Happy ending? - All Over Me (1997) Discussion

It's defiantly satisfying; more optimistic than happy though

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Yea right. The ending is satisfying only for a fleeting moment. Think about it. Don't get me wrong, I thought the movie wasn't bad, but there is no proof that Mark killed Luke. Knowing something happened and proving something happened are two very different things, unfortunately. Mark couldn't legally be held in confinement. As soon as Mark is back on the street you know he's coming to deal out some *beep* to Claude, and Ellen will probably catch a bunch of *beep* too. Not to mention the kid that worked with Claude. So it;s all good until Mark comes back and kills everybody. Bam.

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[–] mazinz 19 years ago

interesting. Then again if they somehow found any finger prints from Mark on the knife or body itself (from a struggle or what have you) its up the river for him. I like to go with the knowledge that he was convicted. And its possible his 2 other friends might eventually rat him out as well to avoid jailtime

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[–] burnedblack 19 years ago

Interesting point. I meant it was satisfying in regards to what we saw of the ending in that there was closure and Claude was able to move on.
I think in the final scene where Ellen's alone and wearing black, it's pretty clear that Mark wasn't released as this must be some time after. I'd imagine Ellen has enough information to get him arrested (and I don't think she'd be able to hold it back under police interrogation). Besides, Mark seems like the type who would have framed the murder weapon on his wall or something so it shouldn't be too hard to find some evidence………

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[–] tahillia 18 years ago

I don't think there was a big time difference in when Mark was arrested and the end where Claude saw Ellen while she was burying the coin. Ellen was wearing the exact same thing she was wearing when Claude was arrested. Also, Claude's mom commented on how clean her room was and Claude had only cleaned it that day. If it had been clean for a long time, she wouldn't have found it necessary to make the comment.

I personally don't think much closure is given at the end, but I think it was satisfying enough. We can only hope that Ellen can get her stuff together since Mark was removed from her life. Hopefully Mark will be convicted and one more idiot will be off of the street. Claude came to terms with her sexuality and got to know herself in a big way. All in all, I think it ended well. It was satiating at least. There wasn't a fairytale ending and I'm glad... that would ruin the whole movie. It isn't a fairytale. It's a realistic coming of age story that ends... realistically.

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[–] almondindigo 18 years ago

It was an ending befitting the movie...wasn't too good...wasn't too bad...I was just happy that Claude finally left that girl alone! She treated her like crap and only befriended her for a place to sleep and the loyalty she gave to her.

She sought attention from anyone she who gave it...

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[–] ceyeluvpez 18 years ago

Very interesting and observant points tahillia. I never realized the outfit of Ellen or noticed Claude's mom's comment.

I realize this is only a movie, but I hoped that Ellen would grow up, Claude would move on w/ her girlfriend, and Ellen's bf would rot in jail.

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[–] claire-a-belle 18 years ago

I wouldn't necessarily call it a happy ending, but it was definitely satisfying.

Claude was able to rid herself of a destructive and co-dependant friendship with Lucy and embark on a romantic relationship with Lucy. It wasn't a typical fairy-tale ending. Things were left open.

I loved how Claude and Lucy didn't just magically fall in love. The movie ended with these two girls just beginning a relationship and everything was still new to them. Claude was still struggling to become comfortable in her own skin, and I liked that instead of her just suddenly being happy and confident and comfortable -- that tends to happen in other movies, but not in this one.

I hope Claude and Lucy stayed together and found happiness. I hope Ellen got her act together--I didn't much care for the girl anyway, what with yanking Claude around like that, and willingly kissing her one moment and then running to her disgusting boyfriend for a good screw and some drugs the next.

By the way, wonderful movie. I loved it.

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[–] animallover6734 16 years ago

its a slightly realistic ending i just finnished watching it i luved it.

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[–] phamkathryn 16 years ago

I thought it was satisfying. I agree, it was optimistic because Claude basically had a new start and was open and happy.

