Keep in mind that 2001 was produced at the height of the psychedelic era... the ending is like humanity's acid trip into some kind of deeper consciousness. It made more sense in the 1960s.
I don't have a problem with endings that are open to interpretation like 2001 or the original cut of Blade Runner. But movies where there is obviously intended to be only one answer but the director doesn't give the audience enough clues annoy me... I just feel it's underhanded to lead the audience along and then drop the audience at the end. Inception is worst for this IMHO. Nolan has said repeatedly in interviews that the last scene is intentionally intended to be ambiguous as to whether they're in the dream world or the real world. (It turns out that there is a solid answer, but it depends on a small detail that's basically impossible for the audience to figure out on a first viewing.)
Very good point...released one year after 1967 (Summer of Love, Vietnam War, Race Riots in USA) , and two years after 1966 (Revolver - The Beatles).
...And 2 years before Zabriskie Point (Michelangelo Antonioni).
...And 7 years before Jaws (Steven Spielberg).
...And 9 years before Star Wars (George Lucas).
...And 11 years before Alien, and 14 years before Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, both).
The Toyota is cool too.
