Favorite Endings Based on Screenplays —> Memento
So I’m not going to write an analysis because this movie has been analyzed to death and back. This is just a great script through and through, and I’m always impressed with a script that can be interpreted in a bunch of different ways that are all plausible. I like the fact that it’s an ending that is open to interpretation, but not in that annoying way where you feel cheated out of some kind of resolution. The viewer sort of finds himself in Leonard’s shoes. When he has to decide what he wants to believe in and what he thinks is true or not, I felt like I also had the choice of deciding what I myself wanted to believe about Leonard, his wife, Sammy, Teddy, etc.. Also I love those endings where as the credits start to roll, you just sort of sit down in silence and let things sink in.
Favorite Endings Based on Screenplays —> Shame
I know some people don’t really like this ambiguous ending, but I think it’s great. This script has fantastic screen direction from Steve McQueen and Abi Morgan executed perfectly from Michael Fassbender. I love how nothing is spoken, but we can see all the emotions described just from Fassbender’s facial expressions. The final ending is changed quite a bit, but the same idea is still there. There has been some debate as to whether he succumbs to his urges or not, but to me that’s not what’s important in this scene. I think the message that this scene gives is that because he is an addict he has to go through a struggle with himself and his urges and his emotions every time he finds himself in a similar situation. This ending shows that for his character, it’s never really over (not at least until he gets some major help) and we can tell by that last look he gives that he is disgusted and ashamed by that, but at the same time, he still can’t look away.
Favorite Endings Based on Screenplays —>Good Will Hunting
I’m not really the biggest Matt Damon, Ben Affleck fan, but this is a terrific screenplay through and through. I love that Will uses what Sean said to him earlier on about his wife. And for an overall pretty dramatic movie, I was really happy with a light, feel good ending even though it is a bit cheesy, I admit. Also I just love how everyone in the ending sort of just smiles to themselves like they all just get it.
Favorite Endings Based on Screenplays —> Black Swan
So this isn’t really one of my favorite movies, but this ending is so good. It was perfectly in tune with the rest of the movie. I love how she just sort of whispers to herself, “I was perfect” then dies with a smile. It’s also the first time in the movie where Nina is legitimately happy with herself. Dedicated until end.
Favorite Endings Based on Screenplays —> Juno
I love how everything about this scene just seems to be part of a typical suburban day. There was no big ‘i love you now we should spend the rest of our life together scene.’ In some ways, it feels like the real start of their relationship. I love how everything is just so casual especially the kiss at the end, which is so small and masked by the suburban setting. And the song is just so perfect for this scene, and I love how it’s them who sing it, and they don’t sound like recording artists or real singers, but just regular people. This is just a regular scene set in a regular setting featuring regular people. This may sound weird, but its the whole ‘unremarkable and lacklustre’ vibe of the scene, which makes it so great for me.
Favorite Endings Based on Screenplays —> Into the Wild
I just love this ending so much, because the way he dies is just so beautiful. This is honestly one of my favorite books, and it is just translated to screen so wonderfully. The way the camera just zooms out, and by the end we can only see his bus as a speck is genius. It’s like saying, sure his life was just a speck in the spectrum of the universe, but he still lived the shit out of it anyway. I also love the fact that they put a picture of the real Chris McCandless, and the final shot of the shooting star/planelike thing taking off is just so wonderful.
Favorite Endings Based on Screenplays —> The Darjeeling Limited
This scene is awesome in so many ways, but the best thing about it is the song Les Champs Élysées playing during the credits. It’s a pity gifs don’t come with sound just for this.
Favorite Endings Based on Screenplays —> 500 Days of Summer
Ok, I know this scene is cheesy, but I just like the message behind it. It’s kind of like life goes on like the seasons. After summer comes autumn, and so on. Plus, I love the (500) to (1) change at the end. Life goes on and starts again.
Favorite Endings Based on Screenplays —> Toy Story 3
I think this goes without saying that this is one of my favorite movie endings of all time. I’m sorry, Harry Potter movie franchise, but this is the perfect culmination to 11 years of my childhood. I would change nothing about it. Literally nothing.