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[–] toothgirl 15 years ago

It was, in a way. Not like everything is going to be okay after that point, but that things are looking up for Claude. Throughout the movie, Claude is struggling with her attachment to the incredibly self-destructive Ellen. The ending suggests that she's at last decided to extricate herself from this relationship--to rip herself away from it instead of being dragged down by it, and to commit herself in some way to Lucy. Lucy is portrayed as a very positive person. She's very understanding and still wants to see Claude again after she freaks out the first night they hang out together. And when Claude goes to see Lucy after that depressing night with Ellen, Mark and his friends, and they're laughing and playing games..I think Claude kissing Lucy in the street, making more of a commitment to making their relationship work, is definitely a sign that Claude finally has the strength to move her life in a more positive direction. And stop chasing after ****ed up girls that are unsure of their sexuality. Instead, going for a girl that's stable and certain of herself and Claude not allowing herself to be jerked around any longer.

"I'll be in my bunk."

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[–] scissorhands__emily 15 years ago

I thought the ending was very satisfying, and I agree, fitting to the film. Claude got her happy ending. Mark was most likely locked up, she finally got away from Ellen (and even though she loved Ellen, it was clear that Ellen was just toxic and self-destructive, pretty much bad news in general for Claude), and she started a romance with Lucy. I'm sure some of us are reluctant to admit that we wanted Claude to get Ellen, but the truth is it never would have worked and Ellen would have just caused Claude more heartbreak, as well as continually putting Claude in situations and around people she didn't want to be anywhere near. For Claude the ending couldn't have been much better because everything did work out for her. Lucy was a great girl and seemed in general to be a better match for Claude. However, I must say I do feel sorry for Ellen in the end. Her character was very tragic. I think that girl needed some help, but I'm not sure where she could get it. The best thing for Ellen IMO would have been to get some form of help, but when going for a realistic ending, in real life she probably wouldn't have gotten any and would have just continued in the same destructive path, so again the ending fit. Overall I thought this was a really good film and I loved it.

"No one forgets the truth, they just get better at lying."

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[–] crookedspoons-otep 11 years ago

But I really don't want to think of it that way! Ellen may have been a horrible friend for Claude but I still hoped the best for both of them. I like Ellen's character the most because she was beautiful inside and out and very talented but didn't know that she deserved better. I just hope that maybe Ellen found a better boyfriend to get her back on her feet and also someone to teach her how to be a better person. I'm still glad the ending wasn't crappy and unrealistic like most movies and it really made you feel for all the characters.

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[–] ElxDiablo 8 years ago

I know this is a bit of a necro'ed thread, but I totally agree.

I also liked the color scheme during that closing scene: Claude in her autumn tones echoed the shedding of the past by burying the "lucky coin", under the tree that Luke had died.

In the background you see a lone figure in black (Ellen). After Claude's "purge" and Mark's presumed incarceration (assuming he's being held until trial), she quite literally alone, and figuratively "out in the cold". It is the epitome of her personal winter.

What she does with that is left open ended.

We have no idea if Ellen reflects and grows into a better person, or continues to spiral further out of control.

I'm obviously hoping for the former, but the beauty of the film is that it leaves this unresolved, just like in real life.

People leave our lives and (especially before the social media era) we never know what happens to them. Their fates are as lost to us as the increasingly missing comrades of our growing pile of "odd sock".

That's life...and that last scene captured it simultaneously with poignancy and a total lack of fanfare.

I'm not sure if people fully appreciate this.

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[–] WarpedRecord 12 years ago

I found the ending very satisfying, completely honest and extremely optimistic.

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[–] looper007 (1126) 10 months ago

For Claude, it's somewhat of happy ending for sure. She helps put away a murderer and is about to have her first real reltionship with Lucy, someone who seems into Claude and likes to hang around her and not use her like Ellen did. She's lost her childhood friend and first love in Ellen, but that's probably for the best as Ellen is on a downward spiral of drug abuse and bad relationships and is just way too flawed a person to have around for someone like Claude at her age.

I think the film tries to paint the ending as sad as Claude and Ellen friendship is over with but I think the ending is hopeful as Ellen at this point of her life is just going to lead Claude into more darker paths.

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