MovieChat Forums > A Single Man (2010) Discussion > That ending...

That ending...

posted 13 years ago by jessicahjoy87
21 replies | jump to latest

My friend and I really enjoy watching films together, whether it's he choosing one he's seen, me choosing one I've seen or the both of us watching one neither of us have seen--foreign, Criterion, classic, silents, we love films, and one night he brought out this movie because someone had loaned it to him from work with the suggestion that he watch it because he might like it. We had no idea what it was about, but we figured we had to get it out of the way, because of the fact that we kept getting its title mixed up with the movie A Serious Man if nothing else, so we popped it in and were hardly minutes in when we of course discovered it was a gay film, which was amusing because it made the both of us uncomfortable since neither of us are advocates of the lifestyle (and it had us further wondering what exactly his coworker meant by loaning it to him), but nevertheless, regardless of the subject matter, I found the film superbly directed with lovely dialog--but overall the one thing that I found completely captivating was the ending. It was so well-done that it definitely has to go on my list of 'most beautiful endings in cinema,' just because of how remarkably beautiful it was--not the overall concept, really, the fact that he dies--it's how it's shown, the words he spoke, the gentle profoundness of it, illuminating the delicate, gossamer fragility of our little lives that made it quietly wonderful to watch, on par for me with the endings of movies like Wild Strawberries, Being There, A River Runs Through It and even Brazil (not the Love Conquers All version, obviously).

Those words "And just like that...it came" ....My God, so lovely. Such restraint. I was so pleased to find it in a movie I undoubtedly never would have seen if I'd known what it was about. I'll probably never see it again, but I got the important parts out of it. Any other beautiful endings like this one that anyone can think of? Endings with that hushed sense of beauty that you so seldom find in the excrementicious piles of tripe most Hollywood churns out nowadays? (Yes, I know it's not a real word.) I crave those kinds of endings and it seems I never find them...it's like trying to spot the unicorn in the forest; they seem to come to me when they choose, by chance or design, I being unable to conjure them myself. :)

[–] qyj_dream 12 years ago

I would say American Beauty.

[–] andros12 12 years ago

A memorable ending occurs in the film "Fellin Satyricon" when the main character Encolpio is left standing on the beach. As he speaks his final words he is interrupted in mid-sentence as his physical image becomes transformed into a fresco on a large rock overlooking the sea. Very sublime...beautiful...

[–] PoppyTransfusion 12 years ago

The ending was incredibly sad because George seemed, from what he was saying, to be moving on from his grief and depression and just as he was, he died. It was beautifully done though and the emotion of that scene,as with the whole film, was taut and restrained.

Why problem make? When you no problem have, you don't want to make ...

[–] jus_bite_me 12 years ago

Throughout the movie i was predictating/guessing what if he realised at the end of that day, the beauty of life and all that it had to offer him, only to die of his heart condition at that moment?

I almost wished I wasn't right about that guess.

[–] Apostolos510 11 years ago

I don't find that scene sad at all. The fictional event that occurred may be sad, but clearly the movie is optimistic. The sentiment is that life is too beautiful and fragile to waste in depression and contemplating suicide. You never know which moment may be your last, so live with no regrets. (In fact, there was a line in the movie that said something along the lines of "if I died now, I'd be okay", it was certainly much better for George to have died realizing the beauty of life rather than in depression, and it was much better for all the people in his life to know that he died of natural cause rather than suicide.)

[–] marhefka 11 years ago

@Apostolos510.

You made your post only 8 days ago so maybe you can help me. I watched the film last night in Chengdu, China (spoke English.) I must have dozed off or something because I don't remember him dying. I remember him (apparently) deciding not to kill himself. After reading some of the comments on this message board, I realize he died a natural death.

So, can you tell me what happened?

[–] evergreen-6 11 years ago

I think anyone who saw the film can answer your question.

He died from a heart attack, we could watch him dying. Right in the end of the film, till the screen went black reflecting his consiousness expire.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] knoxfan2008 11 years ago

I honestly thought the ending was pretty predictable and honestly a bit too easy. I knew from the very moment he clutched his heart at the start this would happen, some films love irony even when it is out-of-place. This ending was just too telegraphed and seemed like a scapegoat for the writers to write a satisfying conclusion. Don't worry, i get the irony of the situation and it is unfortunate, but the heart-problem was just a contrived plot device to give a conclusive finish.

I know there will be those who disagree, but this ending felt too obvious and derivative. I liked it a lot up to that point, and the scene was handled very well, but ultimately a bit too easy.

[–] kcalbac1 11 years ago

One of my all time favorite endings regarding or accepting death was in Carlito's Way. It happened so sudden and out of nowhere. But, Carlito (Pacino) said some of the coolest things as he was laying there with his eyes open knowing it was the end. The way he said everything just fit Carlito's personality perfectly. I still get goose bumps when I hear it and the way that he expresses it.

Sorry boys, all the stitches in the world can't sew me together again. Lay down...lay down. Gonna stretch me out in Fernandez funeral home on Hun and Ninth street. Always knew I'd make a stop there, but a lot later than a whole gang of people thought. Last of the Mo-Ricans, well maybe not the last. Gail's gonna be a good mom. New, improved Carlito Brigante. Hope she uses the money to get out. No room in this city for big hearts like us... Sorry baby, I tried the best I could. Honest. Can't come with me on this trip though. Getting the shakes now, last call for drinks, bars closing down, sun's out. Where are we going for breakfast. Don't wanna go far. Rough night. Tired baby... Tired...
Carlito Brigante

[–] purple66 11 years ago

I 100% agree. That's exactly how I feel about it too.

