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Old 12-04-02, 02:59 AM
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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.
Old 12-04-02, 05:04 AM
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Although it's very brief, Heavenly Creatures starts with a shot of the ending.
Old 12-04-02, 05:31 AM
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Raging Bull
Old 12-04-02, 07:10 AM
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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.
Old 12-04-02, 09:14 AM
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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.
Old 12-04-02, 09:21 AM
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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.
Sure it counts... and there's probably a lot more with the same sort of format, although the only one that pops to mind immediately is The Quiet American.
Old 12-04-02, 09:50 AM
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Peppermint Candy (which did the whole backwards narration thing before Memento even came out)
Irreversible
Old 12-04-02, 10:03 AM
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One of the most famous has to be SUNSET BOULEVARD 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.
Old 12-04-02, 10:05 AM
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Lawrence of Arabia
Old 12-04-02, 10:06 AM
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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
Old 12-04-02, 10:18 AM
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Goodfellas
Old 12-04-02, 11:01 AM
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Citizen Kane

American Beauty gives away the end at the begining, but isn't showing it....
Old 12-04-02, 11:31 AM
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Grave of the Fireflies

A Perfect World (I think?)
Old 12-04-02, 11:43 AM
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Only one of the best movies ever Usual Suspects.
Old 12-04-02, 12:47 PM
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Raging Bull
Lawrence of Arabia
Gandhi
Yup. A LOT of film biographies open this way.

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)
Old 12-04-02, 01:03 PM
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Kubrick's Lolita.
Old 12-04-02, 01:12 PM
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Originally posted by El Gray
A Perfect World (I think?)
You're right.

And I'll add:

Saving Private Ryan
Titanic
Swordfish


And if memory serves me right, Serpico (which was released on DVD this week).
Old 12-04-02, 01:44 PM
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Amadeus
Forrest Gump
Old 12-04-02, 01:49 PM
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Old 12-04-02, 01:50 PM
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Originally posted by neiname
Goodfellas
Doesn't that begin with the middle, if I'm not mistaken?
Old 12-04-02, 02:30 PM
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Lost Highway. Actually, it ended with me giving the theater screen "the finger"...
Old 12-04-02, 03:02 PM
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Originally posted by Cusm
Only one of the best movies ever Usual Suspects.
MAN!!!! I just thought of that one, but you beat me to it. I was racking my brain for one and then it finally came to me. Oh well, looks like I'm out of this race... LOL
Old 12-04-02, 03:11 PM
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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.
Old 12-04-02, 03:36 PM
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Thought of a couple more:

The Hudsucker Proxy
The Jerk
Old 12-04-02, 04:32 PM
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pulp fiction
moulin rouge


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