all! And it made all the men in theaters yell "Oooooh!" and clutch themselves, which was pretty funny.

"I hate people I don't like."

Newz Dawg

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] DivaJ75 17 years ago

My sister in law is going through a messy divorce just like the one in this movie. Her ex is just like Albert Finney, to the point where he beat up my father in law who is 73 years old and the case is going to court in three weeks.

That was the only way George could separate Faith and Frank.

"Poor is the man whose pleasures depend on the permission of another."

[–] Gina_Riley_Admirer 17 years ago

I don't think George pre-planned the demolition of the tennis court. I believe he had calmed himself enough inside to be mature about things...but after the talk with Sherry on the beach when she fled from the party, I think he snapped inside. He got in his car, went to the party and ran the place down. I don't think he wanted to separate Frank and Faith - it was simply his horrible temper getting the better of him once again. His jealously and blind rage at another man having his wife and being a father figure to his daughters.

I'm inclined to think she stayed with Frank and went back to court again to limit child access.

-- Leet.

~ Gíñä ®ïl€ÿ ¡§ Â GødÐes§! ~

[–] nutsberryfarm 12 years ago

game. set. match. george!

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