Films with unhappy endings? (Potential Spoilers within)

16-07-2003, 6:49 PM

This has been in my mind since I watched "Manon des Sources" last night. It's pt II of "Jean de Florette" that I watched about 6 months ago. I'd delayed watching the second part as I was outraged at the ending of part 1 (really!).

Anyway, I'm wondering if any films these days ever end unhappy.

Closest approach to a sad end I can think of is "Saving Private Ryan", but even that's more of a heroic end.

Is a happy ending essential?

Dimmy · 16-07-2003, 8:37 PM

Army Of Darkness
Dr Strangelove??

MrFurious · 16-07-2003, 9:20 PM

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK......classic ending.

Confucius · 16-07-2003, 9:24 PM

O.H.M.S.S.: Girl dies, villain gets away (even though evil plan goes 'awry').

Braveheart: The hero, Richard Lionheart, dies.

others....

Gladiator

Leon: The Professional

Depends what one takes to mean "these days", I've a memory, among other things (except skin), like an elephant.

fatbob · 16-07-2003, 9:44 PM

If you want to see the most depressing, downbeat ending of possibly any film you will ever see, try "The Great Silence" (sometimes known as "The Big Silence").

Kevo · 16-07-2003, 9:47 PM

Silver Dream Racer (or did they change it cos it upset David Essex fans!)

I went to the cinema to see this

ferris57 · 16-07-2003, 9:58 PM

Barracuda! the first movie I ever saw where the good guys lost

Mr Cheese · 17-07-2003, 6:53 AM

The Vanishing USA = Happy Ending
The Vanising Dutch = Sad Ending

Don't you just love Hollywood!

alanrob · 17-07-2003, 7:00 AM

Dead Poets Society - tears all round
Se7en - head in the box/Brad out of a job/Morgan still in a job/Kevin dead. Classic ending to a classic movie.

Noodle · 17-07-2003, 7:32 AM

Arlington Road.....a twist AND an unhappy ending. Loved it.

MartinImber · 17-07-2003, 8:33 AM

Message in a Bottle

17-07-2003, 9:09 AM

Fight Club,Planet of the Apes,Sixth Sense....all with fairly downbeat endings.....

dave_b9000 · 17-07-2003, 9:20 AM

i love films with unhappy endings

my favs are (in fact the majority of my film collection i think!)
dancer in the dark
miracle mile
fight club
planet of the apes
the vanishing
the eye (stangely both happy and unhappy)
thelma & louise
the wicker man
memento
one flew over the cukoos nest
invasion of the body snatchers
the last seduction (not really unhappy as such but the bad guy, well girl really, gets away with it)
dark star
an american werewolf in london
arlington road
brazil
fallen

i'm sure there's more

17-07-2003, 9:47 AM

Does it count if they start the film with the ending? Here are some more good Hollywood films with unhappy endings:

American beauty
Carlito's way
Midnight cowboy
American history X
The deer hunter
Road to perdition
Donnie Darko

17-07-2003, 9:50 AM

oh - some more obvious ones:

Boyz n the hood
Do the right thing

Mr.D · 17-07-2003, 9:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Confucius

Braveheart: The hero, Richard Lionheart, dies.

????? Eh ??

Rich1978 · 17-07-2003, 10:21 AM

He must be confused with Sean Connery's King Richard (probably the only King Richard played with a the Scottish accent) from Robin Hood Prince of Thieves.

My name's Lionheart, Richard the Lionheart............FREEDOM!!!!!!!!

preston · 17-07-2003, 12:11 PM

Matrix 2 - The sadest ending I have ever seen. Gloomy and incomplete.

njiri · 17-07-2003, 12:17 PM

Wot, no-one mentioned

OLD YELLER

Traumatised me for years that one did.

Confucius · 17-07-2003, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rich1978
He must be confused with Sean Connery's King Richard (probably the only King Richard played with a the Scottish accent) from Robin Hood Prince of Thieves.

My name's Lionheart, Richard the Lionheart............FREEDOM!!!!!!!!

