ending???

Yes, I agree with Artemisia999. Alex cries "I want you...", so I think that they'll remain together. I don't think that Sarah was telling Same the truth about her heart. These are just my opinions. The ending leaves the viewer to interpretate what they believe.

The Film Freak

Yes Frances is a BABE!!! The only thing this movie had going for it! (Though I suppose Jane's house was nice to look at as well...)

If you're wondering about the end, then you totally missed the point.

Who could last to the end?

I just watched this movie also and I did love it, but the ending was supposed to be a nod to 70s movies like Five Easy Pieces and The Graduate where the ending is not revealed and you have to figure out what happens to the characters from what the story gave you according to the commentary by the writer. I usually like endings that make you think, but this one just leaves a little to much. I wanted a better resolution.

He drowned himself in the water to commit suicide.

I thought the nod to The Graduate was trite in this movie; there are so many references to that scene, i think only Wes Anderson has done it well. Also, the themes between the two are fairly different. I thought this film has some good moments, and francis mcdormand was great, but overall pretty poor. The ending was poor. The director seemed to make it vague and open-ended for no reason, merely to get out of an ending. No balls there! Although it kind of goes along with some of the movie's themes, it's not filmed that way and demands resolution. The whole film is building towards resolution and the director denies us not in an artistic way or a clever way but in a poorly directed way. It was also fairly painful watching Christian Bale "deal" with emotion in any way.

Then you my dear friend are a damn fool!

You are absolutely correct, DrkSyde. Bravo.

Anyway, I loved this film, and I really can't say why. It left me with a very LOST IN TRANSLATION-esque mood afterwards... I consider it one of the best of 2003 (yes, 2003, despite what the IMDB says).

have read every theory here and this makes most sense. Freudian too. we all find Oedipus disturbing.

he's been trying to be opposite of mom and ends up falling for someone like Mom.

I originally thought Sam had committed suicide but have come to the same conclusion as you....he is re-evaluating his life and re-birthing himself....seeing a more positive life as to the negative that he had always lived....I loved the movie!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sometimes not all movies end with no lingering thoughts...this one did....he stayed with Alex and became a much better human being....

by drksydeotm: "When Sarah tells Sam that she can't control her heart... he looks to his mother and realizes that that's been her philosophy about life. I think at this point Sam comes to an understanding about his mother, Alex and humans in general. We all make mistakes. It doesn't make us bad people, it makes us people. I think he's coming to terms with this. His entire life was spent trying to be the polar opposite of his mother and the type of people she had exposed him to while he was growing up. So much so that he never took the time to realize that you can let your heart guide you at certain times no matter what path you walk in life."

This was my understanding of the ending, I couldn't have said it better. He realizes that, although he had a rather unorthodox childhood, his mother loves him no matter how he may feel about her. He can choose to accept the carefree lifestyle she lives, or keep fighting to be her polar opposite the rest of his life, but what good would that do? Probably just give him an ulcer. His sinking into the pool reminded me of the story of Sapphos telling the young lovers in greek mythology to jump off a certain cliff in order to forget about each other and get on with their lives. I like to think Bale's character does the same thing; kind of forget not only about what may or may not have been going on between Alex, his mom, and Ian, but also to wash away some of his guilt over Sara, his conservative idealism, and to simply become more free like these people who are so much a part of his life - and who he really does love.

I thought it was a beautiful movie with a beautiful ending.

I like to think Sam is just clearing his head before he cuts off Sara, begins accepting his mother for all she is and Alex for all she will become (which is, of course, more like his mother). He'll need a clear head to deal with all the complicated women in his life. He and Alex affirmed or re-affirmed their commitment by yelling at each other for the first time after the Chateau Marmont confrontation. Previously, they had polite conversation. Sam also has a connection or re-connection with his mother by the pool. I loved that he held her toes. Kind of a hug - just the dyfunctional kind you would expect from them. Then their real lives interupt - the unplanned stuff - Sara's call and then Ian floating by with the boat symbolically cut him from his mother again. But, this time, he will be OK with it.
I like how this movie has so much about the other characters, but really seems to be about Sam, the women in his life and how things suddenly go un-planned.
The best parts about movies like this are the unanswered questions or the 'unplanned' bits. Just cries for a sequel, huh?

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