7. I’m Thinking of Ending Things
Charlie Kaufman’s 2020 film, “I’m Thinking of Ending Things,” is a movie that challenges its viewers from the very beginning. The opening sequence features a series of cross-dissolves, showcasing the interior of a farmhouse or an apartment, or the interior of an interior. A woman’s voice narrates, but we don’t have any context for what she’s saying. It feels strange and unsettling, throwing off the usual conventions of how movies are supposed to work.
When we finally see the woman, played brilliantly by Jessie Buckley, she’s standing on the street as snowflakes begin to fall around her. She looks up at a window a couple stories up, where an old man and Jesse Plemons are looking down at her. Plemons then picks her up in his car, and the two begin a road trip that is equal parts bizarre and captivating.
Buckley’s character, who goes by Lucy or Lucia or Amy, is thinking of ending things with Plemons’ character, Jake. As they drive, their conversations are witty and insightful, with Lucy displaying a fountain of knowledge and interests. However, things quickly become strange as Lucy’s personality shifts and changes, sometimes slowing to a trickle or even disappearing altogether.
“I’m Thinking of Ending Things” is not a conventional movie, and it doesn’t try to be. It defies typical patterns, rhythms, and tropes, instead seeking to explore the inner workings of the mind and relationships through cinematic means. The film is self-aware, but its awareness is precisely the point of everything that is wrapped up within it.
The movie doesn’t accept easy platitudes like “love conquers all,” instead embracing the complexity and contradictions of life. The film challenges viewers to confront their own perceptions of reality and to question the nature of relationships and the self. Buckley and Plemons deliver outstanding performances, bringing depth and nuance to their characters that defy easy explanation.
In the end, “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” is not an easy film to watch, nor is it meant to be. It demands attention, reflection, and engagement from its viewers. But for those who are willing to take the journey, it is a deeply rewarding and thought-provoking experience.
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