Actually no, I got the right film, wrong King. It wasn't of course Richard Lionheart, but Edward I - Longshanks (Pat McGoohan), the Hero of the movie Braveheart .

17-07-2003, 12:53 PM

Aah - I know what you mean; I thought Tim Roth's character was the best thing in Rob Roy. Not a great fan of unambiguous heroes...

MarkR · 17-07-2003, 1:14 PM

Cant believe no one has mentioned Titanic, now thats a sad ending!!!!

Confucius · 17-07-2003, 1:20 PM

Although, as a counterpoint to the disaster at least Lady-Boy Caprio's character died.

Mr.The.Spoon · 17-07-2003, 1:53 PM

Why are people mentioning Fight Club as an unhappy ending? He resolved his personal issues, got the girl and started a new world order. Sonuds happy to me.

Technically Memento was unhappy but I think a real unhappy ending has to be when the main characters end up worse off than they were before and the bad guy is still around.

That's why Monty Python and the Holy Grail counts

Kevo · 17-07-2003, 1:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Confucius
Edward I - Longshanks (Pat McGoohan), the Hero of the movie Braveheart .

? EH ?

You must be a true patriot to consider Longshanks as a 'hero' in Braveheart!

Confucius · 17-07-2003, 2:08 PM

Yes, I am.

17-07-2003, 2:35 PM

How about Tarka the Otter ?

njiri · 17-07-2003, 10:06 PM

Ring of bright water

(boo hooooooo..... this really is tooooooooo much)

must stop reading this thread.

MartinImber · 18-07-2003, 8:31 AM

Reminds me of Patriot (which I haven't seen) reviewed from the British side.
Best bit was a Yank getting his head blown off.

I find I always root for the British even when they are suposed to be the baddies!

18-07-2003, 8:38 AM

Without getting ultra-nationalistic, I have noticed that Mel Gibson favours roles where he takes on perfidious Albion: Braveheart, The Patriot, even Gallipoli. In view of some of the excesses of our imperial past it's fair enough painting us as villains, but The Patriot went way over the top and is easily one of the most embarrassing and risible films I've ever seen.

16-07-2003, 6:49 PM	#1
Iam Guest Posts: n/a	Films with unhappy endings? (Potential Spoilers within) Advertisement Want to Advertise? This has been in my mind since I watched "Manon des Sources" last night. It's pt II of "Jean de Florette" that I watched about 6 months ago. I'd delayed watching the second part as I was outraged at the ending of part 1 (really!). Anyway, I'm wondering if any films these days ever end unhappy. Closest approach to a sad end I can think of is "Saving Private Ryan", but even that's more of a heroic end. Is a happy ending essential?
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17-07-2003, 9:09 AM	#12
damtom1 Guest Posts: n/a	Fight Club,Planet of the Apes,Sixth Sense....all with fairly downbeat endings.....
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17-07-2003, 9:47 AM	#14
Cheese Police Guest Posts: n/a	Does it count if they start the film with the ending? Here are some more good Hollywood films with unhappy endings: American beauty Carlito's way Midnight cowboy American history X The deer hunter Road to perdition Donnie Darko
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17-07-2003, 9:50 AM	#15
Cheese Police Guest Posts: n/a	oh - some more obvious ones: Boyz n the hood Do the right thing
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17-07-2003, 12:53 PM	#21
Cheese Police Guest Posts: n/a	Aah - I know what you mean; I thought Tim Roth's character was the best thing in Rob Roy. Not a great fan of unambiguous heroes...
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17-07-2003, 2:35 PM	#27
baldbird Guest Posts: n/a	How about Tarka the Otter ?
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18-07-2003, 8:38 AM	#30
Cheese Police Guest Posts: n/a	Without getting ultra-nationalistic, I have noticed that Mel Gibson favours roles where he takes on perfidious Albion: Braveheart, The Patriot, even Gallipoli. In view of some of the excesses of our imperial past it's fair enough painting us as villains, but The Patriot went way over the top and is easily one of the most embarrassing and risible films I've ever seen.
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