The scene ends, the music kicks in, the credits roll -- PERFECTION

The other day, Filmbrain and a friend were discussing film endings that are punctuated with a piece of music, and the powerful effect that it has when done well. Not just simply great endings (of which there are many) but ones that use music to knock the wind out of us, so to speak, with its unexpected entrance. The timing has to be just right, as does the selection of music -- but the end result can send shivers down the spine and raise goose bumps. Filmbrain initially thought of Lost in Translation, but then realized that the Jesus and Mary Chain's Just Like Honey was playing for several minutes before the end. There's no special punctuation when the credits roll, and therefore doesn't count. The following is a list of films that Filmbrain (and friend) came up with.

Goodfellas -- Henry is standing in front of his suburban nightmare home, staring desperately into the camera, while the voiceover declares, "I'm an average nobody. I get to live the rest of my life as a schnook." The first strains of Sid Vicious' rendition of My Way can be heard. Cut to Tommy firing straight into the camera, then back to Henry as he turns and walks into the house. ("Regrets, I've 'ad a few. . .") Cue credits. Cue goose bumps. All About Lily Chou Chou -- The tormented student playing a Debussy piece on the piano. Cut to black. The word RELOAD appears on the screen as the haunting final song Gliding begins. Trainspotting -- Renton, growing more and more out of focus as he walks towards the camera, while we hear the voiceover of his final "choose life" speech ("...the car, the compact disc and electrical tin opener, good health, low cholesterol, dental insurance. . .) The scene fades to black, and that beautiful keyboard riff from Underworld's Born Slippy rises from out of the background as the speech continues and the word Trainspotting falls into view. Betty Blue -- Zorg is sitting at the kitchen table, writing. The piano theme that he and Betty played earlier is heard. Freeze frame, the screen turns blue, and the pianos are replaced by an electric guitar. Absolutely perfect. Boogie Nights -- Dirk standing in front of a mirror, his "talent" exposed. "I'm a big bright shining star." As he zippers up, performs a karate kick, and leaves the dressing room, the opening violin of ELO's Living Thing begins. Cut to black just as the guitars strike their first chords. Spine-tingling stuff -- one of the best examples of this. Eyes Wide Shut -- Alice and Bill in a very crowded FAO Schwarz. Alice is delivering her final lines to Bill -- "And you know, there is something very important we need to do as soon as possible. Fuck." Cut to black, cue Shostakovich waltz. Filmbrain would love to hear about some others. Which films cause the hair on the back of your neck to stand on end? Please feel free to share your favorites in the comments section, below.

Comments

[jeff]

I don't know about everyone else, but the fact that QT used a Zamphir song (!) at the end of Kill Bill Vol. 1 is pretty brilliant. Best use of a Zamphir song ever... oh yeah, and the Nancy Sinatra song at the beginning is muy bien too.

[Ed]

I think the song at the end of Irreversible was very appropriate, as the camera starts spinning over Monica Bellucci and the insane stroboscopic effect starts, slowly washing the music away with its growing wind effect.

[FIlmbrain]

Ah yes -- the use of Beethoven at the end of Irreversible is outstanding!

[Sean]

'Where is My Mind?' by The Pixies at the end of Fight Club. also apt, consider Jack blew out half his brain just before...

'You're My Best Friend' by Queen at the end of Shaun of the Dead

I actually would count 'Just Like Honey' at the end of lost in Translation though, as I think the female voice only kicks in when the image goes black, signifying a break, perhaps. or maybe that's just because I love that ending so much (same goes for the use of the 'Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime' cover by Beck in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind).

Zamfir in Kill Bill vol.1 was also brilliant, yes, especially the way the drum and trumpets came in at the precise moment the revelation was made by Bill.

[ben slater]

M Emmet Walsh is lying on a crampt bathroom floor. He is bleeding to death.

The woman who shot him and stabbed him has no idea who she just maimed - she thinks its her husband Ray
who we know is already dead.

Walsh is the crypt-keeper in a stetson, an overweight grim reaper who knows about texas. Death don't mean much to him. He'll be returning somehow.

