Film Review: I’m Thinking of Ending Things

© I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Charlie Kaufman

By Brent Leoni

Charlie Kaufman burst onto the scene establishing himself as a high-concept artist. Despite the complexity of Being John Malkovich and Adaptation, they more or less took place in the real world. But with the release of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and, to a greater extent, Synecdoche, New York, Kaufman started his approach into the mystical. I’m Thinking of Ending Things is Kaufman’s most realized effort, both in mysticism and in his progression as a director. 

A young woman, Lucy (Jessie Buckley) goes on a day trip with her boyfriend Jake (Jesse Plemmons) to his parents’ house in the country. Throughout the journey, Lucy contemplates breaking up with Jake. However, she is constantly distracted by intensive intellectual conversations, surreal encounters with Jake’s parents, and an overall shift in identity. 

But the plot is simply a sheen for everything manifesting underneath. That’s not to say there’s a “mcguffin” involved. The plot progresses organically—for the most part, but that will be explored later. It’s just that the film does not take place in an objective reality, and that makes the viewer question every part of its reality, even the protagonist’s name. While Kaufman’s earlier films can be described by one-note concepts, most notably Being John Malkovich being about being John Malkovich, I’m Thinking of Ending Things is so layered that it can’t be put into one box.

Its influences range from the psychological horror of Darren Aronofsky to the dialogic discourses of Richard LInklater. In fact, a significant portion of I’m Thinking of Ending Things is dedicated to conversations between Lucy and Jake in the car rides to and from Jake’s parents’ house. These conversations give several hints unto the meaning of the film, hints that may not be discovered until a second watch.

However, the dialogic discourse does become repetitive, especially when the film gets to the second car ride. With all that in mind, I’m Thinking of Ending Things reminds me of a letterboxd review of Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut, “it strangely both encourages and discourages repeat viewings.” 

That being said, Charlie Kaufman seems to have fully matured as a director. While he isn’t necessarily culpable for this, the sign of an inexperienced director is one that tries to make the audience notice everything, one that tries to hold the audience’s hand. This is certainly not the case with I’m Thinking of Ending Things. Kaufman is treating the audience like they’re smarter than they think they are, and we thank him and concur, even if we secretly acknowledge we can never be as smart as him.

I’m Thinking of Ending Things is available to stream on Netflix.