The very last scene shows Doris getting in the elevator at the office, after fantasizing that John has run after her. Just then, the doors close and he does want to say something to her. We never find out if what she was thinking was actually what he was going to say. The ending leaves it to your imagination. Seeing how she had finally parted with all the junk in the house and was beginning to move on with her life, what do you think John would have told her?
shareTo be friends again, but just friends.
shareHe wanted Doris to explain to his ex girlfriend that it was Doris all along. And that nothing happened between them.
False: all conservatives are stupid people;
True: most stupid people are conservative
I say he wanted a date. Finally. Believe it or not, lots of young men
would dig dating an older woman, and while Field's character was MANY
years older, she was played by Sally Field. It happens. I think deep
down, he had feelings for her. And they were both adults. Certainly
not as gross at 80-someting Hugh Heftner and his 20-something bunnies.
She has a proven track record of stalking and lying, causing drama, and interfering where she shouldn't be. He should know that quite well. If he's asking her for a date, he needs help.
False: all conservatives are stupid people;
True: most stupid people are conservative
The Facebook thing was childish, to say the least. But Doris never had
a life. At all. She grew old taking care of her mother, which is a
pretty noble - but tragic - way to watch one's life go by.
He called out to her. And I believe he didn't want to lose her.
I agree Doris was a hoarder, which is mental illness. But she finally
started working on getting a real life, and quitting that job was
part of "cleaning it all out." Only then, when he sensed her truly
"moving on" did he recognize a quality in her. We can all debate as
to WHY he was calling out after her (they're not real people), but if
it was to maybe explore something with her, that doesn't mean "he
needs help."
Was friends with a woman almost 20 years my senior. All I'll say is, "Don't knock it til you try it."
And no joke either in some ways that age difference allows a lot of the problems that exist in "normal" relationships to not even come up. Just sayin'. One of the coolest "together" women I have ever had the good fortune to call friends.
FWIW tho Doris - imho - was pretty fragile emotionally (obviously but no intent to make fun of her or her troubles) so the art director guy shouldn't have misled her which he did - "Would you ever consider dating a younger man?"
Don't get me wrong. I love Sally Field. A lot of women her age too: Meryl, Lily, Dolly, Maggie Smith, Ellen Burstyn. And I would hope that hot men like John would be into more than just women their own age. But, I firmly believe Doris owes John and his ex an apology.
False: all conservatives are stupid people;
True: most stupid people are conservative
I was disappointed that she had only apologized to Paul. If she wants to grow as a person she needs to see the damage she caused and try to correct it.
shareit bothered me that it was never explained until i thought about it--his gf refused to believe him no matter how many times he said he had no idea who the fb friend was. that made me think she wasn't the girl for him.
shareJust one of the reasons never to accept a friend request from someone if you don't know who they are.
Not Ann Burstyn--it's Ellen Burstyn. And the young man in the movie is John, not Paul.
I agree with your point, though. Older women aren't recognized as they should be. They are undervalued.
this was more like 35 years difference...but still it's Sally Field :)
shareNo. A woman in her 70s and a man in his 20s do not belong together. Thats gross.
You people can glamorize it as much as you want, but its gross. She is a good 50+ years to him. No no no.
And I do not know anyone who has seen it that wanted them to end up together. Most wanted her to stop acting out and act like a normal person.
I am sure some of us felt sorry for her but I do not think that means they should end up together.
He probably wanted to apologize if he gave her the wrong impression and would like for them to keep in touch and remain friends. He also was hurt by her actions and she should apologize to Brooklyn and make it better for him.
"Live Fast, Die Young"
She's 69 and he's 35. If it were a 69 year old guy and a 35 year old woman no one would blink and eye.
shareIt's not gross. Someday, when you grow up and learn not to be so shallow, you will understand that.
shareI don't think the second time she calls out her name is a second (back-to-back) fantasy. There is no indication in the movie that she ever had such a fantasy method and it would be against common logic to introduce it at the very last second.
shareThe ending nearly ruined the movie for me, and I was really enjoying it.
The last 10 seconds and the look on Doris' face as the elevator closes almost makes me believe that the MOVIE wants us to think that he's running to her with an intention to start a relationship ... which would be INSANE.
Insane ... not because the two of them dating each other would be strange ... not at all. I think anyone of any age can date anyone else of any age. I think that's great.
No, he had better be running to her to say something like, "Doris, please don't leave. I'd like you to be in my life. I understand who you are and why you did what you did. I think you're a good person deep down. I forgive you for what you did. Now please call my ex and explain to her what happened. And then hey, let's go grab a cup of coffee, my friend".
Any other explanation is unacceptable to me because her behavior was near inexcusable.
That's almost completely how I saw the ending. He wants to say he forgives her, and he wants to continue to hang out and be friends.
The one thing that I might differ with you: I think he may have already patched it up with Brooklyn. He's got a credible story, once she cools down to hear it. And that may be why he now can forgive her. But I think both versions work.
Prepare your minds for a new scale of physical, scientific values, gentlemen.share
Saw the movie yesterday and agree with emvan and ewdot. John starts to realize how he may have inadvertently given the wrong impression to Doris. He sees how hurt she is as she leaves..but the bedroom scene at the party makes it clear he has no romantic feelings for her and it had never entered his mind. He just thought she was a cool friend from another generation.
shareI think credit must go to Sally Field. I just got out of the movie and I could tell everyone in my theater wanted the 2 of them to end up together. When it dawned on everyone Doris was just daydreaming again I heard a lot of people groaning.
The "accidental kiss" he gave her and him opening up to her about his past girlfriends saying he feels he's boring, he made himself very vulnerable there. I just don't think that's something you'd share with someone you just saw as a friend. He even said I feel I bared my soul to you.
Hey maybe him running to stop Doris the second time was also a fantasy, and having the doors close was the end of her fantasizing about things and that it is time to move on. She also wanted him to chase her down and letting the doors close and smiling was Doris's way of not feeling so bad about what had transpired.
shareI would agree with this. As for the age difference it is not as uncommon as people would think for a much younger man to go with a much older woman. I know a couple with a 35 year age gap who were together for over a decade. TBH without going into detail, you didn't have to think look very hard for the reasons why he wanted an older woman and she a younger man but they were happy for a long time so each to their own.
shareKitten, please ...
shareThe ending was satisfying. Not spectacular. Not schmaltzy. Not particularly smart. Hopeful, maybe.
shareI believe the 2nd time John ran to the elevator door was also a fantasy. It is Doris' way of controlling the outcome. She can imagine John wanting to connect with her, the reasons for him to do so so are not important as she decides to move on without him.
The "He want's me, but I don't want him anymore." is just a denial mechanism to avoid the embarrassing hurtful truth.
They went to Poundtown in the elevator.
John would have wanted a romance with her. True as that was what the director of the film said. Can't argue with the makers of the film as to how it ended. I also had thought that too.
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