Films without a Resolution.

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

The Blair Witch Project

Picnic at Hanging Rock

Blow-Up

Others?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 25 June 2005 01:51 (twenty years ago)

Two-Lane Blacktop

Dazed & Confused

― milozauckerman (miloaukerman), Saturday, 25 June 2005 01:55 (twenty years ago)

Elephant?

― a real live British pub hooligan (nordicskilla), Saturday, 25 June 2005 01:55 (twenty years ago)

that one from France

― fcuss3n, Saturday, 25 June 2005 02:11 (twenty years ago)

Oh yeah, the one with the woman and the cigarettes.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 25 June 2005 02:12 (twenty years ago)

Seems like I was just reading a thread about this because someone was wondering if 2001 would qualify in this category or not.

But I'm not about to try to search "2001" on this lousy dial-up.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Saturday, 25 June 2005 02:15 (twenty years ago)

You know, Picnic at Hanging Rock originally DID have a resolution in the book - theres a final chapter the editors had her excise, and its a good thing - it actually resolved and explained the mystery, and in a monumentally absurd way.

― Trayce (trayce), Saturday, 25 June 2005 02:22 (twenty years ago)

(I think gem and I discussed this on some other thread).

― Trayce (trayce), Saturday, 25 June 2005 02:22 (twenty years ago)

it actually resolved and explained the mystery, and in a monumentally absurd way.

Ruining the story in the process. Not finding out what happened to the girls is a thousand times more compelling, I find.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 25 June 2005 02:29 (twenty years ago)

Antonioni's all over this thread. It's his forte (as well as testing the viewer's patience). Alex mentioned Blow-Up, and L'Avventura and L'Eclisse don't really have resolutions either.

The new movie Crash didn't really have a resolution either -- no-one changed their ways dramatically, and life went on, but it was still fulfilling. Their stories were all just incidental (and very loosely intertwined).

― Ian Riese-Moraine eats nation-states for breakfast! (Eastern Mantra), Saturday, 25 June 2005 02:31 (twenty years ago)

Could I use "either" more frequently? Yeesh.

― Ian Riese-Moraine eats nation-states for breakfast! (Eastern Mantra), Saturday, 25 June 2005 02:32 (twenty years ago)

Two-Lane Blacktop was a good suggestion -- I love that film.

― Ian Riese-Moraine eats nation-states for breakfast! (Eastern Mantra), Saturday, 25 June 2005 02:33 (twenty years ago)

The Blair Witch Project has a resolution, doesn't it? Everyone dies.

― Eric H: not a troll, with one exception (Eric H.), Saturday, 25 June 2005 02:36 (twenty years ago)

The Blair Witch Project has a resolution, doesn't it? Everyone dies.

We don't know that, though. No bodies were recovered. Moreover, we never see who is chasing them or how they're done away with (if that's what even happened, etc.).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 25 June 2005 02:38 (twenty years ago)

We don't find out if Josh was abducted or whether those teeth/tongue or whatever was in the cloth were his or whether he was the one doing the bludgeoning or whatever.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 25 June 2005 02:39 (twenty years ago)

COuld you say Withnail & I has no resolution? It just ends with Marlow going off to the play and Withnail wondering wtf he does now, standing in the rain.

― Trayce (trayce), Saturday, 25 June 2005 02:53 (twenty years ago)

Ooh - "Threads" has no real resolution, just the implication of unending absolute horror.

― Trayce (trayce), Saturday, 25 June 2005 02:54 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, I'd say so, Trayce! (re: Withnail)

― Ian Riese-Moraine eats nation-states for breakfast! (Eastern Mantra), Saturday, 25 June 2005 03:03 (twenty years ago)

the birds

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Saturday, 25 June 2005 04:13 (twenty years ago)

John Sayles' Limbo.

― The Yellow Kid, Saturday, 25 June 2005 05:26 (twenty years ago)

re Whitnail and I, a more abrupt ending was initially scripted, which depicted Withnail returning from the park and, having polished off the '53 Margaux, blowing his brains out with a shotgun.

I always think that's the implication of the last scene. Or, if not suicide exactly, that he's still completely, irreversibly finished.

― Seuss, Saturday, 25 June 2005 08:02 (twenty years ago)

Oh jesus are you serious? REG doesnt mention that in his biog.. does he? Maybe I need to reread it. That would have been a horrible ending. I never saw him as irredemably lost. I dunno why.

