I'm Thinking of Ending Things Review + Analysis - YMS

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0:00 review
2:28 spoiler analysis
22:20 review (continued) Telegram: t.me/YMSTelegram

[@YMS]

Big special thanks to the composer Jay Wadley and the PR team for the film for providing me with the soundtrack after I requested to use in my review. If you want to see the soundtrack officially released on major platforms, please tweet at Netflix and hopefully they'll release it! twitter.com/2gay2lift/status/1305042535086088193

[@mkwke215]

I think you missed the part where you say that the girl changes her accent and has a cigarette. But she was playing the main character from the movie that they were talking about. A Woman under the Influence. Its not just her accent. She's portraying the main character of the film.

[@samuelsolomon7330]

Yo, sorry to ask, but how far are you on that lion king review? Edit: never mind, didn't watch the end until now.

[@ppshobrez]

Why must you hurt my ears within the first 0.32 microseconds

[@pleasehello]

@@mkwke215 I think she's meant to be portraying Pauline Kael, the film critic whose review she is quoting from. Earlier we see a book in Jake's bedroom that is a compilation of Pauline Kael writings.

[@visualsforyou7120]

use *it* in my review*

[@SeTHeMouse]

Jake hated himself so much that he couldn't even tell his own story through his perspective.

[@Advent3546]

Oh that is just crushing

[@TXiCN]

Damn...

[@b3nl555]

I like to think that the janitor was trying to have a happy imagination but the thoughts of suicide kept bothering him until his imagination just broke down.

[@nimrodyhuj1953]

Yeah i can relate

[@conjointoates]

damn, that reminds me of someone...

[@stanko00001]

Also, the Dad never looks at Jake. ... they LITERALLY never see eye to eye.

[@Cosmic_Cretin]

Yeah he looks at the girlfriend when talking to Jake, another hint early on that they are the same person.

[@ferdinandomarte]

Also noticed that Jake's girlfriend tears up when his dad hugs her.

[@thatlemonadeguy6742]

It goes back to the idea that the father stated earlier; that he has no idea how you're supposed to know how someone feels in the painting if you can't see them.

[@fritzjackson4336]

That is in reference to height not lining up, but ok.

[@dopdrop8998]

@@fritzjackson4336 That’s not what “seeing eye to eye” means.

[@JacksToWin]

The choice of ice cream as a such an important symbol seemed weird to me at first but I think the reasoning behind it is to show that he's been having this same fantasy for months. At first going out for ice cream was a fun way to spend a summer afternoon but as the months went on and the weather got worse the same fantasy feels sad and uncomfortable. It's clear by the end of the film that the fantasy no longer does its job of keeping away the suicidal thoughts and the out of place ice cream trip shows that.

[@perpetualhaze2226]

This might be really out of left field and wrong but i viewed the ice cream as a symbol for the “innocence of childhood” you know like getting your first kiss,going out for ice cream with dad and what not.Then when it’s jake in the car with the female lead and he’s like it’s TOO sweet i viewed it as him trying to rekindle his lost innocence/hope and jake taking it as an artificial way of trying to achieve happiness when in reality he barely ate it which I think symbolizes him trying to regain happiness but in an artificial sense and not even trying it out(ex.not asking out the girl he likes and such).

[@odmblogs]

Adding unto that as time passes and he gets more depressed, the passage of time as a summer breeze at first could turn into a painful blizzard, as well as having it snow forcing them to be enclosed in the car or in the house is like him being trapped in these negative thoughts as he gets more depressed

[@rsfilmdiscussionchannel4168]

That's indicated by the amount of thrown away and full ice creams in that dumpster as well.

[@qkljhewgfhergk]

Plus that ice cream just looks so disgusting. Perfect for a rapidly deteriorating fantasy.

[@jadeandjesse5908]

Make of it what you will but the young woman describes Jake's mother as "cold but sweet" when they're talking about the clown queen from the ice cream commercial. I feel the cold already is just a big facet of this film to portray loneliness and isolation and death, but the idea of something being cold but sweet seems significant in this story. Maybe Jake himself is cold but sweet because he struggles so much to relate to others? Maybe the thought of death is cold but sweet because it's scary and permanent but also an end to the pain he knows now.

[@hyenaguy2602]

I can't believe Adam would like this film when it has snow and a pig walking, proving it is indeed a ripoff of Kimba the White Lion.

[@Freddie_Dunning-Kruger_Jr.]

😂🤣😂🤣

[@samanthabest8926]

Hmm...suspicious!

[@theyoutubeanalyst3731]

You should do a video showing the scenes in Split screen with Kimba's soundtrack in the back, you know, to expose the blatant plagiarism.

[@Spanishdog17]

Even by the trailers you can tell it's a Kimba rip off! Notice how the sky's in the background for many scenes (just like in Kimba) COINCIDENCE?! I THINK NOT!!

[@kazuo398]

He loves Kimba ripoffs tho. Lion King is one of his favorite films

[@BetterThenNormal]

The part that haunts me the most is how the father couldn't understand the emotion of looking at a landscape if there is no person in the image to show that feeling. And the movie ends with a snow covered car with the janitor presumably inside where we can't see him or how he felt. Seems like a comment on how so many people must have seen the janitor but had no idea the deep depressed feelings and thoughts within him.

[@gasaiyuno6021]

No shit. No one knows what some random person is feeling or what they're going through.

[@curtisdeese7713]

that's a really good and haunting point

[@FritzMonorail]

@@gasaiyuno6021 okay

[@Vibrisan]

@@gasaiyuno6021 That's the point he was making you illiterate baffoon

[@freddyratly]

@@Vibrisan calling someone an illiterate baffoon is rude but it also made me laugh a lot

[@lutek1]

I notice he so often interupts her talking. He already knows what she is saying anyway since they are his own thoughts.

[@pastadash4684]

My own thoughts do that all of the time. Once i realized the truth of the film I thought that was such an incredibly smart structural decision

[@all_consuming_images]

And sometimes they answer each other before asking a question

[@kylecarson4878]

i also saw this as him blocking out the suicidal thoughts, e.g where he cuts her off when she is midway through saying “i’m thinking of ending things”. i also remember thinking that the interruptions became progressively more abrupt, whether it be via dialogue or the change of scenes. i interpreted this as him becoming more frustrated at these thoughts intruding on his fantasy

[@fibbles6825]

Another interesting note to note: The constant whistling and interruption of the winter's wind is a manifestation of Jake's tinnitus, which we're told about through the mother. At least that was my interpretation of it ;p

[@angelspartanessheavenden2674]

People don't realize how things like that, experienced relentlessly over years, can lend to thoughts and feelings like those explored in this film. This deserves more likes! Nice catch

[@brina5064]

excellent catch!

[@alexbbry]

Oh so maybe that is why i thought like halfway through the film, when they leave the house, the wind and noise sounded like someone whispering, like a faint ghostly whisper. Good catch, i didn't think of that.

[@johndoe-fz3sz]

i have to use a loud fan even to sleep to ignore the ringing.

[@stevenluoma1268]

That is amazing and makes so much sense why the wind noise was there the whole time. Like there's no reason to have it be so much and so in the foreground unless you want it there.

[@Wordofboredom]

Whats the saddest part for me is that jake is soo well read and seems smart but since he has no one to interact with and share his love of art and movies with, he himself starts to believe he's somehow pretentious for liking this stuff and that's evident with the girl react to his interests sometimes. Like he's even starting to hate the things he love and can't even convince his own brain otherwise. I myself for some time thought like just constantly consuming great art can be a reason to live but apparently not.

[@brycepeddicord6763]

Damn dude. What a thought

[@BraveMoji]

I can relate to that a lot

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

It goes to show that even for people gifted with a rich imagination (often because of trauma) imaginary friends/lovers aren't a replacement for the real thing.

[@twigwigsoso]

oh reading that was... oh no

[@jimmythe-gent]

@@twigwigsosolololl

[@jodrabls4817]

I think the last image in the film is about what Jake's father said about not feeling anything about a picture if you can't see another person feeling anything on the canvas. In the last shot, you know there is an old man sitting dead and full of regret inside the snow-covered car. You feel sad, even though you can't see a sad person there.

