On Endings
by Brian Barth
Walking out of the theater after seeing a film with a satisfying ending is like walking out of a restaurant stuffed: the last thing you want to do is go back in for another meal. As a filmmaker, it seems in my best interest to end my films in such a way that the audience craves to go back in again.
I’ve consistently found that the first time through many of the films I’ve come to love, I walk out scratching my head thinking “really? what’s the big deal?” That’s the key. (more…)