i'm thinking of ending things
Netflix | Release Date (Streaming): September 4, 2020
6.8
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 276 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
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179
Mixed:
44
Negative:
53
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
10
jr0drigsSep 5, 2020
Filme do ano! Um deslumbre estético e um roteiro efetivamente inteligente. Uma enorme reflexão sobre o fazer humano, em especial sobre o fazer artístico. Tanto nos diálogos, quanto na narração, na montagem, nos enquadramentos e, especialmenteFilme do ano! Um deslumbre estético e um roteiro efetivamente inteligente. Uma enorme reflexão sobre o fazer humano, em especial sobre o fazer artístico. Tanto nos diálogos, quanto na narração, na montagem, nos enquadramentos e, especialmente na entrega e sintonia do elenco.… Expand
5 of 6 users found this helpful51
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10
RytherSep 5, 2020
Sublime! Não li o livro mas agora tenho interesse em ler. Encaixa no estilo de Kaufman perfeitamente. É desafiante e melhora a cada visualização. Vamos apanhando uma coisa aqui outra ali que nos leva a pensar "aahh isto aconteceu assim deSublime! Não li o livro mas agora tenho interesse em ler. Encaixa no estilo de Kaufman perfeitamente. É desafiante e melhora a cada visualização. Vamos apanhando uma coisa aqui outra ali que nos leva a pensar "aahh isto aconteceu assim de forma inexplicável porque x/y/z" GENIAL … Expand
4 of 5 users found this helpful41
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10
DreamAliSep 6, 2020
This was INCREDIBLE! At first you don't know what's happening and towards the end of the film you start thinking about everything. It's a heavy film and you have to be patient.
5 of 7 users found this helpful52
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8
moisarasSep 5, 2020
Surreal artistic movie that you will certainly have to watch twice to start putting the pieces together.
5 of 7 users found this helpful52
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10
katezoeSep 5, 2020
Another mind bending film from Charlie Kaufman. What a joy to see this fascinating cinematic experience about regret, memory and life.
4 of 6 users found this helpful42
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9
timmytimeSep 5, 2020
Perfect pairing of director with source material. A companion piece rather than mere adaptation of the book.
4 of 6 users found this helpful42
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10
ConairOct 15, 2020
One of the best films of the year. Charlie Kaufman has outdone himself with this project. Each performance perfectly melts into the unsettling backdrop. The dialogue is rich, while still somehow remaining intentionally shallow. What reallyOne of the best films of the year. Charlie Kaufman has outdone himself with this project. Each performance perfectly melts into the unsettling backdrop. The dialogue is rich, while still somehow remaining intentionally shallow. What really separates this movie is it's ability to come off as a light comedy and a crushing tragedy all at once.… Expand
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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10
yaraksSep 5, 2020
This movie hurt me a lot. This is everything I feel like I need to say but let me write a little more so I can reach the characters requirement.
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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10
AneDeLeonSep 4, 2020
Confusing, intriguing and at the same time wonderful.

a film that is not so easy to understand but worth every minute wasted trying to do that

