MovieChat Forums > Begin Again (2014) Discussion > Absolutely loved the movie; hated the en...

Absolutely loved the movie; hated the ending (spoilers)

posted 10 years ago by dmph1208
18 replies | jump to latest

I didn't see the full trailer and didn't even realize it was about making an album in NYC. I was pleasantly surprised and liked the movie soo much more than I thought I would.

But I hated the ending. Yea, a lot of people don't like or are tired of the cliche Hollywood endings, but I hated that. Maybe I just have zero forgiveness for people who cheat on their spouses and act the way Keener's character did, but that was the first time in many, many years where an ending legitimately annoyed me to the point where it severely took away from the movie for me.

Hell, Ruffalo and Knightly didn't have to end up together. I wouldn't have even minded an ambiguous ending where she knocks on his door, he opens it and it fades to black. Something that would piss off a lot of people, but I would've liked or least preferred that. No Hollywood kiss is fine.

But just the fact that he was back with her bothered me.

[–] harlequinade17 10 years ago

Same here, they just had such wonderful chemistry and they really treated Dan like an afterthought in the end, just throwing in a scene with his wife when she was given no redeeming qualities for the entirety of the film.

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[–] dmph1208 10 years ago

Yea, his wife was awful.

Just watched the end again. Did she go over there to profess her love or just for the album? Because I would've been fine with an ending where no one ends up with anyone.

She didn't seem too upset when he said he was going home to his family. She had like a very, very tiny split-second of either confusion or surprise (or maybe being upset), but it appeared she was legitimately there for the album and nothing more.

[–] wisdombody7 10 years ago

The ending really irked me too. During that scene, all I could think about was how she threw their marriage/family away and technically would be laying with another man had he not changed his mind. Cheating is one thing. Dumping off your family to start another one makes me cringe and she didn't deserve him.

[–] Eponymous-too 10 years ago

Don't watch the director's earlier movie Once then. It has an even worse ending than this one with both people going back to horrible exes. It may be a theme of his.

My name is Paikea Apirana, and I come from a long line of chiefs stretching all the way back to the Whale Rider."

[–] CaroElisa 9 years ago

Well, yeah, thanks for the spoiler.

[–] dmph1208 9 years ago

I saw Once and really enjoyed it. That was less of a love story, though. But you may wanna edit your post as to not spoil the movie for others.

[–] LTUM 9 years ago

your subject line sums it up perfectly for me.

i wanted keira and ruffalo to get together. i'm still reeling from the ending. i didn't want him back with her either. i so wanted mark and keira to walk off together.

oh well.

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Boy, the Og-Man sure can run a line of sh!t, can't he?

[–] FooserX 9 years ago

Mark's character was WAAAAY older than her. Different points in their life as well.

She shared something special, and grew really close due to their love of music. They help each other move on from the path they were headed.

That's all.

They had a great friendship, and maybe some sexual undertones because they were sharing so much together, as music is so personal and emotional...but they were mature about it.

[–] cesca2 9 years ago

I agree, I never thought they would get together. The album was enough of a happy ending for me. Just because two people work together well doesn't mean they should fall in love. I thought it was refreshing and realistic that they didn't get together. I also really understand why he forgave his wife and went back to her.

The most surprising part of the ending for me was that neither one of them cared at all whether the album was a commercial hit or not. They stayed "pure" so to speak.

[–] nikkiten1979 9 years ago

I liked the movie. I really liked the music, the whole New York vibe felt very authentic to me, BUT I didn't like the ending either... I wanted Knightley and Ruffalo's characters to get together, not necessarily ending up together, but have something more than just feelings and "moments". I think a kiss or something would have completed this chemistry they had... instead he goes back to the wife who dumped him, but I also understand that 18 years is a LONG time and you can't just throw it away. It's a big bump in the road, but I'm glad they overcame... but it was a sad ending for her though...

can't outrun your own shadow

[–] ckimsey-1 9 years ago

I agree. If the singer and the producer had become a couple, it would have been Hollywoody and too unrealistic.

[–] petsitter 9 years ago

I thought the ending was perfect. People make mistakes. It is possible for some people to change, learn and grow. They still loved one another. That was obvious. I'm so glad they gave each other another chance.

[–] herbsmokinfreak 9 years ago

They were both broken. They stated that essentially it was the big business of music that ended it. So, them reconnecting via their grassroots actually makes sense. If you think about it.

[–] lmacdrake 9 years ago

I couldn't agree more. Fantastic build up but that was an awful ending. I totally feel the same way about it just draining my mood at the end of the film. It definitely felt like they were leading up to the two leads getting together. Was it even a romantic movie by the conclusion? I'm not sure honestly. Quite disappointed really. Call it a Hollywood ending but I sure as hell wouldn't get back with someone who cheated on me. The acting was perfect though.

[–] lmacdrake 9 years ago

I couldn't agree more. Fantastic build up but that was an awful ending. I totally feel the same way about it just draining my mood at the end of the film. It definitely felt like they were leading up to the two leads getting together. Was it even a romantic movie by the conclusion? I'm not sure honestly. Quite disappointed really. Call it a Hollywood ending but I sure wouldn't get back with someone who cheated on me. The acting was perfect though.

[–] catbookss 9 years ago

To each their own.

For me, I liked it that while they led up to the two leads being together, which would have been predictable, they instead switched it to the formerly estranged couple finally and unexpectedly getting back together.

Some people do successfully overcome infidelity. I don't think this part of the screenplay was particularly gracefully handled, but I was able to overlook it. I think they were finally able to look past one another's flaws in order to regain the strong connection they'd once had, but somehow lost along the way.

[–] wqxyzcj 8 years ago

Unpredictable doesn't equal good. The guy had no chemistry with his ex wife and they barely had any scenes together. We never actually got to see them get over their differences and connect. It just happened. There was no sparkle. No nothing. The ending felt utterly pointless in thar regard.