Trailer for THE END:original post-apocalyptic movie musical starring Michael Shannon & Tilda Swinton

I’m intrigued.

Updated On: 11/4/24 at 12:48 PM

I caught this in Toronto at TIFF and found it challenging but ultimately thrilling. It's definitely not for everyone, but I thought it was incredibly intriguing, beautifully filmed, and performed with an open heart.

Interview with Joshua Oppenheimer: "The film feels at home in a way I hadn’t thought of."

I finally got around to watching this. It's audacious and challenging, and I kind of loved it. The pacing is a bit too methodical at times, but the characters were always engaging, and I really liked how their relationships ebbed and flowed rather than following the more expected post-apocalyptic narrative of a constant downward spiral. The performances are also fantastic across-the-board; Michael Shannon is one of my favorite actors, and this could be one of his best performances. 

The songs are all well-performed (Tilda Swinton in particular absolutely nails her big solo number), and there's real charm in how Oppenheimer choreographs dance numbers for characters who have never danced before.

It would require some finessing of the script and extending of the songs, but I could see this being adapted to the stage fairly successfully.