Netflix’s I’m Thinking of Endings Things – A Wacky Existential Drama (Early Review)

When it comes to I’m Thinking of Endings Things, those who think they know what kind of film they are going into may be surprised but in the end, it is a Charlie Kaufman film after all so can they really be? His relatively few films, mostly as a writer than a director, have definitely been “out there” for lack of a better word on their way to playfully confusing audiences while also creating a dedicated fanbase. As a result, this latest film has attracted plenty of buzz and rightfully so. While the film is an adaptation of the book of the same name by Ian Reid, this is very much a Kaufman film for better or worse therefore fans of his work will be pretty much at home with this one and should no what to expect though it still offers enough to not alienate others but suffice it to say that it won’t be for everyone. Meanwhile, the film features quite a lot to unpack, surely requiring multiple viewings just to catch everything which only serves as a testament to the film’s vision.

Fans of the source material should get a decent starting off point here but for everyone else. I’m Thinking of Endings Things sees a young woman (Buckley) having second thoughts about her relationship with her still fairly recent boyfriend Jake (Plemons). Despite this, she still agrees to go on a road trip to visit his parents (Colette, David Thewlis) at their remote family farm. The film more or less sets the stage for what it’s going to be right away, offering lots of dialog and narration from the woman as she contemplates her life and life choices (questioning her relationship with Jake) while she and Jake share a series of philosophical conversations ranging a plethora of subjects over the course of their drive through a beautiful wintery countryside. This contrast shows that regardless of her feelings for Jake (the film doesn’t really go into why she felt the way she did other than she perceived to be something wrong), there was arguably still a connection between them, be it respect, loyalty, complacency, or maybe some combination of the 3 (or something else altogether).

Seeing that their relationship was still fairly recent, the road trip was am opportunity for the woman and Jake to learn more about one another. I’m Thinking of Endings Things truly gets going once they arrive at Jake parents’ farm. Jake’s parents were the usual embarrassing though cute parents who of course didn’t quite match what he made them out to be. Nevertheless, they still revealed some interesting tidbits about him whether he liked it or not while they took a peculiar interest in his relationship. Maybe she and Jake had more in common than it appeared? She may not have known that much about him as they haven’t been together very long to begin with but this visit definitely gave her quite a lot to process, offering her a glimpse of her potential future. Being a Charlie Kaufman film, things may not all be as they seem as things certainly are out there and open to interpretation at times to understand everything hence the multiple viewings (though it may connect more with fans of the source material). While it may not all work, the style and level of ambition on display here were still something to behold.

The beautiful winter-heavy cinematography may get a little repetitive for some but its almost claustrophobic nature, along with the 4:3 aspect ratio, frames the narrative in a more compelling and introspective way. Though in the end, the best part of I’m Thinking of Endings Things were the great performances across the board that helped bring Kaufman’s delightfully wacky script to life. While Buckley should be a much bigger star at this point, her effortlessly charming and charismatic performance here should help in that regard as she carries the film through its many twists and turns. As the story is told from her character’s perspective, she provides a grounding and inviting presence that allows viewers to connect with her on an emotional level. Her chemistry with Plemons’ Jake helps their longer, dialog-heavy scenes. Though he was solid, it would have been nice to see more from him as a whole. Meanwhile, Colette and Thewlis were each a quirky delight as Jake’s parents as they simply let loose here.

At the end of the day, I’m Thinking of Endings Things won’t be for everyone but any Kaufman fans or just those looking for a trippy, existential experience will not be disappointed.

still courtesy of Netflix

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.