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Beginning with the end
What movies have an opening scene that is actually towards the end of the movie? Fight Club, Pulp Fiction and Memento spring to mind, and Go gains mention (its opening scene is about four-fifths into the movie). Or where the end scene is similar to the opening scene?
I'm starting to think of other examples, but I'll leave it open for others. |
Although it's very brief, Heavenly Creatures starts with a shot of the ending.
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Raging Bull
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The Devil’s Backbone alludes to its ending in the narrative and begins with revelations as to what has already happened. Sorry, I just love this movie and this was a tailor made excuse to mention it.
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I'm not exactly sure this counts, but...
Frailty The son is sitting in the FBI agent's office before driving out to the garden. Most of the film is told as a narrative flashback as the boy recounts growing up with his dad and brother. At the end of his story, the film picks up with the son and the agent in present day. |
Originally posted by davejt1 I'm not exactly sure this counts, but... Frailty The son is sitting in the FBI agent's office before driving out to the garden. Most of the film is told as a narrative flashback as the boy recounts growing up with his dad and brother. At the end of his story, the film picks up with the son and the agent in present day. |
Peppermint Candy (which did the whole backwards narration thing before Memento even came out)
Irreversible |
One of the most famous has to be <b>SUNSET BOULEVARD</b> which has that stunning shot of the corpse in the swimming pool a few seconds into the film, then flashes back for all but the last few minutes of the movie.
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Lawrence of Arabia
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Rashomon - in a way, since the opening discussion is about the trial and events that happened beforehand
In Praise of Love - granted, the "end" takes up the majority of film time, but there's still a split One Man's Ceiling - small Chicago independent that opens with one shot, recounts the four weeks prior to that, and then continues on its merry way Betrayal - reverse chronological film from 1983 starring Jeremy Irons and Ben Kingsley |
Goodfellas
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Citizen Kane
American Beauty gives away the end at the begining, but isn't showing it.... |
Grave of the Fireflies
A Perfect World (I think?) |
Only one of the best movies ever Usual Suspects.
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Raging Bull Lawrence of Arabia Gandhi A couple off the top of my head. I'll think of more later: CASINO NO WAY OUT (1987) 12 MONKEYS A NIGHT IN THE LIFE OF JIMMY REARDON THE GREEN MILE SID AND NANCY ¡VAMOS A MATAR, COMPAñEROS! (This one is my most favorite for some reason) |
Kubrick's Lolita.
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Originally posted by El Gray A Perfect World (I think?) And I'll add: Saving Private Ryan Titanic Swordfish And if memory serves me right, Serpico (which was released on DVD this week). |
Amadeus
Forrest Gump |
Vagabond
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Originally posted by neiname Goodfellas |
Lost Highway. Actually, it ended with me giving the theater screen "the finger"...
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Originally posted by Cusm Only one of the best movies ever Usual Suspects. |
Not sure if this one counts
Terminator: It starts in the future, then they go back through the time port-hole to try to change the future. |
Thought of a couple more:
The Hudsucker Proxy The Jerk |
pulp fiction
moulin rouge |
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