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Bill Pullman, Andie MacDowell, Gabriel Byrne, Marshall Bell, Daniel Benzali ... see more see more... , Enrique J. Castillo , Rosalind Chao , Loren Dean , John Diehl , Frederic Forrest , Udo Kier , Traci Lind , Henry Silva , Pruitt Taylor Vince , Samuel Fuller , Peter Horton , Nicole Ari Parker , K. Todd Freeman , Mili Avital , Marisol Padilla Sanchez , Chris Douridas , Soledad St. Hilaire , Tracy Lind

Wim Wenders directed this allegorical drama about the emotional impact of violence in our culture, set against the backdrop of California's entertainment business. Mike Max (Bill Pullman) is a Hollywo... read more read more...od producer who has earned a great deal of money and power in the film industry through his success with a series of brutally violent action pictures. While Max can juggle any number of tasks while working, he can't find time for his wife Paige (Andie MacDowell), and when she announces that she's divorcing him, he admits to himself (but not to her) that he deliberately put her through emotional trauma; Paige leaves to do volunteer work in the Third World, hoping to bring new meaning to her life. Very little reaches Max on an emotional level until Cat (Traci Lind), a stunt performer, is seriously injured on the set of Max's latest project. Not long after, Max is first car-jacked, then kidnapped by a pair of desperate thugs. He escapes and is given shelter by a group of Mexican-American gardeners. Wanting to retreat from the physical and spiritual violence that has become a key part of his life, Max opts to work with the gardening crew and stay away from his old life, remaining "missing" in the eyes of the world as he searches for a new life. Meanwhile, Max and his secretary Claire (Rosiland Chao) become aware of a secret plan that Ray Bering (Gabriel Byrne) has prepared for the city of Los Angeles, which will essentially put the entire town under constant surveillance, with the goal of ending violent crime once and for all. Frederic Forrest, Udo Kier, and legendary director Samuel Fuller also star; Ry Cooder composed the film's striking original score. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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41% liked it

2,331 ratings

Critics

27% liked it

33 critics

R, 2 hr. 2 min.

Directed by: Wim Wenders

Release Date: September 12, 1997

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DVD Release Date: March 28, 2000

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Stats: 84 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (84)

  • SirPant
    September 6, 2010
    SirPant
    Everyone makes mistakes. Wenders, a brilliant film director, made a huge one with The End of Violence. Convoluted nonsense, I'm sure it looked great on paper but the reality is that this is an awful film. Oops!
  • threefolddado
    June 25, 2008
    threefolddado
    Adventures in paranoia.
  • cacutshaw
    March 28, 2008
    cacutshaw
    Interesting Wenders film that really defied my expectations. A great character piece and drama.
  • naoyakugimiya1
    May 13, 2012
    naoyakugimiya1
    One of 90's Wenders'. His strong interests and awareness on "the end of the century (or millennium) and examination on the new upcoming century are still affects very much on his choice of theme, story, and way of directing, following "Until the End of the World" (1991). The plot... read more itself is quite similar to "Enemy of the State" (1998), but Wenders's interest is not on how the hero reveals the conspiracy of the Government, but on how the hero meditates and purifies himself through the relationship with people he newly met. I understand quite many audiences would disappoint or even dislike this sudden (seems so at first sight) and foggy conclusion of the film, but again, this is not Hollywood big action films like "Enemy of the State" - it is even an obvious anti-Hollywood film, I'd say, for you can find quite a lot of negative mentions on those Hollywood films in this film, although it is not the main point of the film. It is a little bit lengthy and sometimes too abstract (especially editing is little bit confusing, although it is the main force of creating the atmosphere of the film), but full of impressive scenes. Music creates an original atmosphere, and original characters well-played by great actors (not famous but very good) are lovely. Especially the cop character played by Loren Dean is my favorite. It is very interesting idea that the producer of violent films faces against real violence, thinks about it, and finally gets a clue on how to end the chain of it. Wenders's message is very positive and thoughtful.

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Critic Reviews

Liam Lacey
July 12, 2002
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

A longwinded exercise in pretentious confusion. Full Review

Andrew O'Hehir
January 1, 2000
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com

A muddled, sentimental Euro-American hash, redeemed here and there from its fatal purposelessness by a few moments that remind us we're in the presence of a genuine cinematic visionary. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Doesn't seem sure what it is about, or how it is about it. Full Review

Stephen Hunter
January 1, 2000
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post

Dreary piece of post-modern funk. Full Review

Jeff Millar
January 1, 2000
Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle

This goes on for two hours and two minutes. When I staggered out of the theater, I asked if Clinton was still president.

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Offers viewers opportunities to ponder a variety of diverse subjects, but its overall entertainment value is less than one might hope for. Full Review

Mike Clark
January 1, 2000
Mike Clark, USA Today

Skip the movie but buy the CD.

Stephen Holden
January 1, 2000
Stephen Holden, New York Times

With The End of Violence Mr. Wenders has made a film as resonant as his most memorable work. Full Review

Peter Stack
January 1, 2000
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle

A meandering mess, a plodding dud. Full Review

Michael Dequina
January 5, 2009
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

A disjointed mess where a lot goes on but nothing happens. Full Review

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The End of Violence Trivia

  • He co-starred with Emily Watson in "Breaking The Waves," Pamela Anderson in "Barb Wire" and Traci Lind in "The End Of Violence." Who is he?   Answer »
  • Which actor/actress played in the following movies: 'Dead Man' (1995), 'The End of Violence' (1997) and 'Assault on Precinct 13' (2005)?  Answer »
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