[@jadeandjesse5908]

The entire movie is almost this painting analogy. Going in blind and not knowing the framework, an audience member doesn't even know who the main character is until the end of the movie.

[@srijanagrawal255]

But he left the car didn't he? There's a shot of him, just before the speech, walking down the corridor with no blood and no pig, which means he DID leave the car

[@a.c.7573]

@@srijanagrawal255 Him 'leaving' the car was happening in his head. There was no blood because he was dying from hypothermia.

[@someguystudios9174]

When you say that the female lead having multiple professions is the janitor testing different scenarios, I think that it has more to do with her being all the things the janitor never became. We can see this through the mom character talking about how much of a great artist Jake is and how his childhood paintings are the same paintings the the female lead made. This is also what I think the nobel prize represents. He won a Nobel Prize because in his fantasy he became all the things the female lead was.

[@bernardolima3788]

I feel like the young woman is everything Jake aimed to be but wasn't able to, so he created her as an idealized version of all his failed ambitions as a way to seek validation and understanding from another person, since his parents were never able to give him that, but his depression and insecurities go so deep that they've taken over the fantasy to the point that even the lead female, who was supposed to comfort him, becomes another sign of all his insecurities and essentially the cold breeze that leads him to kill himself. Her clothes change from bright red to blue, the same color as the one that signalizes Jake's death, maybe to convey she's the one that "kills" Jake.

[@Schrodinger_]

He also had those physics textbooks in his room. I think he was a failed academic.

[@darapower9033]

@@Schrodinger_ apparently in the book he dropped out of college to take care of his sick parents

[@Brandon-rb4sm]

I thought that too, he obviously knew a lot about the different subjects, and that would tie into to what his mother said about him being untalented but a very hard worker.

[@BigWorldx]

this is something that really confused me when i watched the movie, especially that part when the woman looks at a picture of a kid and jake says it's him but she says it's her.

[@ailsapeacock9999]

The book Ice by Anna Kavan that’s in his bedroom is a hallucinatory novel in which the protagonist chases his dream girl around the world as an icy apocalypse descends. At the end they die of hypothermia while driving into a blizzard.

[@PotatoCandyDarling]

It’s a good read

[@missalex2718]

Damn, nice catch.

[@mulder006]

Spoilers! :p

[@paulelroy6650]

cheers for ruining the book

[@jimmythe-gent]

Sounds depressing..

[@brondermody3409]

When depression hits you hard enough you begin to see yourself as a stranger - Jake can no longer relate to himself in any sense and see's himself from an outsider perspective, where it is easier to constantly criticise and more difficult to see the subtle reasons and good things he does. A sort of disassociation in a way.

[@creeperbythedozen1898]

This is true-- I feel that this stood out the most during the 'baby its cold outside" scene and he sees himself watching himself being intimate and gets upset. Like even though it was his own fantasy he feels ashamed or guilty to experience it. Like he doesn't even deserve to do just that. Thats a very relatable feeling or reaction to have while being depressed thinking of how things can be better but like your fantasies of those things aren't even spaces that you can own.

[@MsMegadude64]

Hello, Adum! I was one of the audience member extras in the ending sequence. Jesse Plemmons' speech and "musical number" was a mesmerizing and surreal performance to see in real life and I am glad it translated so well to the screen. The fact this film resonates so much with you inspires me to continue doing what I do for a living. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and analysis on this movie. Glad I was able to be just a small part in what made this film so foreboding yet so mesmerizing.

[@fayeleer9868]

💚

[@noctaroh5121]

I can only imagine what that must have been like in person, what an awesome experience

[@MsMegadude64]

@@noctaroh5121 Mostly trying to stay still while watching take after take of Jesse Plemmons lip-syncing to a pre recorded song.

[@MsMegadude64]

Here's proof: instagram.com/p/CEuLN3alR7k/?igshid=wlzy2at0702u

[@ringodeathstarr6070]

Did you get a chance to interact with any of the main actors/director? How was the mood on the set? The scene wasn’t a fun one, was the atmosphere the same as well?

[@drakejohnson2607]

The janitor never leaved his truck at the end. Throughout the final scene with Jake onstage, if you listen closely you can clearly hear the cold wind of the blizzard roaring in the background. Even the Netflix subtitles take note of this, describing it as "wind crackling".

[@drakejohnson2607]

@Luigi Nastro Damn dude, you really got me, how will I ever recover 🙄

[@lorikeet6782]

@João Nabo I don’t understand that logic. Isn’t it important to correct people who are still learning English by pointing out their errors?

[@drakejohnson2607]

@João Nabo I appreciate your defense but English is my only language & this was a simple typo that I honestly don’t feel like correcting because you all know exactly what I was trying to say anyway. It happens to everyone. 🤷‍♂️

[@gasaiyuno6021]

Yeah you could tell that's what it was, that he died. What with the last thing being a fade out and into the snow-covered car that he was last seen in.

[@homosexualitymydearwatson4109]

João Nabo and what’s wrong with correcting it for people to learn? He wasn’t being a jerk about it

[@fourteenthnumber84]

Other interesting thing was that when Jake and Jesse talks about the song Baby It's Cold Outside, it's like Jake holding onto Jesse and through Jesse's commentary on how the song is creepy, he's again feeling guilty and seeing himself as a creep. Like he's somewhat educated to know these issues and be self-aware which only resulted in self-hatred other than anything fruitful he yearned

[@nem6952]

This is so fucking relatable to me, I miss being a piece of shit without being aware of it and hating myself for it. This movie is truly incredible.

[@unknown6390]

@@nem6952 Lol why aren't you glad that you know better?

[@mitroitskii]

​@@nem6952 It can be hard to live up to your own standards and standards of others. And that's totally okay. Even if you've done crappy stuff, why not try something else next time?

[@futuristicgirl14]

@@nem6952ew why

[@sinnsage]

can i ask where you got the name jesse from?

[@plentyofbagels]

I interpreted everyone wearing old-age makeup in the ending to show that the janitor still feels like the same person inside, and he still sees the people in his life as he remembered from when they were young. The wrinkles and signs of aging seem fake, they don't match his internal images.

[@Y-two-K]

That would make sense with the repeated lines throughout the film about seeing kids from school years later.

[@crpalstuck2966]

INB4 Adam makes a five part analysis series on this film that never fully completes

[@grandarkfang_1482]

Nah, he ain't Mauler, come on now.

[@markamante680]

I'll be watching the 40 minute highlights.

[@dakotajensen181]

@Tickmayham42 I clapped like a seal trying to score a sardine at sea world when I heard he was finally going to do part 6!!!!

[@dariomendoza6270]

And it's another Charlie Kaufman venture.

[@frankmerker630]

Comparing mauler and YMS is sickening

[@KikeRorschach]

A thing I noticed and loved is that the car scenes have no direction in movement, they only move foward in a straight line, even after leaving the farm there's no indication that they are going back, since the road was never clear enough for us to now where they were. The only scenes where the direction changes is when they arrive to the farm, the ice cream shop and the school, if they were moving back, why did the school or especially the ice cream shop never appeared before? This relates to the idea that times moves only foward, in this case so does space.

[@aldenwashington3285]

There’s so much to take note of with his films. I really love that.

[@jeremydavis6302]

To me, it looked like the car wasn’t even moving at all. After all, the Janitor wasn’t going anywhere

[@jadeandjesse5908]

@@jeremydavis6302 "people like to think of themselves as points moving through time. But I think it's the opposite. We are stationary and time passes through us. Blowing like a cold wind"

[@amoghthorave3385]

Yeah he doesn't even change gears.

