Ending

The way I took it is Alistar is always in his brothers shadow as well as his families. His brother didn't have to try to be popular. He was one of those people that most people just like bc they are charming and handsome which is why I think Alistar hates Miles so much,bc everyone likes him. Everything Alistar did was out of jealousy of Miles and his popularity amongst the club members. Which shows how its all in Alistars head bc the club members like him too he is just to blinded by his jealousy of Miles to notice. I didn't think Alistar did anything on purpose,like getting in trouble. I think he genuinely tried to pin it on Miles so then he would be top new guy amongst the club for getting them out of that situation. When he gets arrested I think he was surprised to have been caught but at that point he didn't care bc people like him know family influence can get him out of anything and deep down he never wanted to follow in his brothers footsteps. For example the opening scene in the dorms where he says he didn't want the same room as his brother but took it bc his parents pretty much made him. All of Alistars actions to me are out of resentment towards his family,his brother and eventually miles. The end pretty much says that it doesn't matter what he does he will get out of it bc of who he is and he excepts this and will go foward using it to his advantage. Thats my opinion anyway....:)

I don't think he wanted to get caught - what made you think that? He wanted Miles to take the blame, like everyone else. He got caught because they found dna on him and was the only one to get in trouble because the school didn't want bad press.

The point of the ending was that it didn't matter what Alistair did, how vile or violent he was, he would still get a good job in politics/finance because of who his family was.

If anyone had been listening and watching closely enough, they would have noticed the DNA being taken from the boys. And the only one the pub owner had the CHANCE to scratch was Alistair. His DNA was found under the pub owner's fingernails. This is why he was arrested. And he was angry that none of the other boys came forward to defend him. After all, they had declared and promised as "brotherhood," and "one for all." So he thought "*beep* them." Then his confidante and alumni came forward to help him, and just showed the audience that karma is not real sometimes. That life *beep* sucks for people who were RAISED with morals. And at the end when the band is playing "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" really shows how Alistair "triumphantly" comes out of this situation, as well as the society. (If anyone knows the lyrics, they would understand why he smiled.)
This kind of *beep* actually happens ALL the time. It goes unreported because money is such a powerful tool. That is what this film is conveying. While we hate that the bad guys came out on top, this is NOTHING new. I loved the ending, because I hated what him so much. THAT is what makes a good film.