[–] svenrufus 10 years ago

If I may go slightly off topic, I was disappointed to read you saying that the film made you uncomfortable because of the gay theme, but really pleased that watched it and appreciated it for what it was, rather than dismissing it on that basis. I had hoped to then see you saying that it made you realise the universality of love, that love is not a 'lifestyle' but rather an intrinsic human emotion with many facets and manifestations.

It's a shame you didn't reach that conclusion, but I'm not going to pick a fight over it. I just wanted to urge you and your friend to learn from this fantastic film and not use sexuality as a filter for your cinematic experiences, as you'll be missing out on some wonderful films. The human experience is rich and varied, and has so many stories to tell - don't close your ears to some of them on such arbitrary terms.

[–] MTulliver 10 years ago

"neither of us are advocates of the lifestyle"

So even after watching the film, you still consider someone's sexual orientation to be a "lifestyle"? Are you sure you really watched it? What did this man do/act/feel/say that was ANY different than a straight "lifestyle" outside of falling in love with his same gender? I'm glad you enjoyed the film, but comments like this irk me to no end.

[–] bubab2 10 years ago

Back to the topic of the ending again; I was really confused? I'm afraid I read the ending totally different to everyone else.

I am probably totally wrong, but when Colin Firth goes up to Nicholas Hoult (apparently sleeping) and takes the gun from him, I thought "Hmmm why hasn't Hoult woken up?" And I seemed to detect blood on his face? I sort of came to the conclusion that Hoult had shot himself, (underneath that blanket), and was dead. Remember the scene earlier, in the bar where they had both discussed that the only sure thing in anyone's life is that they will die! Well I thought to myself that because Hoult was only young, and at a very impressionable age, he had taken it to be gospel what his "teacher" was saying, and had shot himself... Only Colin Firth didn't realize that or heard the gunshot because he had passed out!

There was also a lot of talk earlier on about drugs. Hoult was saying "Have you ever tried xxxxx" (and he mentioned the drug - Masculin or something?) and Colin Firth said that yes he had tried it but it didn't agree with him. Well I thought that maybe Hoult had slipped one of these into his beer; because if you notice, the second beer they have together Hoult goes and gets it! But we don't see him spiking the drink so its left open for the viewer to ponder.

Anyway. Then I thought that Colin Firth had passed out because of the drug that Hoult had put in his beer. (If you notice, as Firth passes out, Hoults face suddenly changes to a very eerie smile... a sort of evil smile).

Then Firth locks the gun away, still not realizing that Hoult has killed himself. And then he has an attack because of the masculin (? or whatever the name of that drug was?) that Hoult has given him. That is when we hear him say "And just like that it came...." -- well I took that line to mean that the H-Bomb had been fired, because everything went white. It didn't black out -- it all went white, as if it was representing a nuclear bomb?

I am probably completely wrong; but that is how I read the ending? Of course then I came straight here, and read that he had a heart attack and just died. And that his line "And just like that it came" was referring to a heart attack, and not the nuclear H bomb.

[–] gorye 10 years ago

I am probably completely wrong; but that is how I read the ending?

Wrong, completely, but funny.

Still, thanks for this burst of imagination. It really makes sense anyway.

[–] ethrush 9 years ago

The stories about the Cuban Missile crisis that you hear in the background are real- based on real events. But no H-bomb ever went off. This story is not science fiction. It is fiction, but set in a real world, a world that did not go up in smoke, obviously.
It was a heart attack. Watch the movie again.

[–] spookyrat1 9 years ago

It was a heart attack.

Almost the cinematic equivalent of a shaggy dog joke.🐭

[–] lulupalooza 9 years ago

The young man, Kenny, simply fell asleep with the handgun to ensure it was kept away from Colin's character, George. Kenny was sweetly protecting him and knew that something was wrong with his respected professor all day...and he was right, as George was moody since his day was to end in a planned suicide.

Mescaline is just peyote cactus (Native Americans used it for spiritual enlightenment) and he did not give any to Colin to eat; Kenny's face seemed blurry when it slightly morphed into George's deceased lovers' smile, as Colin began to pass out from drinking all night. He was finally happy again!

Then he died of a heart attack. 

There was never any nuclear bomb, as the film is set in our historical 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis (which resolved). Your version is very dark, disturbing, and cynical. Perhaps you've been watching too many crappy, creepy movies? The direction in this film was quite clear, imo.

Even if you're a "glass is half empty" kind of person, you may want to consider a future in writing...you've got the imagination for it! 

"Don't get chumpatized!" - The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007)

[–] dohaperson 9 years ago

That advocates of the lifestyle comment is ridiculous. It is not a lifestyle...do you advocate blonds? Do you advocate left handed people? Do you advocate blue eyes? Do you advocate people over 6 feet tall?

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] Amiri17 8 years ago

Tom Fords latest, Nocturnal Animals also had a great ending I thought.

films that have these unconventional endings seem to leave a lasting impression!