[@cameronm4538]

One small detail I’d like to add is that the film is in a 4:3 aspect ratio. 4:3 was the default aspect of television shows for most of TV history, and not only does the tight frame make for a heightened sense of anxiety, I think it ties into the themes of The Janitor watching his own story, as well as how the media we consume affects our versions of ourselves. We create our own realities based on the realities we perceive. In fact, in a sense, I think that is what the greater metaphor of the film is... We are all The Janitor. We are all these sad, lonely creatures experiencing the harsh, cold realities of time. We are all getting older. We will all die alone in some sense. And we will kill our memories and our potential realities. We will all have our regrets and humiliations and misfortunes. And in our moments of bad luck, we are all the pig infested with maggots. Think upon many moments: The girl looks right into the camera at points. The narration is directed at us. The nearly illegible opening titles. The early credits “Directed by Robert Zemeckis.” The film is very clearly making a point that it is a film. It’s drawing attention to its form. Why? Because it wants you to think about how the story relates to you. If there was someone watching your life right now, what would your story be? Would you, the narrator, look the viewer in the eye? Would you be proud of how it unfolds and ends?

[@AshleyJubilee]

This is my favourite film and I’m still learning new things about it.

[@ascii_9727]

Man, this film feels like a cautionary tale tailored specifically for people like me. Holy crap the way the janitor imagined and changed the narrative hits a bit too close home

[@tarvitsenapua]

I can't sleep until I have crafted and tweaked some scenario in my head where I have someone who loves me, even though I know no one ever will. Wake up, rinse and repeat for months on end until it gets really bad again and I can't sleep at all because of the intrusive thoughts. I don't know if I can watch this film because of how much I know it will resonate with me.

[@michelsand5399]

@@tarvitsenapua meh, it resonated with me too but you get over it after a while

[@erik_arman]

@@tarvitsenapua Don’t say noone will ever love you! I’m willing to bet you have many people in your life who love you, even if you don’t have a romantic partner. Don’t mistake romantic love for the only type of relationship that matters.

[@mrtewash8286]

I feel the same

[@erik_arman]

@@porc1429 Please don’t kill yourself. There are a lot of people who love you and it’s never too late to find love.

[@casualromp]

As someone who is a janitor, who has studied in the arts and suffers from depression, this film struke all the chords. After only one watch, it wasn’t until the end of the movie that I think I truly understood it. This is one of the rarest films out there that I find very relatable and that’s what saddens me. Im only 28 and I felt all the pain that this poor old soul was going through. From what I remember, back in high school we almost did Oklahoma my senior year. And as much as I would’ve loved to be Curly, I know deep down that I was Judd. I’m sitting in my car right now, in a parking lot, writing this comment while scrolling through my whole life in my head. Not to sound poetic or anything, but at this very moment, I don’t know what to do next. There’s a lump in my throat and I’m tearing up and I just feel so small. I’m sorry I got too personal. I really only came here to say I agree with everything Adam said. Overall, I just wanted to point out this was a perfect analysis of the movie and if you’re on the fence about it, I highly recommend it.

[@timblom7364]

No need to apolagize, this stuff hurts and watching this movie and video, was a bit of a struggle. But it's worth it, the last thing we want is to regret our life, so let's try to live our best one, friend

[@MrDonut-mb6ms]

success comes in many forms, sometimes we make decisions we regret later, but that doesn’t mean we’re failures!! it just means we have to redefine what success means to us. there’s no one path to happiness. wish you luck :)

[@MadMike1]

I 'm around your age and was a janitor at one point in my life too. I also worked at a call centre for a while which is even worse. At 27, I tried to do something really stupid because I was fed up with it all. I still remember standing by a waterfall bawling my eyes out and feeling like my life was a complete failure. To this day, I don't know what stopped me from going through with it. At 28 I decided to quit my job and go back to school to study film. Just graduated this June, and while my industry is reeling because of this pandemic, I couldn't be more optimistic about how my life is going. I finally feel like I have a sense of direction. Only took me 30 years, but it's finally there. I'm just trying to say I've been there. Success and happiness doesn't have an age limit. Whatever it is you want to do in your life, you can do it!

[@casualromp]

Thank you very much you guys. It sincerely means the world to me that there are people like you who care. Be safe everyone.

[@lawcane]

Thank you Mark

[@TylerRJenkinsMusic]

I also like how they show Jake’s mother’s death, but never the dad’s. It’s shown his relationship with his dad is worse than with his mother. Maybe Jake wasn’t there when his dad died in real life, or maybe he abandoned his dad once his mom passed.

[@doar5974]

I think it’s worth noting that in the scene you’re referencing, the father at this point is the younger version of himself. The lead girl seems standoffish, even afraid of him as she forces a smile and even cowers from him in a really awkward scene. Clearly this younger version of his father invokes fear within Jake, for what reason though I’m not really sure.

[@worm9862]

@@doar5974 Well throughout the movie, he's talking about sports, he's very one sided about art, and he's strangely invasive and obviously in that scene you mentioned he's weirdly sexual. It's likely he was just embarrassed by his Dad throughout his life, considering he loved art and his father was not well versed in it at all, and that he initially partially blamed his father for how he was (although he obviously went on to do more self-loathing and didn't blame his parents, even the lead girl says "maybe this will explain why he is how he is" when they are driving to his parents house, then later in the film she tells Jake something like "No, your parents were wonderful" signifying that maybe Jake has come to the conclusion that his parents aren't to blame for his life). Also I should say it's possible that he blames his Dad for his mistakes in his love life, because of how blunt and forward his father was.

[@blaisetelfer8499]

I don't think he abandoned his father; he lived in that house his entire life. Notice how when we see him spoon-feeding his elderly mother, she says "I keep telling him it's time to leave". She says this as if adding to the main woman's insistence on leaving for the night, but she's clearly talking about all the times she told adult Jake it was time for him to move out and live on his own, which he could never do (until they died and he was left alone by default).

[@Evanderj]

Its nice reading a lot of great insights here. I got the impression that his father died first. His mother was there to tend to the dad through his dementia, but Jake was left all alone with his dying mother to take care of. Demonstrated by his saying: 'It feels like no one is ever there to see the good things you do.' Of course, his mother's passing affected him much more deeply. She was proud of his intelligence and knew about his interests.

[@alara4006]

I really suggest everyone reads the book. The book is also based on the concept that you have to reread it (or at least certain parts) to understand the story completely, and because in novels everything is written out it's easier to understand. If you used to read a lot when you were younger and now feel like you've fallen out of that habit this is the perfect novel to bring back your love of reading. (Minor spoilers for the book) Literally on the first page it says "Maybe the end was written from the beginning." I'm so happy the author got Kaufman to adapt this.

[@JohnDoe-xf8ew]

I personally enjoyed the book a lot more, I think because the girlfriend was written as a more established character it was so much easier to identify with her and her eventual (horrible) fate. Not to say the film isn't great, just a very different experience with very different goals.

[@alara4006]

John Doe agree I really loved the book too. I was a bit weirded out about how bland and more awkward girlfriend was in the movie but I realized that Kaufman was really trying to hammer home how she’s not real and just in the janitors head. But I don’t want to give the movie a bad review just because it’s not similar to the book because i know now that movie adaptations always have to change things.

[@esdvre]

i loved the book too! i really wish they would’ve gone with the book ending, but it would’ve been hard to transform the random manuscripts into the film version :/ i loved how it switched between paragraphs towards the end w The Main Protagonist’s POV to the janitors POV. the ending was chefs kiss. the film would be amazing if it weren’t tired to the book, otherwise keeping the book and the film separate is the better choice lol.

[@alara4006]

@@esdvre books ending really blew me away too. my favourite part has to be rereading all of the italic conversations and realizing the true meaning of them after the twist. (spoilers) At one point the guys in the conversation said: "he used to be a professor yeah?" "yeah, didn't do him much good though, he just ended up here" When you first read that you assume the "here" refers to his death but going back (knowing that the janitor is the prof) you realize they were referring to his career. It's such a small detail but it literally made my jaw drop.

[@wordswarsandsymphonies]

YES!!! i literally got chills and sat up straight when i got to “what are you waiting for? what are you waiting for?” a really incredible book

[@erisdarko4184]

This is the first Charlie Kaufmann film I've ever seen and after finishing it I'm both mad and depressed that no one will ever fucking give this man money to make his masterpieces. No lets just have the fifth remake of Black Christmas instead thats so much better/s

[@pondelia5607]

My first was Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and it became my all-time favorite movie the moment I finished it and it hasn't changed since (2004). If you want another to watch I ABSOLUTELY recommend it

[@skaetur1]

Please watch Adaptation. Easily Kaufman’s best. Maybe Nick Cage’s best performance. Meryl Streep is flawless.

