no.12 - the Titleist

The problem began twenty years ago, when, during the film, "The Last Emperor", my friend Sean leaned over to me and, rasped in an old and frail voice:

"I was - the last emperor."

We were both convinced the movie was going to end with those words, as Emperor Pu Yi visited the site of his former glories.

The movie does not end that way, but it's pretty close.

Since then, when I see the titles of films - especially Academy Award winners - I feel compelled to predict how the title will be incorporated into the film. This happens against my will. Regardless of how little information I actually have about the movie, I am powerless but to allow the scene to unspool in my mind's eye.

Even though I have not seen any of the films listed below, I need to warn you that this post could still contain spoliers. I might guess critical plot points, but I might also ruin the films for you by planting ideas in your head.

• La Vie En Rose
  Let's start with an easy one. Obviously Marion Cotillard sings it. But, I will go a step further and suggest we hear it over the very end of the film, as Edif Piaf dies and the camera pans slowly away from her bed.
  (As an aside, do you have any idea how many near fatal car crashes Edif Piaf was in? Three! ...and a few years after she died, her widower husband Theo Sarapo died in fatal- car accident. How do they show this in a serious biography without it seeming like "Final Destination 4:Paris"?)
  
  
• Juno and Michael Clayton
  These are also gimme's since they are each characters in their films. Nevertheless I get a strong impression of George Clooney shaking hands and speaking his name in a offhand business way then holding the back of his neck, whereas Juno gets called "Juno" by her mother a lot. "Juno, come inside," "Juno, say something pithy.", "Juno, don't get pregnant," etc.
  (As another aside, wasn't there also an academy award nominated movie last year about a pregnant girl called Junebug? )
  
  
• Charlie Wilson's War.
  This one is a little harder, but I can see it now, Philip Seymour Hoffman is pounding a shoe on a table shouting with great emotion, "This is Charlie Wilson's War, God damnit!"
  
  
• There will be blood
  Daniel Day Lewis, all veiny and red in the face with rage, places his hand on the ground and growls "There will be blood" and then there is guitar music.
  
  
• Into the Wild
  Hal Holbrook looks off into the distance, while talking to his grandson. "Well, you're really into the wild now kid," he says and end of scene. The next scene is a campfire.
  
  
• No country for old men
  Javier Bardem grumbles "This is no country for old men" before shooting an old guy.
  
  
• Atonement
  I imagine the word "atonement" is snuck quietly in near the end, probably as depressing wrap-up art house film narration like: "And so it was that I sought atonement but did not find it, and that was the undoing of us all."
  

Please do feel free to correct how wrong my mind's eye is via the comments below.