MovieChat Forums > Flashpoint (1984) Discussion > Hated the ending... (SPOILERIFFIC)

Hated the ending... (SPOILERIFFIC)

posted 18 years ago by yojimboy
6 replies | jump to latest

I was really into this movie right up until the final scene. When Kris holds up the rifle and yells "who were you," and the screen flashes images of Kennedy, it just went over the edge of cheesiness... I couldn't buy it as a reasonable action, or even as a dramatic action. Then the sherrif shows up to conveniently explain everything, tell Kris exactly what to do, and offer his life in sacrifice for no real compelling reason (given that he's not exactly going to be able to "hold off" an international manhunt for very long with one rifle) except some claptrap about suddenly feeling guilty for helping the bad guys thirty years before. Kris's line about "tell 'em I'll be back" is just beyond bad, too. Really, I don't think he's going to be able to do squat to convince anyone of anything he knows, especially since he left the murder weapon behind and only took the money.

It was a shame, because the rest of the movie is a really tight thriller. It's just when it gets too close to the Kennedy grandeur and tries to reach for historical relevance that it stumbles.

[–] Doom 18 years ago

I'll have to respectfully disagree with you on this one. I just watched this film again last night and the scene you mentioned is one of my favorites. I thought it really had impact - and sent chills up my spine at the thought they could have stumbled across another shooter in the JFK murder.

I do sort of agree about the "I'll be back" line though - this isn't The Terminator - that line seemed kind of forced. Still, great creepy little thriller I feel for the most part.

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Wait a minute... who am I here?

[–] teejay6682 17 years ago

i thought kristoffersons acting was great in the last few scenes. he's very underrated. i thought ending was ok though.

[–] Bladerunner 17 years ago

I have to disagree, although I thought your contention with it was well-stated and articulate.

I thought the ending was good, but then I really appreciate movies that don't go long on elaborating the "Macguffin".

I thought the film was tight and gripping and the Deus ex machina at the end wasn't that contrived.

One thing that was a bit confusing was the drug bust and Carson (Kurtwood Smith ). The only thing I can figure out is, that somehow he was mixed up in the crap with the Kennedy assassination as well. I assumed that he was coming after Logan (Kris Kristofferson) because he knew too much about the drug bust (how Carson was protecting the source). Now, if Carson was covering his ass over his involvement in the Kennedy assassination, well then that IS a stretch. Anyway, I loved the film and if anyone knows of any films like it, I'd love to know.

"...nothing is left of me, each time I see her..." - Catullus

[–] plwblj 15 years ago

Rather like the ending...Rip Torn quite the empathetic figure....

[–] oldmotem 14 years ago

I really liked that Mr. 70s Show just got very killed by Mr. Singer-Songwriter. Good scene there. And...it was 1984. So he HAD to say....

"I'll be back..."

What 2 guvvermint agents do in their spare time. Try to kill each other completely. Nice touch there.

[–] MovieKnut 11 years ago

I thought the finale was well judged. There were enough clues along the way, setting up the twist. Puts me in the mood to watch this again tonight.

You can't palm off a second-rater on me. You gotta remember I was in the pink!