totally deserves an Oscar for photography and editing
5 of 8 users found this helpful53
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9
mstiversSep 6, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Charlie Kaufman is one of our greatest creators of movies, and this is his most Kaufmanesque movie. It's a beautiful puzzle. You can enjoy teasing out the meaning, or you can just bask in the surreal, unsettling atmosphere. There are many cultural references which add to the meaning. For example, the dream ballet and song at the end are both taken from "Oklahoma!" and draw a parallel between Jake and the character of Jud, who are both outsiders who fantasize about a relationship with a woman who isn't interested. And the prize acceptance speech is from "A Beautiful Mind", about a brilliant man who created an imaginary friend. And so on.… Expand
3 of 5 users found this helpful32
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9
TaogodSep 7, 2020
Finally, some real art in a movie again. Most viewers will stop watching early in the movie which is understandable since we've had years of films aimed for the 30 second attention span. This movie is for the thoughtful and those with someFinally, some real art in a movie again. Most viewers will stop watching early in the movie which is understandable since we've had years of films aimed for the 30 second attention span. This movie is for the thoughtful and those with some film knowledge. With its David Lynch/Coen brothers flavor and excellent acting it was a treat over the brain dead high budget movies of the past few decades. Its weakness was there should have been more of Toni Collette and David Thewlis who were simply fantastic. Dialogue driven movies are unfortunately a rarity.… Expand
3 of 5 users found this helpful32
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10
soumajitSep 4, 2020
Kaufman's least accessible film but still engaging in a weird manner. May be after multiple watches it should be clear for me.
8 of 14 users found this helpful86
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9
silverlusoSep 6, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Charlie Kaufman seems to hate new viewers, opting instead to cater towards his already well established fans. I marked this as a spoiler not for those who have never seen his movies, but for those who have.
This is perhaps is most obtuse movie, meant to be watched multiple times, and discussed. Famously, at least among his fans, Kaufman has been about what you take out of the movie, as much as he has any what the actual meaning is. Here is the real spoiler, the nameless girlfriend is a fantasy of jake, she wants to be real, and how real she is, is up to you. What's not up to you is the movie is a memory of a man who is at the end of his life. He feels as though all his talent was wasted, and maybe he accepts that at the end. I don't think so, there's a line about an award jake wins, which amounts to nothing more than participation, in the last scene he is seen getting an award. Either this is an his last excuse before he dies ("if I had a wife I'd have been successful" or it is one last rebellion, that his life was void like most of ours. At any rate, this is a great movie made for a very specific audience. It is hard to recommend this movie to everyone, because it is not for everyone. However the price who it is for, will love it… Expand
2 of 4 users found this helpful22
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8
bertobellamySep 7, 2020
A profound meditation about age, memories, and the passing of time. Charlie Kaufman proves once again that its voice is as unique as powerful. This is a labyrinthine film that you'll need to see again and again to try and look for some answers.
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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9
MarakaiSep 8, 2020
Anyone familiar with Charlie Kaufman will know by now that he’s a master at creating and exploring the torment and claustrophobia of the human psyche. I’m Thinking Of Ending Things is, as expected, no different and once again showcasesAnyone familiar with Charlie Kaufman will know by now that he’s a master at creating and exploring the torment and claustrophobia of the human psyche. I’m Thinking Of Ending Things is, as expected, no different and once again showcases Kaufman’s unique approach to storytelling. In fairness, the film actually begins with a straightforward narrative with subtle hints of dialogue and images thrown in to prepare you for its inevitable trickery and psychological assault. Kaufman is in full command here and conjures some beautiful imagery alongside numerous cultural references and his usual brand of odd humour. It’s in the final act, however, that the film becomes bewildering, even eerie in its unravelling. This will polarise audiences and leave a lot of head-scratching, chin-rubbing and undoubted frustration but there’s an undeniably intelligent piece of craftsmanship on display. It’s Charlie Kaufman after all; probably the most original and off-kilter filmmaker since David Lynch.… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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9
LegitSaltSep 6, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. With his latest work, Kaufman demonstrates his prowess as a writer. Kaufman shows that he can simultaneously stay true to form to deliver another excellently written screenplay while also breaking from his previously established standards and signature touches to provide an experience that is inwards facing and self-aware. I'm thinking of Ending Things does so much during its run time and is so incredibly nuanced and original. It is repeatedly breaking new ground and delivering bewildering and perplexing experiences, ones that force the viewer to examine the deeper layers of the text they are consuming. The film itself is openly deceptive and obtuse, giving the viewer an experience that doesn't easily digest. From an obscured genre to recurring patterns in speech and themes, the movie is dead set on making the viewer work for their enjoyment. And what do they get out of it? Self-exploration, uncanny characters and deliveries, and of course, some degree of entertainment. I'm Thinking of Ending Things shows us what it looks like when someone is not the main character in the story they are living. One of the film's biggest enigmas is the identity of the main female character, whether she be Lucy, Lucia, Louisa, Yvonne, Amy, or Ames doesn't matter. It could be that the "Young Woman," as she is credited, is not one singular person but a rapidly changing manifestation of another entity's thought stream. The Young Woman's story changes throughout the movie, that of her love life and that of her passions. She goes from a quantum physicist to a poet to a painter to a film critic. She simultaneously meets Jake at a bar and a Diner, while also never really meeting him at all. We watch as her story forms based on the stimuli present in the film's world. She writes and recites an original poem, and yet it is already transcribed in the tome of a little boy's room. She meets Jake while serving as a waiter, serving him a burger, reflecting the story of a movie playing on the tv the janitor watches. She reveals that she is an emotionally charged landscape painter, only to find that Jake has long since produced similar content. The young woman inhabits the world of the film as much as the viewer's mind. She isn't static because she is a product of the film's environment, and that environment is progressing.

The title of I'm Thinking of Ending Things is as much a double entendre as any Kaufman screenplay. The film is as much about the thought of ending an imaginary relationship as it is about ending a real life. The last act is where the movie reveals its conceit. The janitor, with whom various scenes have been interspersed seemingly at random, is who Jake truly is - the Jake we see, played by Jesse Plemons, is a mental projection. The Young Woman is a girl he once saw and smiled to at a bar. He was too immobilized by fear to take action at the time that he has now taken to extrapolating her internalized her thoughts, presuming the worst possible scenario. The janitor can't help but imbue his own reality within his fantasy, thus why we see his shirts in the drier and why Jake speaks about the school as if he has been there for a long time, watching as the world around him changes. I'm Thinking of Ending Things is about the fruitless journey of living life through our exaggerated fantasies, failing to move on from our failures, and getting stuck in our nostalgia. Jake's parents are constantly shifting through time, yearning for the past, the time of Jake's exceptionalism, dreading the future, the unknown, yet being unable to live in the present, to experience what is in front of them for what it is. Jake's dad is too focused on his understanding of art and painting that he cannot accept either abstract art or emotional landscapes being valid. Jake's mom is too overwhelmed by her son's achievements to see that the story she has been telling about him is fragmented and fundamentally flawed. The Young Woman, the projection of the janitor, is thinking of ending things because she has been with Jake for too long already, seven weeks. The Young Woman is growing sick of Jake and wants to end the relationship, but the janitor is growing sick of Jake and wants to end Jake. The reality is crumbling because the janitor can't deal with himself anymore and is projecting his evolving complaints onto the world and the Young Woman.

