Aaron's Thoughts
On the first watch I remember thinking that Wilde directed the hell out of this and while I still think that, I also think it’s as equally great a performance. The whole cast is a standout & Norton is the flashy one that steels the thunder at the end, but Olivia has so so much on her shoulders here and the whole movie doesn’t work if Angela isn’t as awkward and anxious as Wilde makes her.
After seeing it a few weeks ago, I read so many takes on the ending & what it meant to people. Which was funny to me because I walked away not even thinking the ending was up for interpretation! Wilde has since said it very much is open ended and there is a happier read and a sadder read on it.
To me, the ending is Joe and Angela making a decision to end their relationship, but the sweet piano moment at the end is them finally seeing each other as people again & being reminded that the other is in fact a special person (even if it’s not the person they are meant to be with). They had been so miserable and stressed out about the relationship that they forgot about the person they were in the relationship with in the first place. I think the moment when Pina tells them that their relationship is over is a telling moment in this. Pina says they can either move on or start a new relationship with each other, but the current one is over. And it’s the first time that Joe and Angela really agree on something the whole night. There is no anxiety in Angela’s voice and no snarky comment from Joe or an ounce of hesitation. They both agree immediately. And it’s in that moment that they immediately start treating each other with respect and kindness again. Because they never really hated each other, they just didn’t want to be the one to say out loud that the relationship was over. They didn’t want to admit defeat, which is an incredibly admirable thing, but that pursuit was driving them utterly insane and would have ended very poorly without this night happening.
Just because they aren’t at each others throats anymore doesn’t mean they stay together. This is a movie about acceptance after all. And I think the ending is a hopeful message that on the other side of acceptance there can be beauty in how you see and treat one another. In a perfect world that’s building a new relationship together. But for Joe and Angela, their problems seem a bit deeper than that & their path forward is not being together.
The kindness and connection they share at the end is causing many to think they will work things out and stay together. But I think instead it’s a reminder that treating each other that way & seeing the beauty in everyone is the goal in all of this. And sometimes that is only possible or at least more feasible apart than together.
Maybe I’m too cynical? Maybe I’m too impacted by my own experiences? Either way, that’s my two cents on the ending!
