Rico is dead which is sad of course, but at least he taught Joe some of the most important lessons in life so despite his sense of failure when he visits his father's grave, it's apparent that his short life was not a complete waste.
Although it is unclear what is exactly in store for Joe, if his goal is to live a happy, normal life, then the future seems promising for him as he has his whole life ahead of him.
Neither (happy nor sad). Melancholy is the right word.
sharemaybe it was like fight club that Ratso did not exist outside of his mind.
shareOne of the saddest endings ever.
shareDark might be one way to describe the ending. While it's not mentioned by Joe, he starts panicking now that he realises for the first time in his life that he is all alone after losing Rico. Nonetheless Jon Voigt does a really good job conveying that expression non-verbally. Despite the upbeat opening credits of this film, in the book the catalyst for Joe to move to New York was being sexually assaulted and I think that his initial response is that he feels numb or in denial whereas leaving New York and losing Rico might have triggered his PTSD.
shareSad. Rico is there. He is dead. The woman with the strange sunglasses cannot stop looking at him.
Joe hugs his now cold corpse.
I pray Rico went to Heaven.