MovieChat Forums > Little Men (2017) Discussion > PROBLEM WITH ENDING - SPOILER ALERT

PROBLEM WITH ENDING - SPOILER ALERT

posted 7 years ago by kenburke0627
6 replies | jump to latest

SPOILER ALERT!!! SPOILER ALERT!!! SPOILER ALERT!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!

The only problem I had with the movie was its ending. According to Wikipedia "some time later, Jake accompanies a group of fellow art students on a museum visit and is surprised to see Tony and some of his classmates on a tour. Jake watches from across a large atrium as Tony walks away, then quietly rejoins his own group to work on another sketch." What is it supposed to mean? That life goes on?

[–] kalelabud 7 years ago

that's supposed to mean the writer isn't capable or creative enough to conclude the main conflict of the movie lol

[–] aldmph 7 years ago

We see that Tony is in his same old Catholic school uniform, so I think it means that Tony did not get into the LaGuardia school, but Jake did. Beyond that ? I really don't understand either.

[–] modica 7 years ago

It means that because of Jake's parents Tony didn't get to live his dream. A very depressing ending, because Tony had star quality, while Jake didn't. Sort of how the world works these days.

[–] stills-6 7 years ago

I'd agree with this up to a point. Not sure I'd go so far as to say that Jake didn't have "star" quality. One of the beefs I have with this movie is that we don't get to actually see any of his artworks (really), but we are led to believe they are worthy enough.

The instrument has yet to be invented that can measure my indifference to that remark.

[–] modica 7 years ago

That is correct. The art is never shown, which leads me to believe that his family and Tony may have been being dishonest with him. Who knows? I really didn't like the ending, but I understand what the director and writer were trying to say, which has really made me think about it over and over.

[–] bliss66 7 years ago

Weren't you ever a kid? No need to read much into it. Aside from the obvious facts that Jake got into LaGuardia and Tony didn't - we don't even know if he pursued it - and the obvious play on Greg Kinnear's final speech that some people will and some people won't (and stepping in to offer his brand of support for his son when he really needs it), mostly it just means that at that age especially life is transient. The friends you had in junior high aren't necessarily the friends you have in high school, etc. Also, as Jake's mother more or less states, Jake's friendship with Tony was distracting him from his art. In the end we know his solace is his art. It's not better or worse but it's present in his life and it will be a constant until he works up the nerve to take a risk and love again, with perhaps more understanding and acceptance of his feelings. The friendship with Tony was tainted, by money, by the parents. It was all very Chekhovian.