Look, I’m an avid fan of Charlie Kaufman’s earlier work, and I still go back to Being John Malkovich (1999) and marvel at its masterfully crafted revelations—both psychological and humorous. Kaufman’s Gedankenexperiments are gold to the likes of the motion picture medium and the viewer who dabbles in Kafka and enjoys imagining things under a shady tree.
Unfortunately and inevitably, an auteur like Kaufman is bound to exploit even his most personal virtues and darkest of repressed consciousness.
In other words, I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020) is the kind of psychosis that puts a halo on Woody Allen’s head and devil horns on Kaufman’s. There’s simply too much wading in the mire of self-loathing and morose martyrdom. The viewer drowning in the same muck is inevitable.
This languid exposé of “I’m not right in the head, and you can’t understand me” only goes so far in a 134-minute movie, and if you’re one of the many who “doesn’t understand” (I’m quite content to raise my hand), then you must not “get it.” You must not be as smart as the luxuriously tortured.
After the promising road trip introduction of two intellectuals (Jesse Plemons and Jessie Buckley) quipping mind experiments like postmodern Whit Stillman wannabes, things take a gloriously mistaken turn when the parents are introduced. It is here when the brilliance of Toni Collette and David Thewlis disappoints in Kaufman-directed intention of weird-for-the-sake-of-being-weird. It doesn’t “read” compared to the first 15 minutes, and, worse, it’s utterly unrelatable.
David Lynch’s dinner table scene in Eraserhead makes more sense!
Empathy, humor, and connection walk out the door with a slumped head and more self-pity. What a treacherous, tedious drudge of a movie to view via Netflix.
I’m excited for younger viewers and millennials who are eating this up, but I prefer my recently uncancelled Woody Allen restaurant, which—and, I can’t believe I’m writing this—includes a menu of less self-contempt, more humor, and a little dash of hope.
I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020) *1/2 out of *****
Did you suffer through this one too?
I’m grateful I now have landscaping to do…
RB
Reely Bernie 
Kaufman can be a bit hit and miss for me, but I liked ‘ Being John Malkovich’ a fair bit. If you like that type of movie, then I recommend the Norwegian movie ‘Den Brysomme Mannen’ and ‘Vivarium’.
Cheers Bernie.
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Thank you for the recs, Matt! I quasi-liked “Vivarium.” I just put “Den Brysomme Mannen” on my Watchlist! The cerebral oddities captivate me unless they go too far into the territory of “making up the rules as we go” despite the logic granted previously. “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” just goes nowhere too fast and too often. Happy Summer Olympics! So close!
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I wanted to write about Vivarium in my blog and your comment here prodded me to do so this morning. I would have liked to expand on it some more, but my time is restricted. I too – only ‘quasi liked’ it in the beginning. Now I view it as another beast because of how it has affected me personally.
Yes, looking forward to the Olympics. Have a groovy day buddy.
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I was in a rush this morning to get the gym. I reread my article on Vivarium and realised it needed some further tinkering. Anyhows I’d be interested to know your thoughts upon reflection. And you don’t have to be nice, in fact I’d prefer if you weren’t. Tell it to me brother lol
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Thank you for suffering through this wankery so I/we didn’t have to … enjoy the landscaping. 😀
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You are most welcome! And, yes, landscaping—as challenging as it has become—still provides a sense of fulfillment and achievement. We are 75% done!
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You do realise it never really ends though, don’t you? 😀
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Oh, it’s dawning on me now. It’s been 2 steps forward, 3 steps back, and there’s so much ground to cover that I might as well move my bed outside, haha!
Happy recovery to you!!! Peace, hydration, and furry friends 🙂
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I won’t be seeking this out! I love Eraserhead BUT it’s that type of movie….the line “David Lynch’s dinner table scene in Eraserhead makes more sense!” says a lot!
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Ha! Yeah, talk about changing up the “tone.” Hope all is well, Max. What’s the temperature over there? We cracked 100 on Sunday and finally got some rain and a cooler day today—perfect for landscaping 🙂
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With ya, compadre. This is one of the most dismal and impenetrable messes of all-time.
Landscaping wins by a mile! 😎
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Amen, John! Keeping it positive outside!
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Thanks for watching this one so I don’t have to.
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Happy to spare you the misery, Ken!
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