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Discussion about ending and totality of movie

posted 15 years ago by bcthedj
32 replies | jump to latest

This is a very good movie, but the ending keeps me from calling it a Great Movie.

The ending - which I won't go into the details for those yet to see this film - leaves, imho, many unresolved threads, and many questions. Not the least of which is did this film get 're-edited' in some fashion by someone other than the director (studio honchos?) to attempt to reduce its run time into a more palatable length for convenient showing at your neighbor multiplex, and in that process got the ending all screwed up. 2 hours and 20 minutes, as it is now, is a bit long for anything less than a sure fire money making blockbuster epic complete with obligatory car chase and shoot 'em up bomb blast. So curious if it had been longer - to include the resolutions I'm asking about - but did get chopped just to get to try to get it to fit in with the 'norm' so it could have some chance at selling those tickets to the popcorn munching 'Merikan Movie Going Public.

Now, that being said, and as I said - this is a very good film. And in some senses of the word it does offer a type of resolution and proper ending, in a sense. And for sure was worth the time out of my life to watch.

But it was soooo close to being something VERY special (even saw one message thread here from December 2008 using the word Oscar). So please do see this film.

And once you've seen it, and to those who have already - please ....

Offer me some thoughts on the questions I've raised. Give me some reasons and examples of how you find resolution and completeness in the ending ?

Or/and offer up some various plot/story thoughts of how YOU would have ended it. I might return the favor - do have a few in mind already.

But, no need to think it has to end in a baby food formula fashion that leads us by the hand like a TV Movie of the Week - some 'esoteric fuzziness' is no problem.

Thanks

BC Kelly
Tallahassee Fla

[–] walternefflives 14 years ago

I think the ambiguity of the ending is what makes it so cool. You could picture what had gone on after.

This is what I think....

The plastic bag didn't have the full million in it. In the hotel the bag barely stayed closed. It was spilling over. Julia also worrily asks Santos "You're not going the count it are you?". This makes me think she skimmed the bag and put half in the trunk. She figured Santos wouldn't know what that amount of cash looks like.

Also, Julia is a despicable human being. She is only concerned about her own self-interests. She sees the kid as a commodity and her lifeline. She tells Mitch she is worried that Tom's grandfather will have her killed. As long as she keeps the kid alive she feels safe.

Julia's last line runs through the entire movie. It is a lie and it never stops being a lie. She never intended to give the boy to her mother and I do not think that changes at the end. She's looking to reclaim her lost wages.

[–] trish722 13 years ago

I think the conversation Julia had with Tom in the restaurant--when he starts spouting all the bitter words that had been programmed into him by his grandfather--I think then Julia realized that Elena, was right and that the grandfather was destroying the child.

I was dissapointed in the end. I'm not ashamed to admit that I do like things spelled out a bit. And I wanted to see a loser come out on top for a change, by her getting away with the money. Her coming to care for the boy was nice, but still cliche.

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] eylem-tokay 12 years ago

Actually, I think the ending is great .It shows us the human thaughts and feelings and actions is not straight.It changes.As morality is the most captivated feeling for a human being,Julia chose the boy -that felt emotional connection during their journey-.Julia, can be a looser or an addict and can seem like apathetic and criminal but it's just the part that is seen.Inside, there is a different Julia and we saw it at the end .At some parts of the film we also have this conflict feeling towards her.

[–] Matthewandrewdra (1) a year ago

WOW. My thoughts exactly 100% just saw this on Hulu and I had never even heard of the movie over the last 15 years somehow 🤷‍♂️ Really good movie. Could’ve been GREAT if they got the ending right!!!