But the movie is also about how we view and understand time. Yes, we can dwell in the past, and yes, we can dread or anticipate the future, but we must also learn to live in the moment. Through living right now and taking the initiative, it is possible to arrive at a happier future. One where we don't need to project our anxieties upon others and one where we don't need to become romantically invested for long-standing satisfaction. You may be thinking of ending things, but you should also think about starting new ones.… Expand
2 of 5 users found this helpful23
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10
NotDanteNov 13, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Marvellous trip throughout the mind of a lonely man; "I'm thinking of ending things" is both absurd and surreal, a puzzle that asks its viewers to pay attention and to connect the dots. Half of the information that the movie provides is off-screen and is meant to be deduced. No words can describe the emotional journey that Kaufman's latest movie is offering.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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9
NG89Sep 9, 2020
Waited for years for the film adaptation to arrive. Yes, I've read Iain Reid's book, and do wonder how Kaufman's version hits those who haven't read. This, however, is a must watch- and further, a must re-watch. Aging and loneliness areWaited for years for the film adaptation to arrive. Yes, I've read Iain Reid's book, and do wonder how Kaufman's version hits those who haven't read. This, however, is a must watch- and further, a must re-watch. Aging and loneliness are sad. What do we do to fill our voids? Also- 90% of the negative reviews about the movie are either from bots or haters that created accounts just to bring the user rating score down!… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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9
danielwallac3Sep 9, 2020
Very thoughtful movie. Amazing how entertaining they made some of the slowest scenes in this movie.
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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9
JimkurringSep 7, 2020
What a treat. We are so lucky to have him. Minus 10 points as it could have used more humour to balance out the darkness, but I truly loved it especially on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th viewings. Treat this like listening to an album where it is moreWhat a treat. We are so lucky to have him. Minus 10 points as it could have used more humour to balance out the darkness, but I truly loved it especially on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th viewings. Treat this like listening to an album where it is more rewarding and new things are learned each time and you will not be disappointed.… Expand
0 of 2 users found this helpful02
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10
OlavLDec 28, 2020
This movie is a masterpiece. I don't normally say this, and I don't want to come off as a gatekeeper, but if you didn't like this movie, I don't think you got it. I know that is ferociously pretentious, but this movie really struck a chordThis movie is a masterpiece. I don't normally say this, and I don't want to come off as a gatekeeper, but if you didn't like this movie, I don't think you got it. I know that is ferociously pretentious, but this movie really struck a chord with me, in a way few other films do. The symbolism is effortlessly genius, the performances are wild, and definitely Oscar-worthy. A special nod of acknowledgment goes to Toni Collete, for consistently being in awesome films, and gifting awesome performances with them. The effects are great, the dialogue exquisite, and the lighting and cinematography, oooh it's so good why doesn't everyone love it!?!?! I don't wanna talk about spoilers, and with this film everything is a spoiler. If you haven't watched it, you simply have to trust me, and watch it as soon as possible. This is the best movie of the year, probably my favourite film since Whiplash in 2014. Watch it.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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10
gbferreiraApr 2, 2021
For me it was the best movie of 2020. Intelligent, difficult, with great acting, great dialogues, and a wonderful direction, it is a movie that makes you think about it for days.
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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7
bl_nkDec 9, 2020
Easily the most pretentious movie I've seen this year. It took me four 'sessions' to finish because of how bored I was throughout. At least visually, it is an artistically fulfilling experience, but the structure and pacing make this a deeplyEasily the most pretentious movie I've seen this year. It took me four 'sessions' to finish because of how bored I was throughout. At least visually, it is an artistically fulfilling experience, but the structure and pacing make this a deeply tedious viewing experience, with little payoff.

I give it a '7' only because it leaves you thinking, but on the merits of the film as entertainment, 6 or below is more accurate.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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10
MattBrady99Sep 25, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I loved the movie. It’s one of the best movies I’ve seen all year. A poetic and beautiful movie in the strangest of ways. A movie that can be interpreted in so many ways but can convey the same emotional gut punch is unique beyond words.

The performances from everyone were all excellent. Jessie Buckley as The Young Women, and Jesse Plemons as Jake, both gave the best performances of their careers and of the year. Both manage to bring every type of emotion that made every scene feel so extraordinary.

