MovieChat Forums > Shank (2009) Discussion > Question about the ending (SPOILERS)

Question about the ending (SPOILERS)

posted 14 years ago by mycalangelo
11 replies | jump to latest

Are we to assume that Cal sent the text to the professor? And was that him in the video along with the other two thugs that beat the professor's lover? It seem that that is the case. If so, I think it would have been better for him not to reveal that he was a part of that if he was going to leave and move away. That seems like such a kick in the face to the professor, especially after he'd just helped Cal thru Cal's nightmare. Truly sad.

On another note, I would have liked to see Cal and Jonno get together. A sequel would be nice.

[–] christian-385 14 years ago

The sending of the text was Cal's redemptive moment....he does then smash his phone up to end one life and get on the train with Olivier to start another. He was in the video but not one of the attackers...I guess the professor can take the phone clip to the police?

[–] mycalangelo 14 years ago

I'd have to watch again, but I thought he was participating in the beating as well.

[–] elgatony 14 years ago

I had the same question about the ending. If the professor was to take the video to the police they'd see it was sent by Cal and they could arrest everyone in the video. Earlier in the film I thought he WAS being interviewed by the police when explaining his black eye (remember he lies about it to his friend as well as to the class) so, again, where were the cops to trace the texts/IMs back to Cal? I too, felt, like that ending message was a slap in the face to the prof.

Gene(points at his arm pit:Get a waft of that,man stink. See if that doesn't moisten your gusset!

[–] MICHAELM6 14 years ago

I don't think that Cal was part of the beating. He did, after all, stop his friends from beating Olivier. I took it to mean that it was his way of telling the Prof (and the police)where to look for the guilty parties.

The message on the screen read "Sorry" Cal X.

[–] christian-385 14 years ago

@michaelm6 - spot on...damn right...you've got it....

from the writers...

[–] atomicgabe 13 years ago

Agree with michaelm6.

Cal would have been the one shooting the video so he wouldn't have
been able to participate in the beating.

[–] BILLYBOY-10 13 years ago

Cal absolutely participated in the beating by not only being present, not objecting to it, and not trying to stop it and even more so by documenting it with video. I agree with those who attribute his text to the professor as his redemption, a final confession of cleansing and I don't think it has anything to do with police either. I think the old gang is destroyed. Cal's friend who emotionally raped Cal is a dead duck gang wise. The chick gang leader essentially now leads just the fat chick, both guys are gone. I thought this was the finest gay film, next to Beautiful Thing, I've ever seen.

[–] Falconeer 11 years ago

"On another note I would have liked to see Cal and jonno get together..."

Why? so Jonno could get another chance to knife Cal? There was nothing likable about Jonno at all; he might have been "sexy" but that is all. He was a psychopath, and if he was actually gay, which I doubt, he most likely would never be able to deal with that. C'mon; if that girl hadn't have pulled him off Cal, he would have slit his throat.

"IMdB; where 14 year olds can act like jaded 40 year old critics...'

[–] christian-385 11 years ago

Interesting observations - I'm now writing the film as a stage play....and some things will change....all the comments on here are wonderfully helpful. Thanks for your posts.

Also check out the sequel...www cal-movie com

or Cal...out September 2013

[–] Falconeer 11 years ago

Wow, a sequel to "Shank?" I wasn't expecting that, but it looks good..as gritty and tough as the first film. "Shank" is an extremely unique 'gay-themed' film, and one of my favorites. I will be looking for the sequel, thanks for letting me know!

"IMdB; where 14 year olds can act like jaded 40 year old critics...'

[–] celticwolf270911 11 years ago

I think Cal sent the video so that the professor would finally know who had damaged his lover so badly, so that he could make some sort of sense of the situation even if it hurt him to learn of it. I think in a way Cal was cleansing himself of his gang ways by confessing to his part in the crime...something he only learned of when he looked at a picture the professor had on the nightstand table of him and his love together before the attack.

Even though it's not as brave as actually confessing to the cops to see himself and the others prosecuted, I think for someone in Cal's position in life and the amount of confusion he's dealt with in his life it was about as brave as he was capable of being at the time.

As for a Cal and Johno pairing...I'd rather see more of Cal and Olivier. Johno seems a bit to brutish to me, but I respect your opinion on the matter. :)