I've always wondered if these two get back together. Life, being as messy as it is and all.
They've both established themselves as really personally messed up people.
If they got back together do you think they stayed together?
Cool thread wish I'd thought of it.
The end scene is so strong -- its ambiguousness
the camera pull back as Susie then Jack walks away.
Man I dunno ...
I know I want to think fate would break their way,
but probably long odds for that,
fate being so oftentimes sadistic.
They are two damaged humanoids as you say;
life'll do that to ya.
I think the question might be rather:
Can any two people w/ souls that deadened
make it work with another person?
Given what the other person needs wants and deserves
if s/he is trying to make it work with them.
Life has left so much scar tissue
around hearts like Susie's and Jack's
they just might not be capable of loving anymore.
Hope dashed can bruise the heart cynical,
more of the same it risks turning into
an emotionally numb plasma pump and nothing more.
Sad but sometimes true I think.
Jack and Susie.
It's almost like they each inhabit
some sort of wounded souls's alternate reality,
where pain & disappointment
are everywhere like litter & graffiti.
So better - easier? - to keep the spiritual lockdown in place
and just 'light another cigarette and try to remember to forget.'
But maybe not ...
Susie's words as she starts down the stairs ...
she's with a guy now who's "a light heavweight with a bad attitude."
or words to that effect.
Sounds like it could go either way ... for him ... or for Jack.
Woman's reasoning & decisions must be respected,
even if they escape man's ability to grasp them.
"Reason has its reasons which reason cannot know."
Still Susie has let Jack past the walled gates of her being
where very few get to go;
so I think she will mull seriously his attempt to get back to her.
Especially after,
Susie: i was out of line.
Jack, cutting her off but w/o malice or rudeness: "No ... I was out of line."
Her reaction shot is a dagger turned to a feather.
My take on her unspoken words:
Yeah okay you were;
but I forgive you now that you've said so."
Then as she walks away
and stops to answer Jack's "Will I see you again?"
Her, "I don't' know ... What do you think?"
Jack taps a curled index finger against his noggin
while he says, "Yeah ... intuition."
These two aren't 'done' yet;
that much seems clear if nothing else does.
I hope that light-heavyweight can take a punch ...
And I really appreciated the ending - its non-Hollywoodness.
Life is complicated on a good day;
it seems at best only partially understandable
or beyond any comprehension at all on the other ones.
("Understanding" here being about having purchased enough
wisdom over the years - with plenty of pain as payment - to
be able to accept whatever fate drops on your head;
and
"comprehending" pertaining to just how mixed up every day life can be ... basically the 'wtf' of the everyday.)
I do know these two characters were as interesting to me
as any i've ever seen.
It was just a movie but they sure as -ell pulled me in.
They both know the other has gotten to them,
even when neither wanted to ever let anyone do that again.
Too much pain that way comes.
Susie's gotten under Jack's skin like no other woman ever has or will.
And Jack's musical gifts pulled Susie in -- the beauty of it.
But jack blew it.
I think he couldn't handle the fact that he was all of a sudden in so deep.
Guys like that - emotional cowards - when that happens
start looking for the exit sign, quick.
Guilt will be considered later on, time permitting.
And Susie got -issed at herself for falling for Jack.
I think she thought she'd grown immune to it - love - and
that she could handle any man's 'stuff.'
Certainly kid brother Baker.
So they were both -issed at themselves
and each other for what happened.
Ain't love grand?
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Addendum (emphasis on dumb.)
I've just decided they will get back together
and have a happily ever after.
End of story please forgive
my complete 180 on a dime into my own Hollywood ending.
Hey it's a message board about escapism via celluloid.
That's the beauty of make believe we can rewrite our own endings.
And I want a happy for them. (And myself that's another post
as it is this one's past boring.)
But let me close with question for you:
Do you think either of them will ever quit smoking?
Beautiful post (oneleft22). I could hear the tinkling sounds of ice cubes in a glass on 'the rocks,' the glass itself moist to the touch and the gentle sounds of black and white keys playing through the soft blue gray light of cigarette air.
So glad someone responded to remind me that I'm not alone.
Life is complicated like you said, but I think it's because we make it so.
And what a wonderful point that you make about the make believe of fiction and cinema. We can rewrite our own endings.