― Trayce (trayce), Saturday, 25 June 2005 08:41 (twenty years ago)

Peter Greenaway's "The Falls."

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Saturday, 25 June 2005 09:35 (twenty years ago)

"Limbo" OTM! I can't think of any other film quite as nuts and ending as that. Maybe "Code, Unkown."

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Saturday, 25 June 2005 14:35 (twenty years ago)

Wow. I think I prefer the open ending, too re: Withnail. Trayce's right -- he doesn't seem completely lost to me, either.

― Ian Riese-Moraine eats nation-states for breakfast! (Eastern Mantra), Saturday, 25 June 2005 14:53 (twenty years ago)

L'année dernière à Marienbad by Alain Resnais

Rosetta by the Dardenne Bros.

― Raw Patrick (Raw Patrick), Sunday, 26 June 2005 00:21 (twenty years ago)

Slacker
Welcome To the Dollhouse (though its "resolution" appears in Palindromes almost a decade later)

― mike a, Sunday, 26 June 2005 01:32 (twenty years ago)

Ghost World?

The Italian Job

Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

― tylero (tylero), Sunday, 26 June 2005 03:50 (twenty years ago)

http://www.sickanimation.com/dragonclub.html

― kristen g, Sunday, 26 June 2005 04:37 (twenty years ago)

Sideways? (I guess you're supposed to assume that they get together, but given the characters, it's easy enough to imagine that they don't.)

I don't remember if Drugstore Cowboy makes clear whether Matt Dillon's going to live or die at the end. I remember it as being ambiguous, but maybe that's just how I'd like it to be.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Sunday, 26 June 2005 05:09 (twenty years ago)

The Birds - OTM.

― Wiggy (Wiggy), Monday, 27 June 2005 17:42 (twenty years ago)

These movies all suck.

― Aaliyah (nabisco), Monday, 27 June 2005 17:53 (twenty years ago)

The Quiet Earth

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Monday, 27 June 2005 17:57 (twenty years ago)

does _Paris, Texas_ have an ending?

― kingfish (Kingfish), Monday, 27 June 2005 18:07 (twenty years ago)

In a roundabout way, Twelve Monkeys has no resolution.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 27 June 2005 18:09 (twenty years ago)

Requiem for a Dream.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 27 June 2005 18:09 (twenty years ago)

Contrary to ppl's memories, "The Graduate." (The coda is probably the best thing about the second half of the film)

"2001" is clear as a bell.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Monday, 27 June 2005 18:13 (twenty years ago)

re Whitnail and I, a more abrupt ending was initially scripted, which depicted Withnail returning from the park and, having polished off the '53 Margaux, blowing his brains out with a shotgun.

Oof am I glad they left that out, if so. I much prefer its current ending.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 27 June 2005 18:41 (twenty years ago)

Another Monte Hellman film, The Shooting.
Movies without resolution are CLASSIC if only because I think it's hilarious when my friends get so bugged by it.

― Tripmaker (SDWitzm), Monday, 27 June 2005 18:47 (twenty years ago)

five easy pieces

― Sym Sym (sym), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 00:36 (twenty years ago)

I forgot about The Italian Job. That is a good non-ending.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 00:51 (twenty years ago)

Wait what DID happen to the girls in Picnic at Hanging Rock! RUIN IT!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 01:01 (twenty years ago)

The French Connection!

The Conversation!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 01:03 (twenty years ago)

The latter is the best non-resolution ever in the entire history of film.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 01:03 (twenty years ago)

My favourite film non-resolution is Les 400 coups. Genius.

― fields of salmon (fieldsofsalmon), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 03:39 (twenty years ago)

fat girl

― breezy, Tuesday, 28 June 2005 03:52 (twenty years ago)

Uh Fat Girl has a resolution. It's just a terrible resolution.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 04:27 (twenty years ago)

What about Thelma & Louise?

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 14:05 (twenty years ago)

Pulp Fiction

― feminazi (feminazi), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 14:08 (twenty years ago)

Requiem for a Dream.

-- nickalicious

I like to think she had a very satisfying orgasm

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 14:12 (twenty years ago)

French Connection has a resolution, unless you've decided to ignore the absolutely film-ruining epitaph they sloppily tack on at the end, explaining what happened.

