REVIEW I’m Thinking Of Ending Things
Charlie Kaufman, 2020
I saw this film on a whim, thinking it was a romantic comedy. The thumbnail looked a bit rom-com but I wasn’t thinking too hard about it, imagining that I would likely stop watching after 10 minutes.
I think this assumption actually made the movie so much more powerful for me, here’s my review.
“I’m Thinking of Ending Things” is a film that twists around itself, layers of monologues interrupted by dialogues and a style of filming that skips through scenes as though impatiently flipping through pages of a book. The protagonist (played by Jessie Buckley) finds herself questioning her relationship with the quiet and plain man she’s been with for six weeks (played by Jesse Plemons). On a trip to visit his parents for the first time, her despairing monologue highlights the pointlessness of the relationship, and her decision to end it. As the evening events unfold, it is apparent that there is some unspoken meaning to untangle from what seems like a directionless storyline unfolding. Small inconsistencies, dance, animation and dream-like sequences are placed like clues, directing you to the deeper meaning of the film. Much is implied and little is told outright.
Much like a thriller, you’ll find your assumptions are challenged as you struggle to piece together the riddle. The film-making is incredibly unique, and asks much of the viewer, leaving you contemplative long after the film is finished. It is a film that requires your full attention.