Toni Collette and David Thewlis were fantastic as Jake’s parents. Just from their mannerisms and coo coo characteristics made them instantly memorable.

The cinematography, score, writing, editing, and the sound work were nothing short but impeccable. I love how the shots and framing makes the overall setting of the movie feel so limited. Almost like it is coming from one’s imagination and memory of such forgotten places. I love the gentle and whimsical score with a little touch of sadness.

Now I will be getting into spoiler area, as I will be analysing certain scenes and my own interpretations. 1.) The Young Woman (Jessie Buckley) is a projection and embodiment of Jakes life. The Young Woman likes poetry, science, and painting. At one point she shows Jake’s parents her paintings on her phone, but the father doesn’t like them. However, those are Jakes paintings and later when the girlfriend goes down into the basement, there are oiled paintings in the corner, same ones on her phone. Another example would be throughout the movie her shirt kept changing colours because she exists only in his head, and he kept making small mistakes on the persona he created.

I think the reason why Jake did this is because he thought that by placing his interest and hobbies onto this woman that he created in his head, then maybe there might be a spark in their chemistry and hopefully become that “happy” couple that the movies lied to him about. This is the reason why the conversation at the beginning of the movie between the two felt so forced and awkward, which the movie straight away gives you a hint that something is not right. When we start to learn that these are in fact Jake’s, it removes itself from her, and her interaction and mood towards him changes very much. The movie quite literally pulls an Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Psycho’ on us, when we thought the main character would be the woman, but it was him the whole time. On a second re-watch it becomes much more clear as the camera seems to linger on Jake more. There is a scene where she recites a poem called "Bonedog" by Eva H.D., and halfway through she breaks the fourth wall and looks straight at the camera. Now she is not addressing the poem to us, but towards Jake, as his own subconscious is destroying his fantasy by bringing in a little reality.

2.) The dance scene towards the end I believe represents a “what if” scenario for The Janitor (Jake) if he would have just talked to her when he first saw her. Maybe both of them would fall in love and have a perfect life together. It just shows you how magical their love could have been. But then The Janitor kills the youthful self that he wished he were. You know, the one who got the girl and lived a happy life. At this point in the movie, he has come to terms that he cannot keep living in his fantasy. So, The Janitor killing young Jake meant that reality has finally hit him, and he finally accepts that things will never be the way he imagined it.

4.) During the musical climax of the movie, Jake sings the musical ‘Oklahoma’, we see everyone in the audience with a couple of familiar faces, who have that powered white face make-up you see in theatre productions, with that comic book lines draw on their faces to represent facial features, which makes them all look old and ghostly. Everyone there was someone he knew in the past. It's like in the TV show ‘The Leftovers’, where Nora (played by Carrie Coon) says that returning to old places to recreate old nostalgic feelings and memories won't be the same, because everyone there has either moved on or left. In the end, you are just a ghost from the past. Let me tell you something about myself. Sometimes whenever am free and nearby, I would come and visit my old college. However, these visits became more often. When I first started college, there was this small park next to my college, and I would use to sit at a park bench in my first year on my first day, because I had no one to talk and I was too shy. It was a scary time to be independent when you have no hopes for the future. Years later, I went back to that same park and sat down where I use to sit to feel a sense of progression from where I started compared to now, but I felt nothing and after two minutes got up and left. So, my trips were pointless but every time I tell myself I will feel it again someday. Maybe some good memories will come flooding back.… Expand
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10
m21mcriticSep 9, 2020
Loved it. Won’t spoil it for you. I read the book last year once I found out Kaufman was adapting it, so I knew the twists and turns coming, but it was still great to see it unfold and the ending was something else. Synecdoche, New York isLoved it. Won’t spoil it for you. I read the book last year once I found out Kaufman was adapting it, so I knew the twists and turns coming, but it was still great to see it unfold and the ending was something else. Synecdoche, New York is still the best, most impactful movie I’ve seen, but this is I’m the running as my new favorite once I ruminate on it some more. It’s just so refreshing watching a movie made with so much passion poured into it as an expression of art. That said, an uplifting romp this movie is not, so if you’re the kind of person who can’t deal with that (which is totally ok), or just isn’t in the mood for it, maybe save it for a later date.… Expand
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8
alejandro970Sep 20, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The past, present and future of a couple. The confusing tone of the plot can put the viewer to the test, as you have to wait for the last act to see all the pieces of the puzzle in place. The hallmark of the director / writer is noticeable.… Expand
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7
TrailesqueAug 17, 2022
I am glad someone is making David Lynch movies, because he has not been. This has a lot of interesting tension and surreal moments, but it descends into confounding lunacy at the end. Jessie Buckley is very good in her leading role.
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9
frederik1478Aug 19, 2023
I really really enjoyed the movie. I have watched it two times now and I still love the dialogue the story The Themes all of the parts of the story and the Deep sadness that is when in me while watching it. I love it.

