MovieChat Forums > Limbo (1999) Discussion > The end of the movie

The end of the movie

posted 21 years ago by satanislav
58 replies | jump to latest

I guess I am not the only one haunted by the open end of the movie. Here's my logical view of the possible outcome:
- Even if we not consider the personal relation between Jumpin Joe Gastineau and Smilin Jack Johannson, which apparently is:
1. accusation for his brother's death. Jack's brtoher was on the same boat with Joe, that sunk many years ago
2. Jack had intentions towards Donna and seeing them together would not obviously make him happy.
- Let's view the logic in Jack's decision to come to the island, then check if the castaways are all right and return back -> There probably aren't many people lost and stranded somewhere on an island in a particular interval of time, so we may be sure that Jack knew who the killers were looking for
- The storm after Jack's return -> even if it's not suitable for flights, it's definitely not so bad for the coast guard boats, meaning he didn't alert the authorities for the castaways' location.
That's my basic thinking on the morning after I watched this masterpiece. My favourite character was that of Vanessa Martinez.
I am expecting for your comments over the end of the movie.
Cheers!

[–] kay_rock 10 years ago

There is an underlying theme of optimism vs. pessimism throughout the film. The battle between mother and daughter highlights it.

The ending is only a question: "Which one are you? Optimist or pessimist? Positive thinker or doomsday speaker?"

There are no clues that lean one way or the other, except those we choose to see. It's just an exercise in self-examination.

Movies are IQ tests; the IMDB boards are how people broadcast their score.

[–] Wuchak (8857) a year ago

That's what I was thinking: This is a piece of art where the ending depends on the perspective of the viewer. Writer/director Sayles said he tried it both ways and neither was satisfactory, so he left it open.

The three options for the viewer come down to the three protagonists: Joe was a realist, Donna an optimist and Noelle a pessimist. Donna and Noelle were opposites while Joe perfectly fit in the middle. You could say the three worked together & belonged together like a 3-strand cord.

I like the theory voiced by MNRebecca below, which explains why Jack would be motivated to save the trio, although I don't think it's necessary to believe Jack killed the drug dealers. He could've just gone back and told the drug dealers he saw no signs of anyone surviving, which would satisfy the thugs and they'd depart. Jack could then report them to the authorities; but whether he does so or not, he'd either go back to pick up the trio after the storm or have the Coast Guard do it with his assistance. According to this interpretation, Donna was right about Jack when she said she looked into his eyes and knew he was a noble person, not a lowlife killer.

In a way, it doesn't matter: Donna and Joe finally found the right mate after a lifetime of searching -- a person they could be in the worst possible situation with and it didn't negatively affect their relationship. Furthermore, Noelle needed a father figure and Joe unhesitatingly said that she could stay with him. Remember, he never had a child, but now he has one; he thus viewed Noelle as sort of a treasure thrown into his lap. Also, factor in how both Donna and Noelle liked Joe before either knew the other knew him. In other words, both had good vibes about him and this never happened before in their relationship concerning Donna's romantic partners.

As such, even if the plane landed and someone in the plane shot them all while they're arm-and-arm on the shore, it didn't matter -- they would pass into eternity with their closest loved ones.

[–] MoviemanCin 8 years ago

An excellent analysis, satanislav. But we'll never know, will we? A good movie: 7.8/10.

Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar and doesn't.

[–] MNRebecca (773) 7 years ago

Jack notified the authorities. He wants to stay in Alaska, and he can't survive there if he makes bad choices. He knows it's not really Joe's fault his brother died. Joe nearly died too, and he lost everything. He barely gets by. What is there to resent?

Jack went back home, killed the drug dealers for his own safety and disposed of them during the storm, then notified the authorities, who sent the rescue plane. Eventually, the story of Jack's heroism will be told repeatedly at the town bars. That's his payoff.

[–] SlackerInc (1121) a year ago

I like your theory, but I'm not sure about Joe "just getting by". His place looked pretty nice!

[–] Wuchak (8857) a year ago

It was a modest house in a town that mainly attracted tourists to the desolate SE coast of Alaska. The citizenry were known for drinking and committing suicide. Factories kept closing and the fishing business was hard, risky work. So, yeah, Joe was pretty much just getting by, making a living doing odd jobs; not a pathetic loser, but hardly a wealthy entrepreneur.

[–] SlackerInc (1121) a year ago

There's a lot of distance between "just getting by" and "wealthy entrepreneur". He looked solidly middle class to me.