- Dancer in the Dark - oh man, this one was AWFUL. Like, it was very well made, and it had excellent acting (good job, Bjork!) and lovely music (good job, Bjork!), but come on, there is no need for any movie to be that depressing, especially if it is not about the Holocaust. That's just not right. Also, I'm not one to get too emotionally attached while watching a movie, but I literally cried buckets when I watched this. BUCKETS. Lars von Trier probably saw Schindler's List and was like, "Nope, not sad enough, and not nearly enough music and dancing." Anyways, I liked certain things about it, but it was very cruel of Lars von Trier to make such a monumentally depressing non-Holocaust movie and dupe me into watching it because of Bjork. I guess what I'm saying is, fuck you, Lars von Trier.
- Ray - oh look, another movie about a blind musician!
- 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days (aka the Romanian Abortion Movie) - I really liked this one, even though it is literally an Abortion Movie. That's what happens. It was easily one of the most horrific movies I have ever seen, and apparently it was based on a true story which just makes it worse. Total nightmare fuel, but I liked it because I learned so much. About Romania and abortions!
- Million Dollar Baby - woohoo, a fun tale about euthanasia, death, old people, and sexism! Just what I wanted!
- The Wind That Shakes the Barley - this was that movie with Cillian Murphy about the Irish War of Independence, which was a very sad war so of course the movie is very sad. It was also very good, though! And I learned a lot about Ireland!
- American History X - best movie about neo-Nazis, racism, prison rapes, and brutal violence EVER
- This is England - probably my favorite Terribly Depressing Movie, mostly because it wasn't oppressively depressing the entire time. Some of it was actually fun! Plus, England, so, you know . . .
- Before the Devil Knows You're Dead - technically a good movie, but there was not a single fun or enjoyable part in the whole thing. Plus, it was SET IN A STRIP MALL IN NEW JERSEY. Yuck.
That's about it, then. I'm sure I've forgotten some, but whatever. Oh no, I forgot the DEATH TRILOGY! New bullet!
- Amores Perros, 21 Grams, and Babel (aka the DEATH TRILOGY) - these ones are all pretty depressing, but 21 Grams is definitely the worst (I'd say it's in the top 5 of the Most Depressing Movies I Have Ever Seen list). They all involve a Tragic Car Crash and probably drugs or whatever, so yeah. Babel ended on a nicer note than the others but it didn't make me "depressed" so much as "feeling really bad about being an American right now, thanks a lot Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritú." Amores Perros is awesome, it's really great, but all the dog fighting and lonely homeless hitman was pretty sad.
* I didn't include any Holocaust movies because I generally hate them very much**, plus they're all terribly depressing and that would make for a boring list. Schindler's List is probably a great movie, but I never want to see it. I've heard it is the most depressing movie Of All Time, and also the Definitive Holocaust Movie. But what I don't understand is, if Schindler's List is such a great, Holocaust-y movie, then why the fuck are new Holocaust movies still being made ALL THE TIME?!?! Are there really people that need reminding through film that the Holocaust was the greatest human tragedy ever? And if so, why can't those people just fucking RENT SCHINDLER'S LIST or read Anne Frank's diary? I don't get it.
** except Life is Beautiful, which I liked very much (mostly because the first half is a delightful, lighthearted comedy with only the slightest traces of Holocaust)
Sad movies are great. They're like sad songs. Even if your reaction isn't exactly a positive one. People like to be moved by movies and such, and good sad movies and songs can be the most poignant. They're only sad because theyre well made and have made you want to care. It's a good feeling.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I can attest the million dollar baby entry. Oh jeez that was one of the most unexpectedly sad movies I've seen. I went to go see it with Colton and his dad in the theater expecting a typical above average sport movie. You know, starting off rough but making it big at the end. Nope. It was one of those quiet "yeah that was really depressing" walk back to the car. But it was a great movie regardless
Waltz with Bashir was probably the last real sad movie I saw. The part that really got to me was almost unfair. I understood why it was there but it was a bit much. Still a terrific and very unique movie.
I'd almost say UP was the last one but it wasn't like the others where it ended in a down note. It just had sad parts but still had hilarious and upbeat moments. I think it's just a testament to how well made it is. A lot like Extras was.
I still need to see Dancer in the Dark. For as much as I love Bjork I can't believe I still haven't seen it. NEED TO do this.
I love Life is Beautiful. Cute kid-and somewhat happy ending.
ReplyDeletei have not seen any of these other depressing movies, but i will have to designate a weekend to watch all of them.
-don't call me. i will be locked away being highly depressed.
You're absolutely right, Omar! I love depressing movies when they're well made and don't rely on a cheap device like the Holocaust to get the audience to tear up. I think it's really impressive when filmmakers make me care so much about something that I get really sad and think about it for a long time. Also, Up is not depressing, not at all! It's just a bit sad in pieces. Sad is not as bad as depressing.
ReplyDeleteOh, and BE CAREFUL about watching Dancer in the Dark, you guys. Like, watch it by yourself with a couple dozen boxes of tissues at the ready. I'm not even kidding, IT'S THAT BAD.
Oh oh, I forgot the Death Trilogy! How could I forget the DEATH TRILOGY!?!?
Yeah, depressing is the wrong word to use with UP. Just like ET, it wasn't depressing, but it did have very unexpectedly sad parts to it. Which really got to me.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm ready for Dancer in the Dark. I've always heard about how depressing it is so I think I'll be ready. I always heard Grave of the Fireflies was super depressing too
That thing you said about having tissue boxes ready reminded me of something. When I went to go see Passion of the Christ I saw a bunch of people with tissue boxes with them while waiting in line to see it. That wasn't a depressing movie but just very unnerving.
I just remembered. What about the vengeance trilogy? Each one has got to have some of the most unfortunate and depressing events to transpire in movies. Maybe more disturbing than depression though. Either way I think they would be pretty good contenders
ReplyDelete