I could tell you whatI really really enjoyed the movie. I have watched it two times now and I still love the dialogue the story The Themes all of the parts of the story and the Deep sadness that is when in me while watching it. I love it.

I could tell you what happens in the movie despacific things but I will not because this movie is so good that it is worth experiencing on your own. So please watch this movie on Netflix… Expand
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8
LajaleaaJan 7, 2021
( 83/100 )
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Aparte de escribir "Being John Malkovich" (1999) y "Eternal Sunshine Of A Spotless Mind" (2004), el esporádico director llamó la atención con "Synecdoche New York" (2008) y "Anomalisa" (2015). Ahora Charlie Kaufman presenta una( 83/100 )
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Aparte de escribir "Being John Malkovich" (1999) y "Eternal Sunshine Of A Spotless Mind" (2004), el esporádico director llamó la atención con "Synecdoche New York" (2008) y "Anomalisa" (2015). Ahora Charlie Kaufman presenta una producción de Netflix: "I'm Thinking Of Ending Things", la experiencia cinematográfica más importante del 2020.
La fotografía, por Lucasz Zal, es bella, profunda y sensible. La escenografía es igualmente versátil y brinda una carga simbólica interesante en sus detalles. El vestuario y maquillaje se adaptan profesionalmente al ritmo de la historia y existe una interacción muy poética entre los personajes y las diferentes dimensiones visuales que construyen la historia.
El elenco tiene una dinámica definitivamente profesional. Jesse Plemons y Jessie Buckley logran una relación intensa entre dos concepciones chocando en un mismo cuerpo. Buckley luce un bello talento con un futuro hermoso en el cine. Por su parte, Toni Collette y David Thewlis interpretan audaz e increíblemente a dos personajes complejos y esenciales. Los cuatro se adaptan a un ritmo que desenvuelve una historia demasiado grande para digerir con gusto.
Basado en la novela de Iain Reid y adaptada por Kaufman, la película comete el error narrativo de ser indirecta con su propósito y eleva el nivel de dificultad de su existencialismo al darle un cuerpo y voluntad a la conciencia misma. Cualquier interpretación personal puede ser un potencial spoiler, pues la película se recarga en lo visual para dar sentido a su propia voz. Hay una sentido detrás de todo esto pero la respuesta está más escondida de lo adecuado.
La complejidad de esta película puede ser contraproducente, pero el nivel de detalle y simbolismo alimenta la muy sedienta experiencia cinematográfica que hay en estos tiempos. Aún sin pandemia, esta película es un aporte importante al repertorio de películas que explotan la experiencia visual que solo el cine puede brindar.
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Besides writing “Being John Malkovich” (1999) and “Eternal Sunshine Of A Spotless Mind” (2004), this sporadic director called attention with “Synecdoche New York” (2008) and “Anomalisa” (2015). Now Charlie Kaufman presents a Netflix production: “I’m Thinking Of Ending Things”, the most important cinematographic experience of 2020.
The photography, by Lucasz Zal, is beautiful, profound, and sensible. The scenography is also versatile and provides a big symbolism weight in its details. The custom design and makeup adapt professionally to the story rhythm, and there’s a very poetic interaction between the characters and the different visual dimensions that build the story.
The cast has a definitely professional dynamic. Jesse Plemons and Jessie Buckley achieve an intense relationship between two conceptions crashing in one same body. Buckley outshines a beautiful talent with a bright future in cinema. Meanwhile, Toni Collette and David Thewlis play incredibly and with audacity two complex and essential characters. The four of them adapt to a rhythm that unfolds a story too big to digest with ease.
Based on the novel of lain Reid and adapted by Kaufman, the movie makes the narrative mistake of being indirect with its purpose and raises the level of difficulty of its existentialism by giving a body and a will to the consciousness itself. Any personal interpretation could be a potential spoiler since the movie leans on the visual aspect to give sense to its own voice. There is a sense behind all of this, but the answer is hidden more than the appropriate.
The complexity of this movie can be counterproductive, but the level of detail and symbolism feeds the thirsty cinematic experience that exists in these times. Even without pandemic, this movie is a big contribution to the repertoire of movies that exploit the visual experience that only the cinema can deliver.… Expand
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10
theredskySep 6, 2020
Another knockout hit from writer/director Charlie Kaufman. Almost every aspect of this film is perfect but I need to understand the film more before I can give it a 10/10 but I could see myself giving this film that score in the future. AllAnother knockout hit from writer/director Charlie Kaufman. Almost every aspect of this film is perfect but I need to understand the film more before I can give it a 10/10 but I could see myself giving this film that score in the future. All of the performances here are excellent with Jesse Plemons and Toni Collete steaming every scene they are in. Jessie Buckley and David Thewlis both do an amazing job also. Each of their characters are well developed and interesting to watch. They all have excellent chemistry with each other and they work incredibly well for what I think this film is going for. The writing here is amazing. Charlie Kaufman has always been an incredibly talented screenwriter and he shows off that talent again here along with his excellent directing abilities. The script is so layered and deep that it’s insane. It takes in all of these ideas of regret, memories, life, and love and mixes them together perfectly if maybe a little too complicated. The cinematography is excellent as well along with the limited musical score. Both add a lot to this film and make it feel claustrophobic and scary. When I say scary, I don’t mean jump scare scary. I mean that the ideas and how they are presented on screen is scary in itself. The editing could feel awkward to some but it’s intentional and adds to the claustrophobic atmosphere of the film. If you are in the mood for a dark film or like Charlie Kaufman, then go check this film out as soon as you can.… Expand
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8
clem666Jan 19, 2021
I did not know Charlie Kaufman before seeing this movie. I was just searching for a very recent movie to get out of my comfort zone. I did not search a certain genre or popularity. 'i'm thinking of ending things' appeared to be exactly what II did not know Charlie Kaufman before seeing this movie. I was just searching for a very recent movie to get out of my comfort zone. I did not search a certain genre or popularity. 'i'm thinking of ending things' appeared to be exactly what I was looking for.

