The End of Violence (1997)

Mike Max is a Hollywood producer who became powerful and rich thanks to brutal and bloody action films. His ignored wife Paige is close to leaving him. Suddenly Mike is kidnapped by two ... See full summary »

Director:

Wim Wenders

Writers:

Nicholas Klein (story), Wim Wenders (story),

Stars:

Traci Lind, Rosalind Chao, Bill Pullman

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Traci Lind	...	Cat
Rosalind Chao	...	Claire
Bill Pullman	...	Mike Max
Andie MacDowell	...	Paige
K. Todd Freeman	...	Six O One
Gabriel Byrne	...	Ray Bering
Chris Douridas	...	Technician
Pruitt Taylor Vince	...	Frank Cray
John Diehl	...	Lowell Lewis
Soledad St. Hilaire	...	Anita
Nicole Ari Parker	...	Ade (as Nicole Parker)
Daniel Benzali	...	Brice Phelps
Samuel Fuller	...	Louis Bering (as Sam Fuller)
Marshall Bell	...	Sheriff Call
Frederic Forrest	...	Ranger MacDermot

Storyline

Mike Max is a Hollywood producer who became powerful and rich thanks to brutal and bloody action films. His ignored wife Paige is close to leaving him. Suddenly Mike is kidnapped by two bandits, but escapes and hides out with his Mexican gardener's family for a while. At the same time, surveillance expert Ray Bering is looking for what happens in the city, but it is not clear what he wants. The police investigation for Max's disappearance is led by detective Doc Block, who falls in love with actress Cat who is playing in ongoing Max's production.

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Plot Keywords:

typewriter | observatory | lost identity | surveillance camera | film making | 

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Taglines:

Nothing Lasts Forever

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

France Germany USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

12 September 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

El final de la violencia

Filming Locations:

Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$64,154 (USA) (12 September 1997)

Gross:

$283,033 (USA) (3 October 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

CiBy 2000, Kintop Pictures, Road Movies Filmproduktion

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There is a scene in the film where we see a live recreation of the painting "Nighthawks" by Edward Hopper.

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Goofs

When Page is holding Mike at gunpoint she holds the gun upward with the bottom of the handle facing outward and the ammo clip is clearly missing. Yet when Mike exits through the patio door she fires the gun and shatters the glass.

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Quotes

Mike Max: Perversely. That's one thing I think I can define now. It's when things are upside down and you start to like 'em that way.

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Connections

Referenced in Edward Hopper (2007)

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Soundtracks

"Every Time I Try"
Written by Josh Haden
Performed and Produced by Spain
Courtesy of Restless Records, by arrangement with Warner
Special Products

User Reviews

I gave this one a "5"

The film has some interesting moments, but is weighed down by far too many uninteresting ones! The stunt woman character was endearing, the idea of government-run security cameras everywhere was intriguing, but there is no story here. The film is handed the ball but just doesn't run with it. That's to bad -- I was really looking forward to seeing it. I gave it every benefit of the doubt, but in the end it left me unmoved, slightly depressed, and a little confused (I assure you the confusion was not my fault).

And while Siskel thought it one of the best movies of the year, Ebert did give it a thumbs down. Like I said, the movie has a few good scenes, ideas, and characters, but you could live a perfectly happy life without having seen this film.