What are some movies that end with an unanswered question?
Mar 20, 2021 18:37:21 GMT
mikef6 likes this
Post by london777 on Mar 20, 2021 18:37:21 GMT
Limbo (1999) dir: John Sayles
Sayles is one of my favorite US directors because of the genuine social consciousness which informs most of his movies, unlike the usual hypocritical virtue-signalling which has laughably earned Hollywood the moniker "liberal". Because of his insistence on retaining control over the final cut he has rarely worked with established studios, and chooses to raise funds himself. Sometimes these budget restrictions can make parts of his movies look a bit slipshod, but at other times the constraints give his flicks a tight construction and rigor.
****spoiler****
Limbo is an oddity, unlike any of his other movies. It is like parts of two different films spliced together. The first part is a detailed look at an economically depressed Alaskan fishing port and certain of its inhabitants. The story unwinds at leisure and their background stories are told in detail. The second part becomes an adventure story as three characters (played by David Strathairn, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Vanessa Martinez) are stranded on a small island with no resources or means to escape. They are visited by the heavy, Kris Kristofferson, who bears a serious grudge against Strathairn. He explains that his radio is broken (clearly a lie) and that his float-plane is too small to rescue all three (probably true) but he will return for them soon. When his plane does reappear we do not know if he is coming back to rescue them or to kill them. The film ends with the three apprehensively watching the approaching aircraft.
I was bitterly disappointed. It was like a shaggy dog story, but even those have a punchline of sorts. If that was to be the ending, why go into the back-stories of folk back in town who we do not hear from again?
Sayles is one of my favorite US directors because of the genuine social consciousness which informs most of his movies, unlike the usual hypocritical virtue-signalling which has laughably earned Hollywood the moniker "liberal". Because of his insistence on retaining control over the final cut he has rarely worked with established studios, and chooses to raise funds himself. Sometimes these budget restrictions can make parts of his movies look a bit slipshod, but at other times the constraints give his flicks a tight construction and rigor.
****spoiler****
Limbo is an oddity, unlike any of his other movies. It is like parts of two different films spliced together. The first part is a detailed look at an economically depressed Alaskan fishing port and certain of its inhabitants. The story unwinds at leisure and their background stories are told in detail. The second part becomes an adventure story as three characters (played by David Strathairn, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Vanessa Martinez) are stranded on a small island with no resources or means to escape. They are visited by the heavy, Kris Kristofferson, who bears a serious grudge against Strathairn. He explains that his radio is broken (clearly a lie) and that his float-plane is too small to rescue all three (probably true) but he will return for them soon. When his plane does reappear we do not know if he is coming back to rescue them or to kill them. The film ends with the three apprehensively watching the approaching aircraft.
I was bitterly disappointed. It was like a shaggy dog story, but even those have a punchline of sorts. If that was to be the ending, why go into the back-stories of folk back in town who we do not hear from again?