The first scenes had a striking and appealing effect on me. Since the beginnng I knew I was going to witness a movie characterized by gorgeous scenes and style, with varied camera angles and cinematographic effects.

The scenes in which the heroin meets Jake's parents are ont of the greatest prowesses of the movie. A movie never gave me goosebumps like that. It is easy to compare these scenes to those in 'Get Out', another popular awkward-horror movie. But where 'Get Out' manages to make you feel a bit of the characters' embarrassment, 'i'm thinkg of ending things' succeeds in making you feel like you're part of the scene. Embarrassment is inside of you. All along the movie sends you clues to ensure you it is constructing something but you can't reach it, you can't understand it. All you have to do and can do is to reunite small passages to try making up a version of truth. It may be really frustrating but this is the kind of fragmented movies that will force you to think, to be part of it, to use your own sensitivity to get what is going on.

The film makes a series of interesting decisions and is characterized by a surprising artistic direction. This ranges from the presentation of different paintings made by the protagonists, to the angles taken by the camera, to quotes directly from books and short stories. This contributes to the impressive depth of 'i'm thinking of ending things', which is marked by intense reflections and unsuspected precision on the subjects of aging, loneliness, our relationship with others, the relationship between women and men in a couple situation and our daily choices.

The end (no spoil) is really surprising and will frustrate more than one spectator by its lack of continuity with the whole story previously staged. Like most stagings, it is accompanied by many artistic choices that we will be free to decode with our personal impressions.… Expand
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8
SimonsRantsSep 16, 2020
No, Charlie Kaufman's latest film will not net him an Oscar, it's simply just not that kind of movie. Nor will it receive an overwhelmingly positive reaction from audiences because it is quite bizarre - as are most of Kaufman's films. ButNo, Charlie Kaufman's latest film will not net him an Oscar, it's simply just not that kind of movie. Nor will it receive an overwhelmingly positive reaction from audiences because it is quite bizarre - as are most of Kaufman's films. But truth be told, this is the best movie to come out so far in a rather disappointing 2020.

Quick disclaimer: I have not read the book and I don't honestly plan to; I have heard from many disgruntled fans that the book is far superior and that the movie trashes the ending. I don't know if that's true because I didn't read it, but watching the movie on it's own was a fantastic experience. One that I plan to repeat again soon.

This movie is a puzzle for sure, so if you enjoy movies that make you think then you'll absolutely love this. I've seen people say you need to read the book to understand, and that's not true. But a quick google search or two may be a helpful shortcut to grasping the film but is not entirely necessary. It's an odd and confusing film that puzzles you without handing you any answers on a silver platter - but it makes sure the clues are presented plainly. If you don't get everything on the first go through, don't be ashamed just give it another go and things will become a little more clear each time.

I'm not as familiar with Kaufman the director as I am with Kaufman the writer who has written such films as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Adaptation., Being John Malcovich. Needless to say, I'm a big fan of his writing but was unsure of his directing going into this. After having seen it, it seems he has gleaned from directors he's worked with in the past like Michel Gondry and Spike Jonze. His style is artistic and subtle but also direct and to the point. I can now say I am a big fan of his directing and can't wait to see whatever he puts out next.… Expand
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8
ChrisPaniaguaApr 20, 2021
Details everywhere, the message is hidden in plain sight, and the age of the characters is as changeable as the environments surrounding each scene.
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7
DanrdgSep 16, 2020
O filme é tão confuso que por pouco não me fez perder o interesse, o que é o maior perigo nesse tipo de filme. mas o elenco, os momentos totalmente malucos e bonitos visualmente me fizeram mergulhar nessa viajem que embrulha o cérebro.

NoO filme é tão confuso que por pouco não me fez perder o interesse, o que é o maior perigo nesse tipo de filme. mas o elenco, os momentos totalmente malucos e bonitos visualmente me fizeram mergulhar nessa viajem que embrulha o cérebro.

