Please do not read the following if you have not seen the movie. It will ruin the xperience.
Many people have been confused by the ending of this movie.
I think the ending was actually quite simple. Let me explain.
What the viewer sees: In the ending of the movie, Monty is being driven to prison, where he'll spend 7 years doing hard time. Then we jump to a sequence narrated by Monty's father. It mentions he and Monty exiting the freeway and heading out west thereby eluding the authorities and assuming a new identity, raising a family and blending into society.
The next scene returns to realtime showing Monty's face busted up and we realize that the previous scene was just a vignette showing one of Monty's options.
What actually happens Monty actually goes to prison. The previous vignette was just an explored option. A dream sequence if you will. But the fact that we return to see Monty riding with his father shows that Monty is indeed willing to stop dealing drugs, do his time, and get his life turned around. If you notice during the dream sequence, everyone is wearing white, representing Monty's American Dream where everything is pure and clean and Norman Rockwell-like. It is not a flash forward to the future, nor a flashback. Just a small image of what could be.
This message has been edited by spindaddydad on Jul 16, 2003 7:48 AM This message has been edited by spindaddydad on Jul 15, 2003 6:50 PM
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I got the impression that he decided not to go to jail. The movie gives no indication as to which way he turns.
I think that the title is supposed to let us know what decision he makes in the end. He had a day left to be free (24 hours), the 25th hour is freedon he has for the rest of his life.
I would like to hear Spike Lee's explanation of the title. I hate endings like this because it is pointless to try and come up with one's own opinion. Anyway, I think that if he did go to jail, their would be no popint in not showing him approach the actual jail.
In my opinion, he either runs, or Spike Lee (did he also write it?) never meant for anyone to know because he purposely never decided what happened.
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He didn't go to jail, they went over the george washington brige which would take them west, like his father said..the george washington bridge wouldn't have come into play.. if they had gone 87 to the sprain to the taconic, to the jail there would be no bridge in sight..
-New Yorker
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Although I dont know anything about New York's transit system, I was sure leaving the cinema that he did not go to jail. It wasnt even an issue in my head untill someone asked me about the 'ambiguous' ending. Its the tone the ending is delivered in that makes me sure. Its a tone of redemption and salvation. Its message is that one mistake shouldnt mean the that it costs you your life.
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I've heard it mentioned that the GWB was shown in the background of one scene as a sign that they did not take the bridge to the west, thereby escaping jailtime. Perhaps if they had actually taken the bridge, the scene would have shown them ON the bridge.
This message has been edited by spindaddydad on Dec 3, 2003 7:19 AM
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The movie was sad at the end, I actually had a few tears in my eyes. I did'nt catch the beginning, so I missed some parts, did Montys friend tell on him, also, why did Monty want his friend to beat him up?
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Because of the severe beating he took by his friend (Frank) in the park, Monty's injuries caused death before he made it to the jail-house. I can't believe no one has thought of this. In the final scene, he's not moving and appears lifeless. Frank even said that to Jacob in the apartment earlier in the movie as they were over looking ground zero. He had three ways out, he could run, do the time, or take the bullet train (death).
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Man what the hell are u talking about..
monty didn t die..2 options: he went to jail or he didnt !
i actually thought he ran away like the father was saying..but the dude who saw the dvd commentary says he went to jail..so i guess we all hav to agree with him.......
but it wouldve made ALOT of sense if he didn t go to jail!!!!!!!
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At the start of the movie Monty recieves a nasty bite on his kneck from Doyle. Clearly, just before the credits roll he is displaying the early symptoms of distemper. He was most likely foaming at the mouth by the time he reaches jail and put down before any ethnic persons in the jail could slip him anything (orally or otherwise).
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I too wish Spike Lee had'nt put that into his DVD because it takes the ending out of peopels imagination which in my opinion is what he was trying to do. But interesting point about the dog bite, and the motionless body at the end.
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He must have gone to Otisville, because when you go up 87N, it splits with 95 going to the bridge right after Yankee Staduim. so if the bridge was in sight, they would have gone further up 87
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I thought the same thing I was just like woah he's not moving he's still bloody and bruised I was thinking as he was dying he was dreaming of having that alternative life with naturelle and their children but I guess that spike lee commentary thing kinda put an end to all theories I kinda wished that spike lee did leave it up to viewers minds instead of just saying "He went to jail".
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