[@jadeandjesse5908]

@@jemmilam4388 you know kaufman's career has been practically on hold since 2008 because they wouldn't give him money. Netflix is the first and only big company to show Kaufman some love in over a decade, and they'll let anyone make anything.

[@mohamadmahmoud6926]

@@skaetur1 eternal is much better honestly. It’s his career highlight imo

[@ninjablack4347]

most people watch what you shove in their face. How many people are gonna watch Mortal Kombat? A lot!

[@marshallisdrawing4871]

When we see Jake shelf we can see a book by Pauline Kael, a very influential film critic. Later in the film when Jake is speaking with the female lead in the car on the way home, Jake brings up a movie and she lights up a cigarette and goes off on how she wasn't amused by it. I bet you anything that rant was a Pauline Kael essay/review. I think the janitor was so plagued by loneliness that he would read about movies and imagine having discussions between him and an imaginary loved one.

[@asdfjklow]

The rant is verbatim Pauline Kael from a section of her review of "A woman under the influence" letterboxd.com/notpaulinekael/film/a-woman-under-the-influence/1/

[@Advent3546]

@@asdfjklow Funny enough I read that that particular review was not in that book on Jake's shelf

[@nabil731]

@@asdfjklow wait, it's in letterboxd??

[@asdfjklow]

@@nabil731 Yeah someone posted it in full on letterboxed. The original review is still viewable on the New Yorker's website, but it's behind a paywall.

[@papasscooperiaworker3649]

@@Advent3546 maybe he read it somewhere else lol

[@Xer0x360]

In the novel, Jake does kill himself. This adaption changed a few things but your initial analysis of the fade to blue meaning he died is accurate.

[@nota_2526]

Kylebaked yeah but this isn’t the book, he kills himself in a completely different way in the book.

[@ossertthewozzard]

Adum is aware of that, he mentioned it on Sardonicast, episode 69

[@Raven3557]

My opinion is that book and movie are two different mediums, so not following exactly the original source material isn't an obligation as long as it is well made

[@gasaiyuno6021]

@@nota_2526 The point is that he killed himself either way and didn't survive. Since this is a faithful adaptation. Should have been very obvious what his point was.

[@riftovert2leftoversandstuf707]

@@ossertthewozzard nice

[@ChefPomme]

The song that Jake sings at the end of the movie, "Lonely room" isn't in the film adaptation of Oklahoma. It was taken out and only remains in the original Broadway plays. Fitting that he has spent the whole movie showing how second hand experiences from television and movies have warped his mind, and his final act was likely inspired by his own personal experience of seeing Oklahoma live. It kinda of references the point that the woman made, about how "We are stationary and time moves through us, leaving us dead and hollow. " Television and movies are frozen in time, they aren't happening anywhere but right in that moment on your TV screen. They don't change because you viewed it, it's just a copy of an experience. They move through you completely unchanged.

[@SonOfaBieber]

I don’t think the janitor was successfull in killing himself. I think the sound of the car at the end is supposed to be the janitor trying to start the car back up again (you can hear he gives it multiple tries). This would mean that he never actually left the car as it is covered in snow when he tries to start it (this is supported by the fact that you can hear the sounds of snow hitting the windshield when he’s giving his speech). My theory is that the janitor has this fantasy all the time with different women he’s too shy to approach. This is why the woman’s backstory keep changing, because we’re seeing different iterations of the many fantasies he has. This is also why the trashcan is filled with paper cups, he’s been through this scenario many times. In my opinion this is an even bleaker interpretation than that he killed himself that night. This would mean that the janitor goes through this thing every day, never actually managing to kill himself, just to every morning start the car back up again.

[@SpeedyOrtiz700]

I don't want to spoil anyone's interpretations, but if you read the book, which is very short, you will know the answer for sure.

[@SonOfaBieber]

@@SpeedyOrtiz700 Kaufman changed the ending though, so he may have intended a different interpretation thsn the book.

[@John-cd4cu]

The sound at the end is a snow plow. I do like that interpretation though.

[@El_Andru]

It be awesome and thats a good interpretation, but who turns a car on while covered in snow? We saw Jake cleaning just some snow before starting the car, here its entirely covered. Also, the truck is turned off, hypothermia would have gotten him in the minimum of 5 or 6 hours he was until next morning.

[@rinshiwell]

I'm sorry, but the closed captions on Netflix disagree. They describe the engine sounds as [vehicle approaching], so it's not the janitor

[@Leon-169]

“I’m Thinking of Ending Things Review + Analysis - YMS” You had us in the first half, not gonna lie

[@beepboop8457]

I was so scared :'( but even if he does I'll understand

[@irrelevanterr]

? I don't get it

[@redbeard3946]

@@irrelevanterr Adam is going to dip, we are all going to dip friend.

[@redbeard3946]

@@irrelevanterr we're literally RACING TOWARDS DIP

[@frankmerker630]

This meme format needs to be buried. It is already dead

[@phoenixz7011]

The title of this video should be "The Genus of I'm Thinking of Ending Things"

[@JJ44595]

If that was the case it wouldn’t have come out for another 10 years

[@krusher181]

GENUS

[@elderberryva9282]

there iS NO GENIUS EDITION *flips the fuck out*

[@Schrodinger_]

@@elderberryva9282 It's _edition_ *flips the fuck out*

[@elderberryva9282]

Schrodinger >:)

[@krabkrusttv2930]

Seriously one the saddest movies I've seen. I didn't get what was happening in the movie at first, but damn once I realized it on second viewing that everything in the film are the tormented thoughts of someone filled with regret, I literally burst out crying.

[@Dradeeus]

When I used to have a really boring job, I used to zone out and picture myself in these fantasy situations, 'directing' them as I wanted. I also had the same regrets about not being able to accomplish all my goals before it was too late. This movie was relatable to an eerie degree.

[@blankblank7101]

The ending of this movie was heartbreaking, even when I wasn't entirely sure what was going on.

[@FootyCrazyM8]

imagine if charlie kaufman did a silent hill movie

[@zekumi]

Oh my gosh, that would be amazing.

[@zyala]

That was my first thought when watching this! It was like very shattered memories, except without Sam barlow’s shite awful story and writing!

[@0Luxis0]

I would pay for this. I would pay real money for a horror movie to be made by him.

[@davidbjacobs3598]

I'd pay money to see a movie of Charlie Kaufman trying to make a Silent Hill movie.

[@Dethmaster64]

I’d watch Being James Sunderland

[@candysmack]

Ugh. This analysis is more devastating than watching the movie. i feel like I already have some of the same thoughts at the janitor (not suicidal but regret) and i'm only in my 30s. I feel like this movie is a personal wake-up call.

[@El_Andru]

For a lot of us. I think this movie resonates more with the ones that come closest to acknowledging their mortality or that the span in life HAS to end.

[@SAMSARALIVEEEEEE]

The more you age the less happy you get. Especially if you’re lonely

[@societycrumbles]

Now that I watched few explanations of this film, it makes me realize how relatable it is. Being sad, self-hating and insecure, but dreaming of being something bigger, and regretting you never got there. Ever since I was a kid ,I've spent most time im my head, dreaming up scenarios that would never happen, because reality sucked. Even though I'm "only" 27, I also feel I wasted my life, because I never did anything or became successful at things I actually enjoyed doing. I make up things in my head and daydream a lot, because these are the things I will never experience. Even meeting someone I like, I go through million good and bad scenarios of how out relationship might turn out, would it be happy or deteriorate and leave me sad? Before I got properly medicated I was also severely suicidal cause I felt like my life was miserable because of all these things I never got to do and constantly re-playing my mistakes. I'm glad I got to see these analysis videos, it makes me appreciate the film so much more.