Knife in the Head.

― Allyzay knows a little German (allyzay), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 14:23 (twenty years ago)

Haha I always ignored the film-ruining epitaph, yes.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 14:46 (twenty years ago)

Thelma & Louise has a resolution if you believe in gravity.

― Pete (Pete), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 15:04 (twenty years ago)

Alex that is the best thing to do.

― Allyzay knows a little German (allyzay), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 15:05 (twenty years ago)

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 15:19 (twenty years ago)

See Thelma, Louise & Gravity re Butch Cassidy. Or am I just a pessimist?

There was a sequel to The Italian Job written (The Riviera Job) which resolves the end of TIJ. I can tell if you want to know.

― Pete (Pete), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 15:28 (twenty years ago)

I still want to know the end of Picnic!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 15:30 (twenty years ago)

Details on the ending and alternative ideas to what it means are here:
http://www.bookmice.net/darkchilde/rock/picnictc.html

― Pete (Pete), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 15:41 (twenty years ago)

Cameron Crowe seems to do this a lot.

His flicks don't have beginnings or endings, only middles.

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 16:07 (twenty years ago)

What's unresolved at the end of Pulp Fiction?

― The Yellow Kid, Tuesday, 28 June 2005 16:32 (twenty years ago)

What's unresolved at the end of Pulp Fiction?

The only thing that springs to mind is what was in the suitcase, but that was just a McGuffin anyway.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 16:38 (twenty years ago)

I get the Thelma & Louise and Butch & Sundance mentions because they freeze-frame before we find out what happens, but, come on, it's obvious, innit?

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 17:34 (twenty years ago)

Safe

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 18:29 (twenty years ago)

The Kingdom series

― Girolamo Savonarola, Wednesday, 29 June 2005 10:15 (twenty years ago)

I just wished Safe had finish two hours before. Loony lady in her igloo. Get to the igloo already. Its on the poster.

― Pete (Pete), Wednesday, 29 June 2005 10:33 (twenty years ago)

Is she really loony? Or does she have an actual problem? Is that problem caused by a physical illness? Allergies? Or is it psychological? Does her family have anything to do with her condition? Is the cure she seeks out helping her? Or is it merely a front for a cult-like operation?

I think one of Safe's strengths is that it doesn't answer these questions, instead letting the viewer form their own opinions from conflicting evidence. A great movie for post-viewing debate.

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Wednesday, 29 June 2005 10:38 (twenty years ago)

Ghost World has a resolution: she gets on a bus, which is a kind of heavy-handed metaphor for killing herself.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 29 June 2005 10:44 (twenty years ago)

Napoleon Dynamite

― dog latin (dog latin), Wednesday, 29 June 2005 11:57 (twenty years ago)

Or a more matter of fact metaphor for getting on a bus. Killing herself pshaw. Running away yes.

Safe: she was a loony from moment a. The only after film conversation I had after seeing it was saying to the person who recomended it that they were no longer my friend.

I think we have to be clear in this thread that some films don't actually have stuff to resolve. Napoleon Dynamite surely has no plot loose ends. Otherwise any film where the denoument is not the end of the universe has in some ways got a loose ending.

― Pete (Pete), Wednesday, 29 June 2005 12:08 (twenty years ago)

Simon of the Desert might qualify.

― k/l (Ken L), Wednesday, 29 June 2005 12:42 (twenty years ago)

Rules of Attraction
The Tenant

― Die Emanzipation von Baaderonixx (redukt) (Fabfunk), Wednesday, 29 June 2005 12:47 (twenty years ago)

Dog Latin - did you watch the bit after the credits in Napoleon Dynamite?

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 29 June 2005 13:21 (twenty years ago)

one year passes...

War of the Worlds
Ends with T Cruise right back where he started, having learned and accomplished dick all.

― Alicia Titsovich (sexyDancer), Thursday, 27 July 2006 20:19 (nineteen years ago)

Five Easy Pieces

― kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 27 July 2006 20:22 (nineteen years ago)

Dead Of Night - a resolution that isn't a resolution, as it were.

― Matt #2 (Matt #2), Thursday, 27 July 2006 20:36 (nineteen years ago)

Cache

― shoes in hand (disco clone), Thursday, 27 July 2006 21:43 (nineteen years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.