No fim é um filme que ao acabar você vai querer saber tudo e procurar coisas a respeito, ou odiar completamente e chorar pelo tempo perdido. Eu fui atrás e foi um exercício bastante satisfatório.… Expand
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7
r96skMar 14, 2021
I'll be honest, I didn't fully have a clue what was happening for large portions. Yet, I still weirdly enjoyed watching 'I’m Thinking of Ending Things'.

I think the main reasons for that are the two leads: Jessie Buckley and Jesse Plemons.I'll be honest, I didn't fully have a clue what was happening for large portions. Yet, I still weirdly enjoyed watching 'I’m Thinking of Ending Things'.

I think the main reasons for that are the two leads: Jessie Buckley and Jesse Plemons. They kept everything feeling fresh and intriguing to me, both have their moments in this. Toni Collette and David Thewlis also do very well. I like the cast, for sure.

As for the plot, it didn't do anything for me but it did keep me thinking which I appreciated. I, personally, would've preferred a shorter run time and clearer meaning - the latter is just me though, I'm sure others will adore the way the film is portrayed.

Some other reviewers have put it perfectly in terms of matching me: not nous enough to 'get it', but it still comes across as a good film. I'm fine with that, each to their own as always.… Expand
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10
csulasirisDec 10, 2021
Great performances, great direction, great script. One of the most rewarding movies I've seen in the last ten years. A thoughtful exploration of the fear of age, death, and opportunities missed - by turns horrific and achingly melancholy.
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10
happyghost24Oct 22, 2020
Just here to post for fans of his other movies and are attuned to the caliber. Don't hesitate, it's fantastic. Make sure you finish, too! It sounds like people are being very impatient with it. Oh, and a knowledge of A Woman Under theJust here to post for fans of his other movies and are attuned to the caliber. Don't hesitate, it's fantastic. Make sure you finish, too! It sounds like people are being very impatient with it. Oh, and a knowledge of A Woman Under the Influence by John Cassavetes is helpful.… Expand
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7
JamesDefoeSep 20, 2020
It has many well written, well executed events and the idea behind the story is ambitious, but if you have no previous knowledge about the story, not only you are not going to be given the experience you think Kaufman has in mind for you, butIt has many well written, well executed events and the idea behind the story is ambitious, but if you have no previous knowledge about the story, not only you are not going to be given the experience you think Kaufman has in mind for you, but also what he does have in mind for you might require you a book read or an internet search. It is very close to wonderfully executed, though. A few better decisions would have made this film unforgettable.… Expand
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8
upwardSep 4, 2020
Weird, surreal, and unconventional, yet mature, beautiful, and well-developed. In true Kaufman fashion, the film is an abstract and unique exploration of crippling loneliness and the limitations of human fantasy. Kaufman captures all theWeird, surreal, and unconventional, yet mature, beautiful, and well-developed. In true Kaufman fashion, the film is an abstract and unique exploration of crippling loneliness and the limitations of human fantasy. Kaufman captures all the eeriness of the novel and adds his own directorial touch that elevates the film beyond its source material. It’s not an easy watch (don’t go in expecting all the answers, or any answers, really), but it’s certainly a movie I’m glad to have seen.… Expand
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10
AllenESep 8, 2020
While it appeals to the intellect, it is most of all a cris de coeur for the misfits (Jud (Oklahoma!!), John Nash (A Beautiful Mind), Mabel (Gena Rowlands' character), the misfit girl at the HS and at Tulsey Town, the gays who are put down,While it appeals to the intellect, it is most of all a cris de coeur for the misfits (Jud (Oklahoma!!), John Nash (A Beautiful Mind), Mabel (Gena Rowlands' character), the misfit girl at the HS and at Tulsey Town, the gays who are put down, and for Jake himself). It asks for sympathy for those trapped in their own heads, who have difficulty connecting with others. It also had brilliant insights into:

• how (selective and spotty) memory works (I especially loved the limited recollection of his dog, Jimmy)
• how time works ("People like to think of themselves as points moving through time. But I think it's the opposite: we're stationary -- time moves through us.")
• why we have hope ("Humans are the only animal that know the inevitability of their own death. Other animals live in the present. Humans cannot, so they invented hope.")
• the truth of the mind: "Sometimes the thought is closer to the truth than an action."
• how art moves us ("it's like you wrote it [the poem] about me.") and "the interiority" of landscape paintings

Almost every line of dialog - whether original or quoting others - is memorable. I also loved the suspense - the sense of impending doom. I especially liked the blizzard and the frozen lambs foreshadowing the suicide. I think it really helps to be familiar with the musical "Oklahoma!"

