MovieChat Forums > Once Upon a Time in America (1984) Discussion > About the ending (big spoiler alert)

About the ending (big spoiler alert)

posted 8 years ago by CarlCarlson
5 replies | jump to latest

It's my opinion that ever resourceful Max did jump in the back of the trash chewing truck, as a back up plan, in case, Noodles backed out of shooting him.
Max wanted out of his scandal in the most dignified way possible, before investigations and eventual indictment began, and his murder was the only way. Suicide would have left his legacy tarnished, family in more scandal, and not protected by life insurance.
So, Noodles shows up, declines to help Max, Max goes to plan B with truck awaiting at curb, and, as he came in Noodles life jumping off the back of a truck, leaves Noodles' life jumping back on.
This way his disappearance (death) looks like a kind of possible kidnapping, he's never found, eventually declared dead, and insurance pays.

"If Mad Max Fury Road is an 8 (I gave it a 1). Then I'll use 8 for OK, 9 is better, 10 is best."

[–] Outstandingness 8 years ago

that's my take on it too, although I never connected the truck connection.

do you think the cars that appear after the truck disappears are just part of a costume party? Or maybe some kind of apparition from his memory? The way Leone plays with timelines in this movie leaves me doubting everything ...

[–] CarlCarlson 8 years ago

They were real ... could have been neighbors going or leaving someplace to guests leaving the party. Perhaps symbolic of other's timelines - "we're all going or leaving someplace".

"If Mad Max Fury Road is an 8, then I'll use 8 for OK, 9 is better, 10 is best."

[–] helba (62) 3 years ago

The cars were not from the same time period though.

[–] strangebedfellows 8 years ago

Max - commit suicide - and in a garbage truck? Not in a million years. He would never admit the possibility of losing anything. Max wanted to be sure that his only connection to the past was severed - and if Noodles had taken him up on his offer - the garbage truck was waiting to take Noodles right along with him. Did you not notice Max come down the drive and have a word with someone near the truck - and then walk back up the drive?
That's why the truck drove away and left Noodles alone. He had proved to Max that he would never be a danger to him.
I love this film - it's a classic.

[–] CarlCarlson 8 years ago

Max is running after the garbage truck.

"If Mad Max Fury Road is an 8, then I'll use 8 for OK, 9 is better, 10 is best."