[@cushpnk]

Man on or off meds I'm gonna fuckin kill myself one day

[@mitroitskii]

I totally get that. Sometimes I feel guilty that I spend more time daydreaming than doing the things I want. But that is the mind one has to live with, and even with that mind there are small things and small successes that I can enjoy. I hope you can too!

[@billusher2265]

read the power of now

[@DendyJungle]

It do be like that

[@cats4lyfe3]

Same here... We are 29 now and I'm gonna be 30 in august. Never hated myself more. So dissapointed ya kno?

[@heeeyyy2947]

ENDING THINGS is honestly like a more focused SYNECDOCHE - still tackles big ideas but with a more controlled scope - shows Charlie Kaufman’s really grown as a director

[@Saztog1425]

Speaking of Synecdoche in an even slightly diminutive tone? HERESY!

[@cons4943]

It's not more focused, it's more narrowly focused. Like focusing on a sheet of paper in front of you, rather than a mountain. Synecdoche is about fear of death, this is about being pulled and drawn towards it

[@heeeyyy2947]

that’s what I meant, Con S(emantics)

[@zurkon6705]

Real question is when is adum finishing the Synecdoche review. Still waiting on part 6.

[@breakfast.]

This is an adaptation of a book though...

[@chocolatewolf3914]

The film title alone showing up on the KZbin notification scared me into thinking you were stopping your reviews

[@LuizfelipeMSC]

YES.

[@70nathan71]

me too lmao

[@coreyjacobi6999]

Same lmao

[@vitorgrassmann1118]

Me too

[@CujoBD.]

"Adum & Friends Livestream Adum's Suicide"

[@the_harvan]

On first viewing I thought the twist would be that she was having a dementia episode in her old age, hence the mismatched timeline and the conflicting stories, she was confusing details from several relationships and experiences she'd had. The janitor was an aged Jake concerned for his wife's deteriorating health. I think it kind of ruined the actual plot for me, I was so invested lol.

[@stephhhineee362]

Sameee

[@NewOrderOfAlexandria]

The farm house part of the film really horrified me with the whole dementia themes I think old Jake is losing his mind throughout the film trying to piece together what happened in his life perhaps even forgetting who he is and remembering things that don't make sense to him through the eyes of this uncomfortable girl. As insensitive as it sounds a psychological thriller exploring dementia would be really sad/scary

[@NewOrderOfAlexandria]

@@jemmilam4388 Oh ok, sounds good is it on Netflix?

[@NewOrderOfAlexandria]

@@jemmilam4388 ah I see, I look into that love surreal horror like David lynch stuff too

[@theshockinglyeloquentdog9945]

YES! if that's what this film ended up being about then honestly it would have been a masterpiece. but as it stands its just about a crusty incel who yells at his mom also; It's Such Beautiful Day is an incredible film. it's completely animated though so be ready for that if you aren't expecting it.

[@lizzy6445]

his parents freaked me out so much but i couldn’t stop seeing remus lupin and the mom from hereditary

[@danielyoung6778]

What's a remus lupin?

[@lizzy6445]

Jackaroo Jackson character from harry potter lmao

[@BunnySuicida]

As someone currently undergoing psychoanalysis treatment for suicidal levels of self hatred, this whole piece and the janitor's story struck a damn chord at every second of it. The bit about "the thought" not going away is hauntingly accurate.

[@PiercingSight]

I pray things get better for you!

[@BunnySuicida]

@@PiercingSight thank you. Progress is slow but steady.

[@chokklaad-jhhs5502]

i dont remember giving the directior permission to hit home THAT much

[@Wingedmagician]

ikr it’s like this movie is saying “I see you, others may not or may not want to... but I SEE YOU.”

[@LoveIXTC]

Same here. Fkin suicidal thoughts. Life isn't worth it anyways.

[@zhai01]

I like how the real life names of the actors that play the main characters are so similar(Jesse and Jessie). It feels like it's connected to the movie's themes.

[@danilogondim9300]

I think this is one of those happy coincidences, specially since Jessie Buckley wasn't Kauffman's first choice.

[@soundersforever5176]

@@danilogondim9300 I really don't think brie Larson wouldve pulled off the role

[@soundersforever5176]

Just like sharkboy and lavagirl

[@ColombianThunder]

@@soundersforever5176 ehh I'd trust Kaufman's judgement

[@papasscooperiaworker3649]

how would it be connected?

[@brandongorin7978]

What about the darn dog.

[@sarahl701]

Dog's dead! Dead dog on the shelf!

[@Pointblankmos]

@@sarahl701 what was the weird prolonged shaking thing about though

[@sarahl701]

@@Pointblankmos To me it was a very specific memory that Jake had of his dog, it shaking off from outside (probably a very early memory too because it died when he was still presumably a child)

[@snazztacular]

no idea but it was super unnerving

[@ineedmoresalmon2475]

I read somewhere that it was about him not being able to remember the dog's face

[@codblckops00199]

this film hits me HARD, being in the loneliest time in my life I've never seen a film accurately capture what it's like. spending my days in my head Imagining better and worst versions of myself, being with someone, having the approval of the people I love and hate. all while absolutely loathing myself for recognizing what I'm doing, this film is just heartbreaking and terrifying and I love it.

[@emobloom]

Yes! you are not alone, I can unfortunately confirm. Good luck, man.. to all of us.

[@1997residente]

Adam´s 3 favorite directors are: Charlie Kaufman, Donald Kaufman and Robert Zemeckis

[@jamesrobertson8356]

@Digonto Zahid you clearly haven't seen the movie

[@jamesrobertson8356]

I'm thinking of ending things, theres a comedic Robert Zemeckis reference in it

[@omichillian]

@@jamesrobertson8356 Riiigghht I forgot about that

[@PapaTheJ]

Don’t forget about Charlie Kaufman

[@VicenteTorresAliasVits]

So Donald finally made his directorial debut?! Great!

[@eli_r_q]

*Sort of spoiler* One thing you might have overlooked: A potential reason why The Female Protagonist is given so many different names, might not just be because the Janitor can't remember her name, it could just be that she actually represents several women which is failed to approach. This could also explain why there were so many different scenarios of how they first met. But that's just my interpretation.

[@blaisetelfer8499]

I agree. I'm told that in the novel, he worked as a physicist in a lab when he was younger before having to quit due to social anxiety, so this is probably where the backstories of his girlfriend as a physics or virology student come from: women he encountered in real life (at the university) but didn't have the courage to ever ask out.

[@eli_r_q]

@@blaisetelfer8499 Yeah you're right. His parents at several moments describe him as being shy. Maybe he was so overwhelmed that, despite his qualifications, he could only become a Janitor, because he had to become a face in a crowd. Maybe this is why the ending where he performs on stage is more emotionally significant? Because he wasn't shy, he was brave and bold in front of the marching of death.

[@blaisetelfer8499]

@@eli_r_q and when recalling their meet-cute moment at trivia night, the woman says "I could tell he had no game", so she just gave him her number. Like Adam says, his low self esteem and awareness permeates even his fantasies. Though he is in control of how they met, he still is forced to acknowledge that he has no game and that the woman of interest would have to be the one initiating their relationship.

[@eli_r_q]

@@blaisetelfer8499 His self hatred steps into his fantasy until it forces him to end it all.

[@blaisetelfer8499]

@@eli_r_q though I have a hard time believing that he never asked *anybody* out. Unless he's supposed to be a 70 year old virgin, he probably went on some dates and had some short term girlfriends as a younger man, just not any that panned out to anything meaningful or longer term.

[@Oddmartian2]

“Whether or not the janitor succeeded in killing himself would depend on whether or not he actually followed the pig into the school” -actual sentence from this video

[@MartinEiken]

''He's now beating himself up in his own head as though his own desires are that of selfishness.'' That hit me really deeply. As someone who has struggled with similar issues, it really put into perspective for me how self-hatred works. It prevents you from living because it makes you feel like and think that you don't deserve anything. I had a psychotic episode about a year ago, where at one point I started fearing and thinking that I was a narcissist, or a sociopath. That I had no empathy for others, and only cared about myself. This grew in my head like a virus, and this thought of not deserving anything and seeing my own desires as selfishness or even narcissism was very predominant. I think I'm going to watch this movie.