Like most of Charlie Kaufman's movies, the point of view shifts. Until the end, one is never certain whose eyes one is seeing it all through and when. But the actors are so committed that one is carried along.… Expand
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7
JLauSep 25, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Old, lonely school caretaker imagines a girlfriend based on a girl he didn't talk to and the books he read, does a ballet, nakedly follows an animated pig and then sings "Oklahoma!".… Expand
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7
DrandyOct 15, 2021
Parts of the film are riveting and hair-raising. The performances are wonderful. Reality is fluid here, and close listening and viewing is rewarded. The final shot (and sound) is haunting.
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9
deadangel04Dec 22, 2020
"I'm Thinking of Ending Things" is not for everyone. That's such a cliche, but in this case it's also so true. Is it confusing and hard to watch at times? Yes. Is it pointless or pretentious as some people claim? No way. They just don't get"I'm Thinking of Ending Things" is not for everyone. That's such a cliche, but in this case it's also so true. Is it confusing and hard to watch at times? Yes. Is it pointless or pretentious as some people claim? No way. They just don't get it. If you've never watched a Kaufman film, you should skip this one. If you've watched one of his films or movies like "Mulholland Drive" and you hated your guts, avoid this film at all costs. Simply put, this isn't for you. Even though I loved this film, I totally understand why some people can't stand it. Kaufman adapted someone else's original idea here, but this is still pure Kaufman. He even made some changes compared to the book to make this film even more bizarre and inapproachable. 'Cause that's who he is! So before watching this movie you need to be 100% aware of what you're gonna watch. Then, you need to clear your head and be totally focused on the screen. And you may be rewarded. Also, you may not! Does this sound like too much work to just get through a film? Well, it is! But I personally felt rewarded. For me this is such a well-crafted movie. All the pieces of the puzzle are there. Truth be told, some of them are hidden behind multiple layers, but they're there. The performances are excellent, it's a shame that both Jess(i)es are probably gonna be snubbed by the Academy. The cinematography is a masterpiece and it's actually the first time I'm liking Kaufman's directing. "I'm Thinking of Ending Things" is probably gonna get a cult status in the future. But I wish more people could appreciate it right now.… Expand
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9
NickTheCritickNov 3, 2021
Here you have Charlie Kaufman at this best for this movie that is so beautifully written. Dialogues are great and shots too. You have comedy, drama, thriller and musical in a nice balance in this little gem of a movie.
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10
ChanekeCholoDec 13, 2021
A few movies have the value to make you change your way to live and I'm Thinking Of Ending Things has the first place.
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10
yeqksDec 30, 2021
i'm thinking that this movie is completely misunderstood by most audiences. Being by far Kaufman's least accessible film, i'm thinking of ending things still remains one of his best. An elaborate puzzle that gives you all the pieces you need,i'm thinking that this movie is completely misunderstood by most audiences. Being by far Kaufman's least accessible film, i'm thinking of ending things still remains one of his best. An elaborate puzzle that gives you all the pieces you need, and asks you to put them together. This film makes perfect sense once all the pieces fit together and even manages to genuinely scare after figuring it out. Probably the most well thought out film ever made with tons of little details and subtleties that the average viewer would probably just shrug off because of the confusing nature of the film. While watching, I highly recommend you pay full attention to the dialogue and background. EVERY line of dialogue is written with a purpose.… Expand
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7
Gts08Nov 8, 2022
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. 7.5/10 according to me
Felt like a bit overlooked when it came to the Oscars, Golden Globes or quite literally any awards. But, it's one of my favorite movies of 2020 and there are reasons why. First, I love Kaufman's works, so loved this one as well. The entire film feels like a fever dream, especially in the second half, it is so surreal and weird, and most people hated it for that. And also because it is pretty slow, even towed at points, but I was never bored. The characters are bizarre enough, the setting was such a great choice, and most importantly: the usual Kaufmanesque twist is there as well. And it hits hard. Because there is a feel of unease and eeriness throughout the entire film; something isn't right, it is too weird to be real. And yeah, I kind of spoiled you the twist now, but it is the experience that I liked the most in i'm thinking of ending things. The existential crisis, the deep philosophy.… Expand
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8
LightsAndBulbsSep 18, 2022
Even if you don't immediately understand the plot of this film, there is still a lot to appreciate and enjoy on a surface level. The color palette and lighting is beautiful, and adds a great degree of flavor and character to the film. TheEven if you don't immediately understand the plot of this film, there is still a lot to appreciate and enjoy on a surface level. The color palette and lighting is beautiful, and adds a great degree of flavor and character to the film. The acting is great, especially Jessie Buckley's, and the cinematography is masterfully done. Once you do understand the plot however, there is a wealth of qualities for you to newly appreciate, such as the editing, and the subtle hints that Kaufman sprinkles throughout the script. "I'm Thinking of Ending Things" is a film that rewards a vigilant viewer, and offers a touching, devastating message for those willing to look for it.
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Best Performance: Jessie Buckley… Expand
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10
CarlElmoreNov 24, 2022
Another Charlie Kaufman masterpiece. Amazing performances, presentation, and interesting if a little confusing story.
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