The Bowling Alley: I'm finished!

Does a misanthrope not need anyone or anything to bring familiar/familiar comfort? Is a misanthrope an island, while no man is? I would have said no, earlier; however, you're making an argument that you would actually be happy in DP's later position in life. Or do I not understand how extreme you meant that? Your take on the scene with him target-shooting in his home in his bathrobe with a collection of bottles at his feet - happy, bored, unhappy, ? My take was unhappy and lonely, but too stubborn and isolated (and nuts) to admit it, and besides, not like there was anything that could be done. But tell me what you think, you make a good argument.

:)

One of the more controversial aspects of this movie is the use of music.  It seems to be a love-hate kind of thing; I admit I'm firmly in the 'love' category.  It's impossible for me to separate this move from the music.  The Brahms violin concerto in particular works on many levels for me.  Of course Brahms (1833-1897) was the contemporary music of the time.  But there are many other reasons it fits the story so well.  Brahms is firmly in the tradition of classical composers such as Mozart and Haydn, not necessarily recognized (in his lifetime, anyway) as a radical innovator.  But there is a "perfection" to his music, such that it is difficult to imagine it any other way.  An inevitability, if you will.  DP was a silver miner, with an attention to detail that served him extremely well (at least professionally) in the oil business.

I am a violinist, and I have studied the Brahms violin concerto for many years.  The end of the 3rd movement (heard at the end of the film) includes one of the most exhilarating codas ever written.  At the conclusion of the piece, after a series of thrilling climaxes, there is a short denouement, followed by three simple tonic chords.  I'm-fin-ished.  And then it's over.  Perfect.  The use of this music couldn't possibly have been an accident.

Thank you for the kind words, localvixenwoman.   It's very tempting and easy to take this kind of thing too far, but I couldn't help myself just a little!

Everyone has their demons.  When it's all said and done, we all overcome them to a greater or lesser degree.  While few of us will end up in a blood-soaked private bowling alley, the conceit of TWBB is to tell this truly universal story in a particular, compelling time and place.  To me the music serves as the filmmaking device which expresses the reality of DP's personal demons.  Yes it's loud, and intrusive, perhaps excessive, but who says demons are supposed to be polite?  This could have been expressed in a much more straightforward manner -- flashbacks, voiceovers, narration -- but the result would have been a much different film, to say the least.  The joyous music at the end of the movie is startlingly, shockingly inappropriate following a scene of such brutal violence.  But the irony melts away when you realize that Daneil's struggle is finally over, for better or worse, and even a deeply flawed life deserves to be celebrated.  Ultimately TWBB is a story of forgiveness.

I guess this is on topic, but speaking of the "I'm finished" line-- I don't know if anyone else is a fan of South Park, but the latest episode just referenced that exact line. There is a vicious fight scene in which the main character, Cartman, is beaten and bloodied, lying face down on the ground. His attacker breathes heavily, plops to the ground, and then says, "I'm finished!"

I laughed pretty hard.

The "I'm finished" line seems to be the perfect culmination to an intensely strange, terrifying, and hilarious final scene.  I don't think I've ever loved and ending to a film so much.  I usually hate movie endings, no matter how much I enjoyed the rest of it, because they just never seem to end right.  This one did.  In utter perfection, actually.

I think every post above me made good arguments to the underlying tone and allegory of this line.  I don't know that I have anything else to add.  I think DP is one of the most complex characters to grace the screen in a long time (actually no others come to mind at this moment, DP owns), and I think the "hidden meanings" in this line could be infinite.  As to the debate whether Daniel was really happy with where his life was, or whether he was just too stubborn to admit he was lost, I personally think it could go either way.  They both seem like equally logical paths this character would take.