Usual Suspects. Only time I’ve literally jumped out of my chair.
I had heard about the “big ending” so I went looking for it, and I was thinking it was Keaton. When Chazz Palminteiri tells Verbal that it’s Keaton, I thought, ‘that wasn’t so hard’. What were these people talking about?
I still like the ending to Apollo 13, even though we know what happens. I always get misty eyed when Hanks says “This is Apollo 13 signing off”.
It’s a sled.
And for those who haven’t played the game:
Childs dies but Macready survives and gets to a helicopter.
You remember correctly. When Devlin refuses to allow him to come along, he has to stand there alone while his wife, the woman he loves, leaves with another man, whom she loves, and who did what he could not–save her life. Earlier he had been given the choice of supporting the Nazi cause, or supporting his wife. He chose to sacrifice his wife to the cause. At the end, he tries to go the other way, but it’s too late. He’s failed both his wife and his nation. He doesn’t resist when he’s escorted back inside. I stand by my interpretation.
Also Shawshank.
And “The Conversation,” featuring Gene Hackman.
“Sixth Sense” was what popped into my mind when I saw this therad title.
Also, another vote for “The Apartment”, “The Shawshank Redemption” & “Planet of the Apes”.
I just saw “The Last of the Dogmen” and I really like the way that ended.
Bullitt - McQueen washing up in the sink, looking in the mirror with that " I blew it" look on his face. Followed by the close up of the gun in it’s holster with just the sound of water splashing in the sink.
If… - No neat resolution, no showing us what happens to the main characters, we already know how it will turn out. Just ending in the middle of the action. It sticks with you.
My Name Is Nobody - A funny ending, with “Nobody” following Beauregard’s advice, in his own way.
Agree with Planet of the Apes, Sixth Sense, Usual Suspects
Also I would add;
The cook, the thief, his wife and her lover - blatantly ripped off from Titus Andronicus but still, very surprising ending
Se7en - unexpected and surprisingly downbeat for a hollywood movie
Butch cassidy and the sundance kid - love how the camera just stops and it fades to a photograph
From Dusk 'till Dawn
When the havoc is over, and everyone says goodbye and drives off, the camera pans out over the Titty Twister (a Mexican bar), only to reveal the remains of an Aztec temple on the backside of it. Great stuff.
As for sheer best, it has to be The Usual Suspects.
Sorry, wrong number.
Gallipoli
Henry Fool has a great ending, extremely ambiguous.
But for all-time great endings, check out the French movie The Vanishing.
Daniel
That would be the Dutch movie The Vanishing, which largely takes place in France. But yeah, it’s great, as long as you avoid the horrid US remake.
#1 - Shawshank Redemption
#2 - Homeward Bound
I knew I’d forget one.
#3 - American Beauty
“Escape from los Angeles”, when Snake Plissken uses the EMP satellites to plunge the world into a second dark age. I thought it was good to see a dark, depressing ending like that in a film.
Actually, it’s a French/Dutch co-production.
My vote goes for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, with Some Like It Hot a close second.
It’s funny; I thought “The Shawshank Redemption” blew the ending. If you’re read the original story, the ending is three minutes too long in the movie; they sort of missed the entire point, actually.
Most of my choices have been named already.
Day of the Dolphin
George C. Scott and the troupe have foiled (or at least put off) a plot to assassinate the President, and know they are just waiting for the hit team to come get them. The movie ends with them bending into the bushes the best they can, as the hit team helocopters arrive.
No gore, but a perfect wrap-up.
I didn’t say it was a happy ending.
Most of my favorite endings have been mentioned, but I would also like to mention the ending of "The Third Man. It is a classic ending, and the best part is that it managed to evoke a mood and bring the picture to a suitable closing without using a single line of dialogue. Once you’ve seen it you will never forget it.
Keith