[@noctaroh5121]

This is actually the only Kaufman project I feel like I got on first watch and didn’t need to rewatch to form my own understanding of. That being said there are so many interesting details including ones you pointed out that add to the experience in a significant way, and it’s a very good movie so I will likely rewatch anyways, the last half hour or so is spectacular

[@cutedogs18]

hey HEY, we have the same profile picture, this is amazing

[@TheMarcoshdc]

Same feeling here

[@Tkdanimal]

Did you note get sunshine on the first watch? In my opinion that is the easiest of his films to follow.

[@Manganization]

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is an easier watch than this. It took me until the part where the woman looked at the photo of her boyfriend to realise that she effectively isn't the main character and doesn't exist.

[@noctaroh5121]

Tkdanimal ah yea I kinda forgot about that one haha but yea I agree much easier than this one

[@teresajohnson9856]

Having seen Oklahoma, your points are spot on. Jud is a creepy villain, and even if you empathize with his loneliness, he’s absolutely wrong and upsettingly gross. When Jake performs “Lonely Room,” he’s criticizing himself for his behavior toward women. And when the audience applauds his performance, he feels acceptance from the people he’s always wanted it from, in garish ignorance of his faults.

[@valuelight]

I think that’s a bit of an uncharitable assessment. I believe that him playing Jud is just another manifestation of his self-hatred. Yes, Jud’s the creepy character or whatever, but the point is that he can’t actually relate to the heroic archetypal figure, instead finding solace in the more reprehensible one. I think it speaks to our collective fascination with anti-heroes and villains in fiction. We’re so cynical and hopeless due to external conditions that while we can objectively see which character is more moral than the other, we can see parts of ourselves in “villainous” characters that we usually can’t spot in the “heroic” ones. I also think once we do away with this binary way of thinking, then we could write more complex and human characters, as evidenced by this film. I think you’re projecting a bit onto his character, and the harsh criticisms you gave towards him are, I think, one of the major points of this movie. Society has, time and time again, shown that it’s willing to box people into stereotypes or misjudge others based off how they look. And it seems that many have had some bad ideas about him because he, on face value, fits a certain villainous or creepy archetype. When we push people away because of the ways we’ve been socialized to see people, those individuals can’t help but box themselves into those villainous roles. I don’t know if the main character did anything that was evil in his past. He just strikes me as someone with a lot of regrets, those regrets being compounded by the aspirational, glossy media he consumes, and is also incredibly lonely.

[@RamiroEloy1997]

It’s crazy that Charlie Kaufman is probably watching this. Hi, Charlie!

[@simono.5698]

how so? does he sees adams reviews of his movies?

[@bozuteru2160]

Well, he said in his interview with adum that he watched the synecdoche analysis series so it's not a big stretch to think he may have watched this too

[@brunobucciaratiswife]

@Soller hi Ace from PPG/Gorillaz

[@damianbutler-buccilli1991]

Are all your movies about death Mr. Kaufman? Charlie Kaufman: Well yes, but actually no

[@darapower9033]

To be fair that's something he'll probably say

[@emigrant1510]

I mean, technically no one dies in Being John Malkovich, but the faith of the protagonist there is much worse than death itself... ...anyway, sometimes I wonder if Kaufman is ok.

[@screamingphoenix8113]

@@jaybofa617 Also, The grabdpa character does doe in that movie.

[@screamingphoenix8113]

@@jaybofa617 That grandpa that gets sunshine girl to do that stripper dance. I don't know. I havent seen the move in a decade.

[@screamingphoenix8113]

@@jaybofa617 Yeah. Im thinking of Little Miss Sunshine. Lol.

[@MG-ee2rc]

Damn wasn’t expecting to cry watching a movie review

[@TheElectrizantee]

Same

[@mewtwotwo2222]

same

[@jordanwait7264]

Same.....

[@mischr13]

This movie broke me. I can't even watch reviews of it without crying.

[@x86assembly18]

At 18:54 when the music kicks in as adum lists all of the charatcers regrets, the review hits a high emotional point, and then the explanation of the death and the music at the end concluding the review really wrap it all up in a beautifull way.

[@muchfloof1226]

I highly recommend anyone to check out the book, whether you've actually seen the movie or not. I read the book before watching the film, and while I enjoyed the film, I found the book far more terrifying in its themes. The film carries over the themes of depression, regret, existentialism, etc. from the book, however the book had details that I think made it not just depressing, but utterly horrifying. It's far more unapologetic about its ending whereas the movie leaves things open ended on whether the viewer thinks Jake/the janitor actually succeeded in killing himself or not. The book has a far more dread-inducing final scene that both scared me, but also almost brought me to tears, and it really emphasizes more on Jake/the janitor's obsession with the girl in particular, who is completely nameless in the book unlike the film where she has several different names. The film had its moments of scaring the viewer, however I think it focused more on getting the viewer to think, which is fine, but in my opinion, the book did a better job of balancing the horror and the dwelling of depression and ending things. I seriously recommend the book, but fair warning, it is a lot more unapologetic than the film. The topics become a bit more overbearing and could legitimately cause distress to whoever's reading it, coming from someone who has suffered with mental health issues and more which I won't say because that legitimately spoils something in the book. Go read it if you can stomach it though, it's well worth the read.

[@otterno.1128]

I have to imagine it must be quite vindicating for Charlie Kaufman to watch reviews of his movies by you, knowing that all the details he puts in aren't lost on everyone, and his efforts are appreciated and understood. If I were to make a movie with such detail and subtle meaning I'd be worried that no one else would even notice it.

[@BallsTheDog]

I'm gonna be straight up this movie is way too depressing to be remotely enjoyable for me.

[@thecinematicmind]

I completely understand

[@runnerhigh]

I really did love the film but I can’t pretend that it didn’t ruin me emotionally for a few days. There’s a morbid comfort I get from movies like this but it takes a while to digest. Even watching this review, I still felt anxious. It’s a rough one!

[@BallsTheDog]

@@runnerhigh Yea it really kind of shoves the idea of being miserable and a waste in your face and it almost feels unavoidable. Even watching this review all that could run though my mind was how to escape this fate.

[@silverdirtgamer3390]

Facts

[@onman14]

It is a psychological thriller, so i get you

[@kerushun]

This story perfectly describes loneliness. It was beautiful.

[@brunobucciaratiswife]

I shouldn’t be able to relate to this at such a “young” age but... idk. I fantasize a lot to help myself cope with being alone. I’ve always done it, because I’ve usually never had friends. I have manic depression and I’ve attempted to end my life, many times, including recently... there’s just so much I want to say to the Janitor, even if he’s not real, I just... always have a desire to talk to people who are in the same boat as me.

[@drrMonManon]

you can still tell him ;) thats why this is a movie character so we can see ourselves from the perspective and more compassion. Connect our experiences within ;)

[@JanesBalalo]

Hope you are okay.

[@Hercu-Leon]

I loved this movie. I think the father disapproved of Jake liking musical and being artistic. The father says he likes sports photographs, he thinks billy crystal is a nancy. He might be expressing a feeling of hate towards his father for discouraging him from pursuing these things.

[@bishopoldfield1733]

17:55 Adam putting his Frozen research to good use

[@JackedThor-so]

*when you see the title without knowing the movie and think Adam is quitting KZbin*

[@AxxLAfriku]

Let me get this straight: You comment something that is unrelated to the fact that I have two DANGEROUSLY DASHING girlfriends? Considering that I am the unprettiest KZbinr ever, having two hot girlfriends is really incredible. Yet you did not mention that at all. I am quite disappointed, dear noah

[@TaraSmallss]

haha yup thats what I thought lol

[@masaboih]

When you see this as top comment in literally every video about itoet.... Yes I'm sure you thought that.....

[@JackedThor-so]

@@AxxLAfriku Uh... wha?

[@Stephanie-zb2ib]

AxxL hey man are you ok

[@goforgrim]

The scene with Lucy hugging Jake and leaving down the hallway breaks me every time. Such a powerful and heartbreaking scene.

