I was wondering if anyone had given a lot of thought to the ending of the film and/or had any thoughts on the twins' death, whether Barry died naturally, Tom tried to separate himself, who died first, motives, etc. What conclusion do you think that viewers were most expected to draw from the ending of this film?
sharegood question, i was unsure as to what had happened with the guitar on the stage - i presumed that tom had tried to cut himself asunder from the conjoined state of brotherhood that had become grotesque in its descent into hedonism and independent sexual gratification. having said that, it was all very murky thereonout til the close of the film what with the tape recorded voices whimpering to be taken home and the brothers later being found in some kind of ditch after one final act of severance. given that barry was also hosting some kind of tumour / third brother in his head and had a congenital heart defect i guess its equally plausible that as you say barry died naturally so perhaps there was a purposeful ambivalence hinted at by the ending, mimicking the duality (pluarality) of the twins' existence up to that point. whatever, it was a headkuff thats for sure - every time they did that cartwheel i was expecting them to rip apart.
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My understanding, having not read the book, is that the tumor and the "HEAD" are the same thing but the first is real and the second was made up to make the movie based on their life more interesting. In the narrative of Barry and Tom's real life Barry has a tumor which may have been a third, undeveloped, twin. There is however also a movie based on the twins' career that footage is taken from for the "documentary". In the movie there is a dramatic element of the "HEAD" which is a much more developed and monstrous version of Barry's actual tumor. The tumor that Barry had would not have been conscious, but it could have affected his personality etc. based on this I don't think there is any way that the tumor could have written the letter. I do think, however, that it was probably the manager who, I believe, had sexual feelings for Barry.
To weigh in on the ending. First of all, it's supposed to be ambiguous and we're not supposed to understand it completely. But it seems to me that the simplest understanding is that when the twins are drawn into the crowd during that last show Tom's guitar is possibly pulled from him and in the general confusion and struggle Barry was struck with the body of the instrument. This may have exacerbated the existing condition with the tumor or his heart, as drug use may have. When the return home with their sister they were out walking, Barry died suddenly and Tom struggled to separate himself but also died. Pretty straight forward and I think that's all we can know for sure from the information we're given. Anything else is speculation.