“Endings, Beginnings” is a passionate love story between Daphne, a recently unemployed woman, and two best friends, Jack and Frank. Director Drake Doremus provides viewers with a racy drama that lasts just under 2 hours and is top-full of raw emotion.
The steamy, erotic drama follows Daphne (Shailene Woodley) who, after breaking up with her long-term boyfriend Adrian (Matthew Gray Gubler), moves into her sister’s pool house to take a break from the dating scene and come to terms with her breakup. However, this doesn’t last long. She soon meets Frank (Sebastian Stan) and Jack (Jamie Dornan)—two best friends that can’t help but catch her eye. Daphne becomes involved with both men but decides that she doesn’t want to feel like the ‘bachelorette’ between the two. But she can’t stay away for long, and as her relationship with Jack begins to blossom, past feelings resurface and once again end up becoming a wedge between the best friends.
(Spoiler Alert) Life as a singleton is going well until Daphne discovers she’s pregnant and isn’t sure who the father is! She decides to raise the baby on her own and move on from both men. Daphne finally has her life on track as the movie closes on an idyllic shot of her walking through a forest, leaving viewers with the three heartfelt words ‘you are loved’.
Doremus does a sublime job of creating a modern, contemporary atmosphere throughout all his films and “Endings, Beginnings” isn’t the odd one out. Marianne Bakke’s cinematography is breathtaking. It’s visually appealing to all viewers and reflects the aesthetic she aims for in her work. The overlapping editing, courtesy of Garrett Price, does come across as choppy and a little jumpy at times, but doesn’t draw viewers out of the atmosphere “Endings, Beginnings” creates. Something that makes this such a controversial movie among viewers is because it’s semi-improvised and only loosely follows Doremus and Libaire’s screenplay. But that’s something that makes Doremus’ films so grounded and realistic to his viewers.
Jamie Dornan in a scene from “Endings, Beginnings” (CJ Entertainment, 2019).
The cast all give outstanding performances, especially Shailene Woodley in the lead role. Her emotions seem so raw and radiate through the screen. Stan and Dornan are exceptional in their respective roles, with the chemistry between the three visible from the off. The intimate scene they share is so natural, with no awkwardness. The sex scenes in “Endings, Beginnings” were probably a walk in the park for Dornan considering his previous work in the “50 Shades of Grey” franchise. The soundtrack that accompanies this 110-minute affair is a flawless mix of old and new and works smoothly with the film’s overall aesthetic.
There aren’t exactly any morals or lessons to be learned from the film, except maybe the fact that getting romantically involved with two best friends isn’t the best thing to do, especially after a recent breakup.
Overall, “Endings, Beginnings” is an ardent movie fueled by love, passion, and raw emotion. It features outstanding performances from its star-studded cast consisting of Sebastian Stan, Shailene Woodley, Jamie Dornan and Matthew Gray Gubler. Doremus puts a unique, modern twist on the classic ‘woman stuck between two men’ trope without over-complicating it. So if you’re a viewer who enjoys a slow-burning romance, then “Endings, Beginnings” is certainly the one for you.