I know that Jack and Susie try once again. I know it. I know it like I know anything. It's a matter of physics and chemistry. Two entities that have an electrical charge are drawn toward each other.
But will it last. It's been 20 years for them. They both don't seem to like day jobs. And are repelled against the suburbs.
Sometimes I believe they even settled down with each other. but it would take serious marriage counseling to reconcile those two back.
But they may have never gotten that far. But for sure, they met back up after we witnessed that slow, crane shot lift above their heads and city skyline.
I love that scene so much. I like how you described it. I've watched it hundreds of times over the years. I love how he watches her walk away for a few moments and then he does, he too has somewhere to go, to settle some things, to make some things right.
I worked not far from that location for many years and I knew that city well. And, for a bit, I know Jack. But I think we've become strangers. I hope.
But, do I think they'll ever stop smoking? Not for all the tea in China (smile.).
I agree so much with your post, pretty much all the way. The characters are real.
Incidentally, it seems that you thought Susie was seeing the guy whose car Jack was leaning against? If so, it's not the case, it's just her neighbor.
Your thoughts?
onleft, you should consider a career as a poet -- if you aren't one already. And that's not a putdown. I like poetry, and your post is akin to some of it that I've read and enjoyed.
The Falcon flies
Jack and Suzie definately got back together at the end of the movie. Whether they are still together or not can not be answered but I would think so because the chemistry between them was so great. Suzie understood Jack better than Jack's own brother Frank who is close to him. Also Jack knew when not to push Suzie in the diner scene when Frank is arguing with her. These two people knew what to say and how to say it to each other so I would hope this would keep them together after all these years in my humble opinion.
shareThanks for your input Paris4242. Everytime I think of the film and watch it again, I wonder about their longevity together. Remember, they are both damaged souls. And in the light of the cold day, after the jazzy sounds and cigarette smoke has cleared, I wonder if Jack will see the same Suzie sitting across from him and Suzie the same Jack. I can't imagine these two with kids either and a fixed mortgage in the suburbs. But I'm still a romantic and believe for the best.
shareThe beauty of this wonderful film is that people care about the characters and wonder what happened to them. A most under-appreciated film. And, yes, I do think think that the attraction between them was strong enough to overcome the obvious difficulties.
shareI agree with you about the beauty of the film makes us think about the characters after the final credits. I want to believe that two people like jack and susie can make it work being both musicians with baggage and the resistance to live the "normal, domestic lifestyle-" i.e house in the suburbs, 2 kids and bake sales (Not that anything is wrong with this lifestyle).
sharecool thread. i like it
i think one of the good things about films like this is they make you wonder what DOES happen after credits roll
like max and jackie at the end of jackie brown. that one tears me up. lots of them make ya wonder and imagine the life of the characters beyond the film story. oh heck believe me, i could give tons of examples of this. (in fact i think i even made a list of open-ended titles? hmmmm)
the end of the bourne identity was cool. they re-meet and credits roll. (kinda ruined that when the second and turd ones came out but oh well lol)
for me i wonder anyway, even if it's implied they are together.
i won't try to make a list here lol..... but yeah, cool idea. i wanna know what they do, yet the mystery of it has huge appeal
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Once there was a Hushpuppy, and she lived with her Daddy in the bathtub.
It is nice how it's up in the air. I don't think it's really implied though.
Following their personalities in the story I think they do get back together but, life being as complicated as it is, two damaged souls, I think it won't be easy at all. Can't imagine them living in the suburbs and teaching piano at the local elementary or as future parents, typical play dates with other parents' kids. Not that all of that is bad, though it would be for me. They strike me as too urban. Night creatures.
LTUM, what do you think they do after being together? Professionally, do they even get married? Where would they live?
i don't think either of them was "that damaged". He might have swallowed a lot of pride in all those years and she was kind of a waif like self-numbing girl. "Wasted" and "cynical" would be an alternative description. I say Suzie dated the cat-convention man and both of them visit concerts and shows. one day Suzie sees Jack on stage and tries to hide her feelings. Later they bump into each other yaddayadda .....
...
two boys, a small house in the surburbs, the dog and Egghead visiting on Thanksgiving. totally possible.