Scared to see the carnage, the woman hides round the corner, calling out "Ray", just in case he's still alive.

He is - barely. Watching a drop of water gathering slowly on the leaky underside of a rusty sink.

But he aint Ray. She hears laughter through the blood-coughs.

"If I see him, I'll send him your regards", he drawls (I think). Famous last words.

The drop of water increases. Slow motion. It falls onto his head. But we never see the impact.

Cut to black.

The Four Tops ' Same Old Song' kicks in. Sardonic, ironic, self-conscious. But so perfect.

*
Blood Simple - The Coens.

(Coming late to this - but couldn't resist)

[Eddy Faust]

Wong Kar Wai makes great use of music at the end of Fallen Angels. Michelle Reis cradled up against Takeshi Kaneshiro as they ride on his motorbike; two lost souls clinging together in chaotic/crowded Hong Kong. "Only You" performed by the Flying Pickets begins playing as we hear Reis's closing thoughts regarding how she now "feels so warm." The melody is beautifully layered and bitter-sweet and it lingers with you way after the credits have ended.

[Eddy Faust]

As Mr. Cobo already pointed out.

[Adrian]

Blood Simple--see two above--one of the great endings indeed. But when I rented the film on video years ago I was totally deflated when the film ended not with "Same Old Song" but something else--I think it was "Daydream Believer"? Didn't work at all. I assume this was a music rights issue. Does anyone know if "Same Old Song" was restored for the DVD?

[FIlmbrain]

I'm pretty sure the recent "director's cut" release has "Same Old Song" on it.

And yes, great catch Ben.

[Adrian]

Nobody's mentioned Irma Vep--one of my favorite goose-bump endings. We see the footage Jean-Pierre Leaud has shot--and doctored--which is black and white and mostly silent except for some eerie sound effects. As it continues it becomes more and more abstract--looking almost Brakhagian. And then the screen fades to white for an instant, and the credit scroll starts just as the reprise of Luna's cover of "Bonnie and Clyde" kicks in. Magic.

[Trixie Belden]

Disco dancing to the O'Jays' "Love Train" on a subway might be seen as a trite way to end The Last Days of Disco, but I think it's a great ending anyway. Something about Alice and Josh dancing, not in the rarefied atmosphere of Studio 54, but in a public subway, expresses not only their relaxed and carefree mood but a new way of relating the world. It's also a great way to pay tribute to a passing era while moving into the present. Come to think of it, "Love Train" may not be such an empty cliche after all...

[finn]

Nobody's mentioned Irma Vep--one of my favorite goose-bump endings. We see the footage Jean-Pierre Leaud has shot--and doctored--which is black and white and mostly silent except for some eerie sound effects. As it continues it becomes more and more abstract--looking almost Brakhagian. And then the screen fades to white for an instant, and the credit scroll starts just as the reprise of Luna's cover of "Bonnie and Clyde" kicks in. Magic.

Oh I'd forgotten this. What a great example.

I love the ending of the director's cut of Blade Runner. The elevator door closes with Deckard and Rachel inside. Cut to black. The Vangelis end credits music kicks in. Awesome. This only works in the director's cut due to the sequence of door-cut-music. The same music is over the end credits in the original, but there is the sappy "Rachel will live..." ending on the movie, so it doesn't have anywhere near the same impact.

[adriana]

I feel a little ridiculous mentioning Sliding Doors but, honestly, the ending was very well done: After a harrowing night at the hospital, Helen (Gwyneth Paltrow) runs into James (John Hannah) in an elevator. James turns to her and says "Nobody expects a Spanish inquisition," and as Gwyneth looks over at him the screen cuts to black. Dido's "Thank You" opens the credits. So perfect. Billy Elliot did the same thing for me but I can't recall the song.

[Redd]

Season's Greetings.
Anyone know the name of the song that plays at the end of an episode of Tour of Duty? Not Paint It Black--great song--but I'm lookin' for the the name of the artist and song that plays at the end. Its a guitar piece with no vocals. My first thought was Santana but I don't think thats it. I'm all ears if you can help me out.
Thanks..

Redd