For this week's Thursday Movie Picks, the weekly series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves, we are asked to pick films that start at the end.
Fight Club (1997)
It follows an insomniac office worker (Edward Norton) as he crosses paths with a man that is who he wants to be and together create a fight club.
Opening: Tyler (Brad Pitt) points a gun at the narrator (Edward Norton).
Pulp Fiction (1994)
It follows two hitmen (John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson) as they try to recover a briefcase from their boss Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames) and everything that happens after.
Opening: Pumpkin (Tim Roth) and Honey Bunny (Amanda Plummer) decide to rob a diner in which the hitmen have breakfast.
The Usual Suspects (1995)
It follows Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey), one of the only two survivors of a massacre at the port of Los Angeles, as he tells the police how he and his partners in crime ended up there.
Opening: a mysterious man burning down San Pedro harbour. Then we learn who he is.
I love all these films!
ReplyDeleteI was so taken aback by the story-telling style of Pulp Fiction that I rather disliked it after I saw it the first time. But then I couldn't get the film off my mind and went back to see it. Everything became more clear the 2nd time. I've seen the film a few more times since. It's a good film--stylistically innovative and entertaining as well.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
Tossing It Out
I'm glad you gave it a second chance. I just love the movie so much, I just can't when people tell me they didn't like it.
DeleteI thought Fight Club was okay when I finally got around to watching it though I was far from loving it.
ReplyDeleteSorry to say I hated your other two choices. Pulp Fiction I never understood all the praise even though it certainly has an impressive cast.
On the other hand I went into The Usual Suspects with such high hopes. It seemed right up my alley, film noir is one of my favorite genres and the advance buzz was strong but I was bored to the point that I fell asleep in the theatre. Perhaps some day I'll try it again to see if my opinion has changed but it won't be any time soon.
I went with three that dealt with death in some way since it seems that it's often a major plot point in films with this structure.
Memento (2000)-Leonard (Guy Pearce) is tracking down the man who raped and murdered his wife. The difficulty however of locating his wife's killer is compounded by the fact that he suffers from a rare, untreatable form of memory loss. Although he can recall details of life before his accident Leonard cannot remember what happened fifteen minutes ago, where he's going, or why. His solution is to tattoo clues onto his body to arrive at the answer. Complex mystery begins at the end and works in fractured time lines throughout.
Sunset Boulevard (1950)-As the film opens failed screenwriter Joe Gillis (William Holden) is found floating face down (but facing the audience) in the swimming pool of former film queen Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson). Harking back we then learn how things came to such a sorry pass. Brilliant, tragic, pitch black Billy Wilder masterpiece of broken dreams and dashed hopes with vivid performances from the entire cast and a dazzling iconic one by Swanson.
Double Indemnity (1944)-Los Angeles insurance agent Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray) stumbles into his office late one night with a bullet in his shoulder falls into his office chair and starts recording his confession for his boss and friend Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson). We then flashback to how his foolish involvement with the amoral, heartless Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck) lead to duplicity, deception and murder. Another Billy Wilder noir classic.
I'm sorry Pulp Fiction and The Usual Suspects didn't work for you as they are some of my all time favourites.
DeleteI haven't seen your third pick but I loved the other two, especially Memento which I've been meaning to rewatch.
All 3 are great! I almost went with Pulp Fiction. Fight Club is a good movie but one I don’t feel like seeing any time soon. The Usual Suspects is excellent
ReplyDeleteI am surprised so few people chose Pulp Fiction this week
ReplyDeleteSo was I!
DeleteI love Fight Club and Pulp Fiction. Some of my all-time favorite films.
ReplyDeleteThe Usual suspects has been on my list for ages. Really need to check it out! :-)
I hope you'll enjoy it when you finally watch it :)
DeleteAll good and very good picks if I say so myself. I especially have a soft spot for Fight Club here, because damn, that Brad Pitt legendary look! Amazing!
ReplyDeleteFight Club Brad Pitt is everything tbh 😅
DeleteI have totally forgotten how Fight Club and The Usual Suspects opened.
ReplyDelete