[@blackosprey2219]

I watched this vid a long time ago. Been aware of the movie's story too. Some stuff in life happened and now a lot of this hits different now. It's ridiculous to be looking for answers here but there's no rational explanation for anything that happened anyways. Also, damn, I actually forgot you gave it a 10/10. I never thought I'd hear it from you.

[@TheTechnoTiger]

I didn’t realize this fully while I was watching the movie, but the use of the score in the background of the video really reminded how dreamy the main theme is, and I love how well it works with the fantasy feeling.

[@justfuckingwhy]

When's "Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 Analysis" coming out?

[@dakotajensen181]

My analysis of "Paul Blart Mall Cop 2" A mall is relatively safe. That was until the rats came in. Now theres a new man in town. His name is Paul.....Paul Blart. And he is the law of the mall. 6/10

[@ohnoitschris]

seconded

[@casualkitty1381]

That movie also made me cry.

[@andyzhao7822]

When it’s ready

[@grit1]

the states have been erased

[@DerickTheHeroV2]

I saw the beginning of the title in my notifications and thought YMS was considering retiring. I was about to be heartbroken. I've been watching this channel for like 8 years now.

[@lizmudry373]

Jake has obvious tension with his father. Except for one moment when they're eating cake, and the dad starts talking about Jake's mother as though she's already dead. The dad laments her laugh and her humor. And then the girlfriend puts her head on his shoulder, out of sympathy. You can tell that part of Jake misses the mother he hated, as expressed through the memory divulged by his father, and perhaps saw his father possessing a similar sorrow. But Jake himself can't commiserate his father's grief directly, and can't console himself either. So, he reaches out to his father through the girlfriend by proxy.

[@miajohnson281]

I’m actually really happy Charlie Kaufman directed this. I read the book a couple years ago, and I think his directorial and narrative style fits well with intended experience the book has. The effort the reader puts into looking deeper and understanding the story is an essential part of the story itself, so I’m glad the film adaption could replicate that.

[@lockerpaint2955]

When I first heard the title "I'm Thinking of Ending Things," I thought the film was going to be about suicide. When I started watching it, I scolded myself for being so morbid and quick to think of death, since it was obvious the "thing" that was ending was the relationship. I guess I was right the first time.

[@goonsgoons1]

I was very ready to scoff at this review but you've convinced me to watch the film again. Although I mostly enjoyed the movie for the batshit experience it was (except the last like fifth), I felt like the 'it's all in the janitor's head and that's it' explanation wasn't really enough to justify the vast amount of random nonsense throughout the movie (and while I knew there was presumably deeper meaning to most of that nonsense, I didn't quite enjoy the movie at its... like... base level enough to want to watch it again or even watch any videos about it) BUT your review's made me realise that the random nonsense probably isn't all that complicated and I should give it another go.

[@El_Andru]

What?

[@arenasification]

I liked the movie for the experience, couldn't stand a lot of the blabla though.

[@theshockinglyeloquentdog9945]

when me and my friend watched this we thought the twist would be that the woman has Alzheimer's and she's relieving all the regrets in her life; all the red flags she didn't take in to account about the man she spent her life with. all the times she thought about ending things. but nope. it's just about a crusty old incel and women aren't real people

[@mulder006]

@@theshockinglyeloquentdog9945 I don't see him as an incel. Someone who is voluntarily celibate and angry at all females. He is angry at himself for being so meek and scared throughout his life to try and approach women. He is equally unsocial with men. He has no friends. He is lonely and wants to kill himself.

[@jadeandjesse5908]

@@theshockinglyeloquentdog9945 lol what? That's what you got out of it? This woman wasn't real because he has too much social anxiety to talk to people. He doesnt just not have a girlfriend he also has no friends. It's about isolation and wishing for companionship, he even criticizes himself for doing this. It's a self destructive and self loathing mindset that matches a person who is having suicidal thoughts. A point is literally made about he is dismissed and mocked by the students at his school because he is already "the creepy old janitor", thus leaving him suicidal and alone, leading to his suicide at the end of the film.

[@yannic3585]

I have to say I really did not enjoy this movie as much as I hoped I would when I first watched it. I totally loved all the technical aspects and all the acting and atmosphere (especially during the scenes with the parents) were obviously fantastic but I completely missed a lot of the ideas this movie was going for and had no ambition to rewatch it as it just felt jarring to me. This analysis really helped me to get more out of the movie and I'm very thankful to be able to appreciate the craftsmanship behind this story a bit better now. Thank you so much Adam.

[@probablynotjordan]

Despite the amazing review I was expecting a “7/10 closer to an 8 than a 6”, but holy hell a 10/10... I had to double tap back to make sure I wasn’t experiencing a hypothermia hallucination

[@Cosmic_Cretin]

well it is a Kaufman film, he has given a 10 to almost every single Charlie Kaufman film.

[@tenki_]

@@Cosmic_Cretin every single one of them has a 10 except for Adaptation, which has a 9 anyway

[@gonegonethankyou2091]

why not? it’s perfect

[@plugshirt1684]

@@gonegonethankyou2091 it shocked me to mainly because I e never seen him actually give a 10/10 to anything before

[@antoniomaciel8229]

One thing i thought it was interesting is when the janitor is looking out the window before Jack arrives to pick up the female lead,it shows the movie "Vertigo" in his cabinet,witch fits in thematic because the main character in Vertigo is trying to change his romantic interest to fit in with his fantasy,more to the point of movies ideias growing in our brain

[@holopawdruid6816]

One thing I'm surprised you didn't bring up was the topic of dementia and Alzheimer's. The father mentions his memory is fading away and many scenes have characters repeating and/or stuttering as they're talking. I know that these are 'made up' scenes, but I found it too plentiful and deliberate to just be 'mistakes' in creating a fantasy. In addition, the dog was permanently shaking its head, perhaps suggesting that the memory either was so far gone that he couldn't remember anything about him, or that the memories were too painful to truly remember. There was an ash tray of the dog found in his bedroom as well. That's just how I viewed things and I may have misinterpreted some of these points, I'd love to hear other people's thoughts on the matter!

[@Glownyszef]

The moment that broke me was when the woman handed the slippers back to the janitor at the end of the movie. To me it was a realisation, that he doesn't have anyone to "give himself" to and never will EDIT: Also, I think the woman was not purely fantasy, but an actual person from his past. The trivia night is mentioned both at the parent's house and at the highschool when she confronts the janitor. She says that she doesn't know what her boyfriend looks like, she just remembers him staring at her at the bar during the trivia night. So it would seem like she is an actual person the janitor remembers and bases the appearance of his fantasy around, that's why the details of her past, her name and even personality change quite often, but appearance remains consistent throughout with the exception of one scene.

[@universome511]

So much of the dialogue in this that i thought was pointless now seems brilliant. I wish i was the type of guy who didn't need it explained to him to get the full experience.

[@jakeboyer7175]

I took the cigarette and dialect changing scene as "Lucy" imitating Pauline Kael since there was a prominently displayed Pauline Kael book on Jake's shelf and her dialogue is verbatim Pauline's review, much like when Jake recites the ending of "A Beautiful Mind" at the end.

[@magnificmango336]

Something nobody talks about is how superbly they nailed the awkwardness of visiting someone’s folks. Seriously, every possible awkward moment that can happen *did* happen, and it physically hurt to watch sometimes in the best way.

[@conordineen5071]

"Of all the words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these, it might have been." - John Greenleaf Whittier

[@Clevermoreunicorn]

This movie seemed like Synecdoche 2.0. Even the actors look like Caden and Hazel. Jake had a “cast” of characters to play out situations in his life, the end is built into the beginning with the sheep and the pigs, death. I enjoyed it and need to watch it again to get more of the details I missed.

[@emmasydney]

Jesse Plemons even plays Philip Seymour Hoffman's son in the movie "The Master" - definitely recommend checking it out! Plus there's the added bonus of the great performances from Amy Adams and Joaquin Phoenix.

[@emigrant1510]

Jesse Plemons has always been considered to look like PHS a lot. So, no wonder.

[@TheVeryAngryShrimp]

This hits when you're depressed/suicidal :/

[@taylorwene4276]

You alright?

