I’m Thinking of Ending Things

Directed by Charlie Kaufman, I’m Thinking of Ending Things follows Jessie Buckley’s protagonist as she accompanies her boyfriend (Jesse Plemons’ Jake) to a remote farmhouse to meet his parents (Toni Collette and David Thewlis). There’s much, much more to the picture than just that seemingly straight-forward premise, as Kaufman, working from his own adaptation of Ian Reid’s similarly inexplicable novel, delivers a progressively surreal endeavor that’s been littered with baffling yet oddly engrossing elements – with, especially, the downright hypnotic closing stretch, which contains, among other things, an unexpectedly beautiful ballet sequence, ensuring that the movie concludes on a surprisingly (and impressively) compelling, emotional note. It’s clear, as well, that I’m Thinking of Ending Things benefits substantially from the first-class efforts of its cast, with Buckley’s stirring turn as the conflicted protagonist matched (and, occasionally, exceeded) by a stellar series of periphery players. (Plemons and Thewlis are incredible, of course, and yet it’s clear that Collette’s jaw-dropping work here remains an obvious highlight.) And although the picture is undeniably self-indulgent and palpably overlong, Kaufman does a superb job of packing the proceedings with cogent, relatable musings on topics as varied as relationships, ’70s movies, and the meaning of life itself – which, when coupled with a seriously powerful closing stretch, confirms I’m Thinking of Ending Things‘ place as an erratic but thoroughly rewarding bit of avant-garde filmmaking.

***1/2 out of ****