[@lizziex6447]

I know, right? I've tried so many times to describe the way the inevitable passage of time is destroying and terrifying me, and I've never been able to put it into words in a way that anybody understands. I'm glad that this film exists, if for no other reason than to perfectly express the unexpressable.

[@pifpif5036]

As someone who has struggled with suicide attempts and suicidal thoughts I thought this movie was amazing. This is the only film I’ve seen that captures suicide truly

[@Victor-Vargas]

The nerve of this guy to put this out when hes literally Left Synecdoche on cliffhanger for years

[@danielthrasher1738]

The moment when her voice changes and she has a cigarette, she's also performing a (rather good) impression of film critic Pauline Kael, who's book we also see on Jake's bookshelf. (Spoilers) I have only seen it once, and did not guess that they were constructs of the janitor, but I did believe it was about the narratives that we tell ourselves to try and exist.

[@kostajovanovic3711]

I wonder, does Adum know about Kael?

[@danielthrasher1738]

@@kostajovanovic3711 I'm certain he's heard of her at the very least.

[@Cosmic_Cretin]

@@kostajovanovic3711 Probably, he wasn't really mentioning the references, like he knows who Robert Zemeckis is but didn't name him even though he talked about the fake movie. Adum seemed more interested in talking about the themes because you could probably spend a whole day talking about just the references.

[@rsfilmdiscussionchannel4168]

That scene made me laugh just because it perfectly represents my reaction to reading a lot of internet reviews I don't fully agree with.

[@davidbjacobs3598]

It's been a good year for Pauline Kael, between this and Mank.

[@bumblersoda9473]

I think the Kimba Crowd is also “Thinking Of Ending Things”.

[@shitpostcentral1802]

So basically, Maladaptive Daydreaming: The Movie.

[@judithbreastsler]

Thanks for this thoughtful analysis. You made sense of something that was - for me - beautiful but enigmatic. Cheers from Ottawa

[@maximilianf.4236]

Doesen't the main actress also play the wife of the firefighter who dies of radiation overdose in HBO's Chernobyl?

[@ryderdrew]

Yes

[@cjamesmcgregor]

She was really good in the British film Beast kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6q0fYBriMSSh7c

[@stayinschoolpleasedonthitt5356]

yes

[@davidbjacobs3598]

She's also in the new season of Fargo, where she's great in the one episode I saw. Definitely someone we should expect to see a lot of in the coming years.

[@liquid_refreshment2791]

Glad I let myself read the whole title before I reacted to it

[@zergell3669]

glad to know i wasn't the only one that had a mini heart attack with that title...

[@MRADOES04]

Loll same

[@Edward-xv3bo]

Haha! Splendid comment 🤣

[@jeremydavis6302]

The dog tho... The way in which the dog got ‘stuck’ shaking off the snow intrigued me. The dog often showed up in between major scenes with the parents. Maybe it is the Janitor stalling his fantasy? Jumping out of the story, and transitioning into a new one?

[@jadeandjesse5908]

Each time the dog appears the young woman comments how he's smelly and all wet. At first they are waiting for the parents to come downstairs and he says the dog scratched the basement door. She says she loves dogs so he produces one into the fantasy. The second time she pets the dog we don't even see it. There's a jump cut to a framed picture on the wall and her saying the dog's name like she's nostalgic for the picture. It's likely the dog is from Jake's childhood and his only clear memory of it is how he smelled bad when he was wet, and the way he would shake his collar. He tries to use to the dog to stall the fantasy, but when it's actually closer to breaking the girlfriends reality than fixing it, the parents finally arrive. When she reminisces on the framed picture, feeling nostalgia for Jake's childhood, that's when she sees the framed picture of herself that turns into Jake.

[@DendyJungle]

It’s interesting how this “lowly” janitor has all these complex thoughts and is well educated but still ended up with that job. I guess most janitors are like that but people just prefer not to think of it. Easier to dismiss them as simpletons who spend the day thinking about drinking a beer and just watching football or a vin diesel movie

[@meredith928]

This is some crazy timing. I literally just read the book in one sitting two nights ago, and then watched the film last night. Both versions were good, and both versions were very different in tone. Overall, I liked the movie A LOT better. Knowing the ending/twist already made it a very sad experience and I was crying like mad during that scene in the hallway, when she finally talks to the janitor. Great video! I liked hearing your thoughts on the film.

[@Cosmic_Cretin]

For me, this is one of those rare instances where the film surpasses the book. It has more nuance and layered themes, and I prefer the more subtle approach to the end than the gore angle of the book. More than anything, I think it just a testament to how good of a writer/director Charlie Kaufman is.

[@rsfilmdiscussionchannel4168]

14:43 No one has pointed out this line, when I think it's also up to interpretation. Either the real woman was definitely gay and with her girlfriend (thereby removing the chance for Jake to even ask her out and maybe even removing the chance for a romantic relationship) or this was just another instance of the Janitor filling in his fantasy of her based on what he saw and/or heard in that moment where he saw her.

[@thatlemonadeguy6742]

I thought about that too. I interpreted it as Jake not even knowing the woman, but his low self-esteem made him automatically think she probably was gay. But then her saying she wished her boyfriend was there was kind of a confirmation that he didn't even know her, not even her sexuality, and just guessing in his mind because he was too afraid to talk to her.

[@KarlSnarks]

Homosexuality is referenced multiple times in the movie despite having no immediate connection to the janitor or the story. It could definitely be that the real woman was gay, or the janitor had some reason to think she was.

[@rsfilmdiscussionchannel4168]

@@KarlSnarks Or maybe the janitor was closeted? Who knows? Kaufman's scripts in general reference that subject as well. Synecdoche and BJM come to mind. I guess most of them are about Man's inability to connect with Women, so regardless of the homosexuality being referenced it's already seeded.

[@papasscooperiaworker3649]

@@rsfilmdiscussionchannel4168 homosexuality being seeded?

[@GuestFriendsPlay]

I interpret that detail as, Jake saw the woman in a bar with another woman. He didn't have the courage to talk to her and ask her for her number, but he was aware that SHE was aware he was paying attention to her. "Maybe that's her girlfriend and they're celebrating their anniversary," he might have thought. "Maybe she has a boyfriend. I can't ask her for her number then," might be another thought... As he remembers that he never even talked to the woman, his fantasy starts to crumble (a la the weird dance number that follows shortly after)

[@seekthuth2817]

I skipped to 22:10 and basically the only thing I caught from the spoiler part was "So anyway, I'm not entirely sure if the janitor was entirely successful in his suicide attempt" and that's honestly really funny out of context.

[@realguy0396]

Another thing to note is that the young woman, is the side of him that doesn't want to accept the thought of suicide. It is evident every time she says that she wants to go home, it illustrates that he wants to go back to reality/ end work so that he can commit suicide. And the "Jake" character is the side of him grappling on the last bit of remaining hope he has of stopping himself.

[@JohnSmith-eo2yx]

This movie really stuck with me. I think I see myself drifting towards the janitor’s character even though I’m still young. I’m afraid of ending up that way

[@joaopedrovaleriodesouza3122]

I watched this w a friend and we came to 2 possible interpretations: 1 is the one in the video 2 is about how dangerous it can be to live without being a little selfish. The female character slowly begins to become less and less individualistic, and we interpreted the arts on the basement as a way that Jake stole one of her passions. Overral i really liked the movie!

[@PinataPaluza]

Missed by a mile

[@ididgt4259]

Nah, it's the 1st one lol

[@rahultej2248]

"Selfish" in the sense of 'feeling our own existence'.

[@atomicbritt226]

I'm only 31 and it scares me how much I identify with the janitor

[@pondelia5607]

EXACTLY same. I'm about to read the book and hurt myself more

[@codblckops00199]

Same and I'm only 22

[@Marie-qv6on]

man im 19

[@SAMSARALIVEEEEEE]

You’ll identify with him more and more as you keep getting older. Suicide doesn’t seem so bad at this point lol

[@Lindyn773]

Wasn't expecting to tear up a bit from a movie review. Maybe I will try to pursue my art a bit more.